Daemon had hardly stepped foot out of his room when a guard bellowed down the hall, stating that he had something for him. The man’s face was flush, sweat beading on his brow, as he handed Daemon the missive. Opening it, he skimmed the contents before balling it into his fist and shadow-walking to the other side of the castle.
“Was a summons really necessary, Father?” he seethed, slamming the parchment down on the desk in front of his father.
“I didn’t think you’d come otherwise,” King Evander stated flatly, leaning back in his chair with his hand resting over his stomach.
“Well, I’m here now. What do you want?” He’d planned on seeing his father in his own time. Had intended to calm his mind and form coherent thoughts to portray what he wanted to without completely losing his shit. But getting asummonsto see his own damn father had shredded that last bit of calm and obliterated all thoughts of possibly reconciling with the man who helped give him life.
“Have a seat, Son.”
“Son?” he scoffed. “A father wouldn’t sell his son to a vile witch in order to save his own skin. But you did. So no,Father, I’m not your son. I’m simply someone who shares your blood and will sit on the throne once the Goddesses claim your soul.”
“You want to play the victim? So be it. ButI amstill the King, so you will sit. Down.”
Daemon’s magic swirled around his hands, and he had to consciously pull them back as he begrudgingly sat in one of the deep leather chairs across from his father. “What do you want,Your Majesty?”
“It’s time you understood the workings of this court. If you want to sit onmythrone, you will shut your mouth and listen.”
“The only thing I want to understand is why you did what you did. Other than that, you have nothing that I want or need.”
King Evander let out a patronizing laugh. “I did what I did to save our kingdom. If you can’t—”
“You did what you did to save your own ass. It had nothing to do with this kingdom.”
“I amthis kingdom!” he yelled. “The Sapphire Isles would be nothing without me!”
Daemon sat silently as his father’s outburst sent him into a coughing fit. Watched as the man scrambled for a handkerchief and tried to hide the dots of crimson that shone like rubies against the crisp white linen.
“You’re still dying, aren’t you?” he asked, disbelief filling every word.
“I’m fine.”
“Last time I checked, coughing up blood wasn’t a good sign. How long has that been happening?”
King Evander wiped his mouth and leaned back in his chair, his head falling against the back. “Since the ball.”
Daemon couldn’t have suppressed the laugh that tumbled out even if he had wanted to. “So, you’re telling me that even though you gave hereverythingshe wanted, she still didn’t hold up her end?”
“Daemon—”
“No. Just be honest for one goddess damned second and tell mewhy.”
King Evander let out a heavy sigh and met Daemon’s gaze. “I wasn’t ready to die. I wasn’t ready to leave your mother. Or you, or your sister. It was the only way—”
“Bullshit. There’s always another way.”
“What would you have had me do, Son? Truthfully. How would the mighty Daemon Alexander, Crowned Prince of the Sapphire Isles, have handled this in the face of death?”
“Did you eventryto find the person responsible after you found out? After you knew what she’d done to you? Or did you just take it and hand over your son, your heir, your goddess damnedkingdomto the woman who tried to kill you and, by the looks of it, is succeeding?” The king’s silence was all the answer Daemon needed. “You’re pathetic.” Daemon pushed up from his seat and walked toward the door, halting briefly to turn back toward the king. “I used to want to be just like you. To rule with a steady hand, with a woman I loved and cherished by my side. But now?” He shook his head. “Now, all I see is a sad man who put himself before his kingdom. Before his own flesh and blood. And I want nothing to do with that man. You’re unworthy of wearing that crown, and I am ashamed to call you my father.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Auraelia
Rain fell softly against the window, its gentle pattering the only sound as Auraelia watched the beads of water slide down the misty glass.
It had been four days since Daemon left to go back to Kalmeera, and though she had nothing to do with the weather outside her window, it mirrored the ever-present ache within her chest.
“Are you ready to go, Rae?” Aiden asked softly, as if not wanting to intrude on her thoughts.
