Lykor’s gut twisted at the gesture of affection in what had to be a flash of disgust.
“Speaking of,” Kal began, twirling a braid between his fingers. “How far across the Wastes did you navigate? You really should bring someone else with—”
“I’m making progress,” Lykor muttered, sensing Fenn nearly vibrating out of his seat, undoubtedly on the verge of volunteering himself.
But he hadn’t ventured very far to the west—barely enough to justify the lie. The only way to reach new ground was to portal as far as the eye could see. Fabricating gateways from horizon to horizon after his battle with the reavers had drained Essence faster than he cared to admit, the strain chipping away at his pride.
“How far, exactly?” Vesryn pressed, jade eyes sharpening in a slant of sunlight. “Aesar and I combined our power and portal jumped with the dracovae to find that jungle. Ifyoucan’t manage it, I could bring Naru and Trella here—”
“I’m not bonding with you to cross the mountain ranges,” Lykor snarled, fangs flashing at the sheer audacity of the suggestion.
“And what does my brother have to say about this?” Vesryn grated, ignoring Lykor’s contempt. “I want to hear his thoughts.”
Forming a tight fist, Lykor’s gauntlet scraped channels into the table. “You’ll have plenty of time to gossip when Aesar is out.”
Nostrils flaring, Vesryn’s restraint finally broke. “Does he have any say at all?” He shot out of his seat, the chair skidding behind him. “You can’t keep him locked up!”
Bypassing Kal—who apparently wouldn’t follow an order anyway, seeing as how Jassyn was still present—Lykor flicked his wrist to Fenn. “Lieutenant, escort the prince out. It seems he can’t accept our leadership.”
Fenn’s eyes flared, his grin all fangs as he rose to his full height. “With pleasure.”
“Fenn, sit down,” Serenna hissed. She pointed at Vesryn. “And you too. We’ll get nowhere if you can’t bring yourself to make some concessions. You’ll have time to discuss matters with Aesar in the evenings.”
“I wouldn’t have to make anyconcessionsif Aesar were here now.” Baring his teeth, Vesryn skewered Lykor with a glare as he planted his fists on the table, pitching forward. “Aesar deserves better than to be locked away—he deserves better than you.”
Lykor slammed his gauntlet down, the crack reverberating through the chamber. “You don’t get to accusemeof anything when it comes to him. You lost your right to have an opinion the moment you weren’t there for him!”
Aesar’s voice rippled into his thoughts, sharper than before.That isn’t helping.
HE DOESN’T GET TO TALK TO ME LIKE THAT,Lykor seethed.
Shadows surged in a billowing cloud around Vesryn, darkening his side of the room. Jassyn shot out a hand to grip the prince’s shoulder, settling him back into his chair.
“Lykor belongs here as much as anyone,” Jassyn said, his palm pressing down to root Vesryn in place.
“I don’t need my right to exist to be defended,” Lykor snarled, his irritation threatening to erupt at Jassyn’s interference.
Vesryn’s eyes clashed with his. “My brother has more of a right to be here thanyou.”
“Oh, do you believe that?” Lykor scoffed, leaning forward, his talons scoring grooves into wood. “I exist because ofyou. Tell me,Prince,” he spat. “Where were you when Galaeryn came for Aesar? You call yourself his brother but you weren’t there when he needed you.” Lykor drove a finger into his own chest. “Iwas.Iprotected him becauseyouabandoned him.”
Vesryn tensed in his seat, the curtain of rending flickering before dissipating.
“Tell us where you were that night,” Lykor demanded, the words a knife aimed straight for the prince’s heart.
“Lykor,” Mara murmured from across the table.
He ignored her. Vesryn swallowed, gaze dropping while Lykor railed on. “Tell us where you were for twenty years while we rotted in that special place Galaeryn carved out for us in those mountain dungeons. Tell us—”
Stars, that’s enough,Aesar said, breaking through the fog of Lykor’s rage.What more do you want? Do you really need to keep kicking him while he’s already down?
YES,Lykor fired back, his anger roaring.
Vesryn isn’t responsible for what our sire did.Aesar’s tone softened.It’s time to let the past go. I did.
Lykor’s gaze shifted back to the prince, who was staring pointedly out the shielded window, refusing to meet his eyes.
Serenna cleared her throat, the only one brave enough to break the silence. “So, we’ve decided that Mara and Magister Thalaesyn will oversee the civilians. Kal and Fenn will integrate the new wraith from the rangers.”
