So I figuredI had nothing to lose, and tried the spell out. To my great surprise, it actuallyworked. My magic had been stronger than ever, and I’d celebrated by having Tavarius killed and getting Asteria to wet my cock all in the same night.
I should have just takenher then. But I’d foolishly wanted her to come to me of her own will. I’d wanted to break her down and make her want me.
And shehaddesired me.I could see it, and certainly smell it. Until Calix had swept in and ruined everything. That’s what I got for waiting. Thankfully, I knew that blood magic was the key to putting everything right.
I pouredthe mixture of newly formed blood magic into smaller bottles, keeping the vials on me so I could drink them as needed, and made my way back up through the palace.
Vissy wasdue to arrive today, and I was eager to have someone I actually trusted around once again. I passed Vikal in the hall, and my little brother grabbed his human, pressing her to the wall behind him. I smirked at him, looking the human over as he growled, his red hair like flames framing his face.
“What’s wrong, Vikal?”I cooed at him, licking my lips as I looked the pretty brunette over. “Scared I might hurt your human?”
“Leave her alone,”he snarled, a rage I rarely saw on his face. He was always so easygoing, but it was nice to see that Tynan force within him, even if it was severely misdirected.
I laughed,unable to believe he was trying to protect his human of all things. “She’s human, Vikal. A momentary distraction in a long, long life.”
Vikal shook in rage,and the brunette laid her hand on his arm, her brows furrowed in concern. Vikal calmed slightly at the contact, looking into her hazel eyes as he relaxed.
It hadthe opposite effect on me. My own rage began to rise as I saw the genuine care this human had for my brother.
That—thatwas what I wanted. Why couldn’t Asteria care for me in this way? Why had she fought me, run away, when I had offered everything she could ever want?
“Maybe I should take her,”I mused, scratching my chin as the two stiffened. “It would certainly teach you the lesson it seems you desperately need to learn.”
“You saywe shouldn’t care about humans,” Vikal scoffed, shaking his head. “But you’re the one who started a war over yours.”
I straightened up,my eyes narrowing as lightning crackled around my hands. My lip twitched, and I had to hold myself back from killing my brother then and there.
“That's enough!”Kian shouted as he appeared out of nowhere, forcibly pushing me back until I hit the wall. He looked between us, a disappointed look on his face. “He’s your little brother. Can you not leavehimin peace, at least?”
I couldn’t believehis audacity.
“I am your king,”I growled, facing Kian, who stood between me and Vikal, with the pretty human hiding behind him, radiating fear.
“Andhow is thatexactly?”Kian countered, stepping up to me and staring me down. “What happened to Father, Cyrus?”
“You know what happened.”I snapped back, wanting to avoid this conversation. I didn’t want to even think of that night. It had happened, and I’d moved on. Regrets would do nothing but prevent me from achieving the greatness I’d been promised.
That little girlbetter have kept her mouth shut, though.
“I knowyou and Father were in his rooms. He was perfectly fine, and then he’s suddenly dead, andyouare king. I know Father wouldn’t have approved of your plans, so it seems awfully convenient for you,” Kian said coldly, his face a blank mask that I’d never seen on my brother before.
I had a sinkingfeeling that I’d underestimated him. I knew he watched quietly, but I’d always taken him for a wimp. Too bookish and uninvolved in politics to be a problem. This was a new side to him that I didn’t know the ramifications of.
“What you’re suggesting is treason,”I told him, working to keep my face as blank as Kian’s and not give anything away.
“If it’s true,thenthatwas treason.” Kian raised a brow back at me, his lips rising into a smirk. He turned to Vikal and his human, dismissing me like I wasn’t king of this Shalim damned kingdom!
“Come on Vikal,Carrina, let’s go,” Kian instructed, scowling at me before leading them away.
I stormed backto my room, reconsidering Kian and everything I knew about him. As I walked into my room, I ground my teeth and grabbed the girl waiting by the shoulders. She squealed as I slammed her back into a wall.
“What did you say?”I demanded, a snarl on my lips as my canines lengthened slightly.
The fearin Emmie’s eyes was soothing. Kian may think he can dismiss me, but he’ll learn how wrong he is soon enough.
“What are you talking about?”she pleaded, shaking hard enough I had to slam her back against the wall again.
“Didyou say anything about what happened to my father?” I growled out slowly, and she shook her head rapidly.
