Tariq broughta good number of Dawn’s forces, leaving enough behind to protect his kingdom but bringing me a whole army otherwise—which was more than I could say for Aelius.
Only three of Day’s six lords were here, and their numbers were now reduced after losing a battle against his insipid son. Finding out that Asteria and Calix had been there in the thick of the battle only served to enrage me further.
But I grit my teeth and back the desire to take that rage out on Aelius.For now.
I needed the numbers these supposed kings offered me for the moment. With my own army, Dawn’s, and what Aelius had of Day, we had enough men to carry out the show of force I desired.
Looking out over that army now, I was pleased to see the plan coming together. As they readied themselves to leave, I left to head deeper into the palace. I grabbed several vials of blood magic and stashed them in my pockets before making a stop in the dungeon.
“Have you thought at all about what you’ve done?” I asked, crossing my arms and raising a brow. A scoff echoed off the walls.
“What? Questioning you?” Vissy asked tiredly. He was sitting against the wall, his head leaning back and his arms resting on his knees. His usually perfect hair was scragglier than I’d ever seen it, and his golden eyes seemed as dull as his now filthy clothing. It made my heart ache a bit to see it, but I couldn’t afford to be soft.
“Yes,” I stated plainly, making him laugh dryly.
“Cyrus.” He looked up at me, making eye contact. My heart seemed to squeeze in my chest. “You’ve been like a brother to me my entire life. Which is why I’m going to be honest here.”
“Oh?Please, do tell,” I said sarcastically, hoping to bury the uncomfortable feeling in my chest.
“You’ve always had your bad qualities.Tartarus, we both have.” He shook his head. “But this, this is beyond anything you’ve done before. You may be a cruel bastard at times, but not likethis.”
“And what isthis, exactly?” I scoffed, shaking my head slightly as I gripped the bars of his cell tightly enough that my knuckles whitened.
“A mad tyrant,” he answered, echoing the words painted on the walls of Evenfall. I stood up straight quickly, lightning crackling around my fingers, forcing me to let go of the bars before I broke them.
“Who have you been talking to?” I demanded, fury rising as I glared down at him. I knew people were working against me, but to target Vissy? To sway him from me? It was too far!
“What are you talking about?” he asked warily, eyeing me like a dangerous animal.
“You think I don’t realize what’s going on here?” I spat at him. He raised a brow back at me.
“Could you perhaps let me in on it? Because I have no idea what you’re blathering on about,” he responded, cocking his head to the side.
“I know they’ve gotten to you. I’ve seen the slander painted across the city. Trying to paint me as amad tyrant, as you said,” I snarled, trying to contain the bolts of lightning that were beginning to flash around the dungeon.
“Cyrus,” Vissy said slowly, watching the ricocheting bolts carefully. “I said that, because that’s how you’re acting. What you’re doing with the humans is so far beyond anything I thought you were truly capable of.”
“Since when do you give a fuck about the humans?” I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief at his lame excuse.
“I’ve always enjoyed them,” he drawled, making me give him an exasperated look. “Things are the way they are, but I never hated them because of that. Some humans were fun, some were shit. But killing them all? It’s crossing a line.”
“Oh? And what superior moral line is this?” I asked skeptically.
“One that sees you losing yourself in the process,” he responded seriously. “And you’ve walked right over that line, Cyrus.”
I paused for a moment, considering what he was saying. I had never hated humans—looked down on them, of course. It was only proper, after all. But I hadn’t truly cared enough about them tohatethem. It was only Asteria and then the resulting rebellions that fueled that feeling. My magic was what mattered here. Getting my power back through their blood meant more than their lives.
And gaining back control of them was too important. I had to be respected as king, not made a fool of by a few rebellious humans.
Still,hadI taken things too far?
No, I shook my head at myself. I wouldn’t allow them to shake my resolve. This had to be the work of whichever sibling of mine was trying to undermine me.
Trying to stealmyrightful throne for themselves.
Just as they always had. Only now, they’d found a way to fuel dissent. Stirring up the humans and getting to my lords. Getting toVissy. They thought I couldn’t see the conspiracy going on right beneath my nose, but I would show them what all their little plots amounted to in the end.
“They’ve gotten to you.” I shook my head at him sadly. His confused expression only firmed my resolve that he could no longer be trusted. “My damn siblings,” I hissed at him.
