Prince Zakat sent blasts of fire at King Tariq, who was using his wind powers to buffer the flames and snuff them out. I had seen Prince Altan drown a man standing before him on dry land with his water magic. But it was the battle between Asteria, Calix, and Cyrus that sent true sparks flying. Lightning clashed against darkness and starlight, creating the effect of a stormy night sky above the battle.
But the building momentum of that lightning, the increase in bolts that could strike at any moment, was certainly worrisome.
I knew Asteria and Calix could handle themselves, and I had my own battle to be concerned with. Still, I couldn’t help but fear that the amount of blood magic Cyrus was using now was going to be too much for them.
I hissed as metal slashed against my cheek, drawing blood. Aelius smirked at me, and I glowered, pissed at myself for being distracted during a fight. Titan would kill me if he found out.
I refocused my attention on the fight against my father, keeping my footwork quick as I moved around him with increased speed. He matched my movements until we were a blur of steel. Our blades danced together, neither landing any true blow against the other.
I hated to admit it, but we were too evenly matched. I tried to kick out his legs, and he jumped over my foot. He tried to stab my weaker side, but I moved into his guard and elbowed him in the chin for his trouble.
We might have gone all night that way, but a soldier from Dawn careened around the corner and spotted us, coming to a standstill.
“You there!” my father called to his ally. “Help me put this pup in the ground where he belongs.” He smirked at me. “Somewhere he’ll never see the sun again,” he added, just to twist the knife. Our family thrived in the sunlight, to be without it would be to be without a heart in our chests or air in our lungs.
The soldier stepped forward, and I drew a dagger from my belt, preparing to defend myself against two opponents. I cursed mentally. I may be evenly matched against my father, but an additional fighter would put me at a distinct disadvantage.
I refused to let my father end my life, not when he’d already taken so much of it from me.
The soldier stepped up beside Aelius, who looked ready to crow in victory. My fingers tightened around my blades, and I desperately searched for any sign of weakness in the new arrival.
I was completely unprepared when he twirled his blade, using the movement to twist it quickly to the side, where he stabbed directly into the weak part of Aelius’s golden armor, right where the two plates connected.
Aelius screamed in rage and pain, grabbing his side ineffectually with the armor blocking the wound. His wide eyes went to the soldier from Dawn, who removed his helmet slowly.
I nearly started laughing hysterically.
“Uncle Dali,” I panted in relief, that hysterical laugh I bit back bubbling up into a chuckle.
Sparkling bright green eyes met mine, a smile tilting his lips. “Nephew. I hope you don’t mind. I’m sure you had him, but he deserved a bit of payback from House Paiva directly for what he’s done to my sisters.”
Dali ran a hand through his short black hair, which, usually perfectly coiffed, now stood up with slightly spiky ends thanks to his helmet.
“You son of a birch!” Aelius cursed, looking between us. “Another traitor betraying their king,” he spat at Dali, whose eyes narrowed.
He stepped forward, grabbing Aelius by his chest plate and shaking him. Aelius looked at him, eyes wild with fear that he couldn’t totally suppress. No one had ever stood against him in any substantial way. He was used to being obeyed; he had no idea how to handle his reckoning.
“You threatened my niece’s life and forced her to grow up human.” He landed a punch across Aelius’s jaw but held his armor with the other hand so he wouldn’t fall back. “You forced my sister to give up her daughter.” He punched him again. “You threatened my youngest sister to keep my elder sister in line.” Another punch. “Kept my youngest sister from our family for years for the sake of your plots.” Another. “Forced my nephew to be raised without his twin, while doing everything you could to ensure he knew how little you thought of him.” One more. “And now, you plan to kill your own children. MY BLOOD.”
He let go of Aelius’s collar to deliver the final punch, and Aelius fell to the ground, moaning in pain as he held a hand to his face. The skin was already blackening from the hard, repeated hits to the same spot. He’d heal quickly, but then again, I would ensure he didn’t have the chance to.
“Save any of him for me?”
We turned at the voice, and I smiled as Beltane walked over, his bloody sword leaning on his shoulder.
“Took you long enough.” Dali smiled, stepping forward to clasp forearms with Beltane.
“Me? You’re the one we haven’t seen hide nor hair of until now,” Beltane chuckled, tossing his head to get his dark hair out of his face.
“I’m surrounded on all sides in Dawn. I had to play the loyal lord to prevent my whole family from losing their heads for treason,” Dali countered, raising a brow.
“Excuses, excuses.” Beltane tutted, a smirk on his face. Dali rolled his eyes, clapping him on the back.
“Don’t worry, though, there’s plenty of this fucker to go around!” Dali said joyfully, pushing our cousin forward to where Aelius was trying to rise.
Something deep within me rose up in excitement at the pitiful look of fear in Aelius’s eyes. The same part, perhaps, that used to curl up in shame whenever he would put me down in front of his courtiers. It soothed the ache of the child left inside who wanted nothing more than for his father to love him. The child who died the day Mother sat me down and explained about my sister—and what my father would do to her.
I’d bit my tongue and took his verbal abuse, but I no longer cared that I didn’t meet his expectations. Because he didn’t meetmine.
