Now, seeing his fear as he faced the three of us, the way he tried to snarl and puff up as if we couldn’t allscentthat fear… it was pathetic.
He was pathetic.
I realized that now. This was a king afraid of having a girl sit his throne. Who let the specter of an heir bring him to ruin. Who feared anyone else taking any of his power because then others around him might realize he wasn’t worthy of his own.
I couldn’t help the laugh that burst out of me, nearly bending over with the force of it. Everyone looked at me as if I was insane, but I couldn’t be bothered.
Aelius must have read something in my eyes and interpreted where my amusement was coming from because he narrowed his eyes at me before rushing toward me, sword up.
Beltane met his blade with his own, forcing him back. I brought my own up, waiting for my chance. Beltane seemed to play with him. All those years of watching and waiting, being forced to keep silent, had finally found a release. He wailed down on Aelius with brutal strikes, forcing Aelius to stumble back and back.
He growled, his frustration at Beltane’s surprising strength clear. He lifted a hand, sunlight beginning to gather within it. Beltane tried to quickly stop him, but Aelius kept that hand well out of reach, blocking every attempt with his blade.
Dali moved to assist, but I held up a hand, stopping him. Instead, I gathered my own sunlight, and just as Aelius went to release his, I let go of mine. The sunbeams met with a flare of light right in front of Aelius’s face.
Beltane was forced back, covering his eyes for protection, but Aelius screamed in pain. He lowered his hand to reveal horrible burns covering the left side of his face, from his chin up to just below his eye. The skin cracking like an old lava field.
“H—how?” Aelius stuttered, bewildered by the burn on his face.
“Hyperionchosemy sister,” I told him with a proud smile. “He no longer protectsyou.”
The horrifying truth finally seemed to hit him, and he fell to his knees, his sword tumbling out of his hand. He sat there, staring blanking at his hands. He tried to summon more light, but chaos and losing Hyperion’s favor had severely weakened his powers. After gathering so much, he could now only manage the barest flicker.
I stepped forward and kicked his knee.
“Get up,” I demanded, pointing my sword at him. “Die like a man, at least. On your feet, with a blade in hand.”
Aelius snarled, but forced himself up. His pride enough to overcome his shock and dismay. He refused to just roll over and die; I’d give him that.
It took fewer than five swings this time for the hit I’d been waiting for since this fight began. I parried Aelius’s strike, hitting back with my own too fast for him to block, and watched as his sword sliced through the air.
Our eyes met. Sky-blue to sky-blue, with golden sunlight streaming through them. An acknowledgment of what was to come, of what had been and never would be.
The weight of years that had pressed on my shoulders finally disappeared, as with the next thrust of my blade, I stabbed right through my father’s rotten heart, twisting the blade and breaking his heart—just as he broke my mother’s.
And perhaps my own, if I was truthful with myself.
Blood spurted from his mouth as he fell to his knees. I tore out the blade and lifted it for one more swing. With a wide arc, I hacked through his neck, watching the golden strands tumble as his head fell to the ground. I stood completely still as the rest of his body swayed once and then crumpled down to follow its lost head.
A giant whoosh of air left my lungs. Like years of holding my breath finally released. I fell to my own knees, my uncle and cousin each laying a hand on my shoulder as I panted. Taking in the enormity of what I’d just done.
Ensured my sister’s safety from a dire threat.
Killed my own father, my own blood.
Caused my mother immeasurable pain, as she no doubt felt the loss of her mate across the realm.
Conflicting feelings I had no idea what to do with rioted within me, but they would have to wait until the battle was won. Aelius no longer had any control of my life, and I’d be damned if I let him get me killed now.
I forced myself to stand, my family supporting me in a way the dead man before me never had.
I took the chance to look around the battlefield, spotting Eryx and Baach not far away. They worked together, taking on opponents double their number. It was clear they’d been fighting together since they were young. I was sure had Calix been there, it would be the same. Moving like a single unit, able to anticipate and accommodate without thought.
It was beautiful to watch.
A horn sounded, and I looked at Dali and Beltane, confused. Dali had stiffened, brows creasing.
“Fuck. That’s Sunrise Kingdom,” he said, looking worried. “Tariq had mentioned potential other allies for Cyrus but hadn’t elaborated.”
