I forced myself to move faster. Something wasverywrong here.
I preferred to fly off from this end of the city instead of from the spot my father had designated near the palace simply because no one who mattered would see which direction I flew from here. If I kept to the clouds, I could pass entirely undetected, avoiding the gleam of the sun hitting my golden scales and giving me away.
I let myself shift into my dragon form, flapping my wings and soaring up high above the city. As I gained altitude, I caught a glimpse of my army on the horizon.
My soldiers were all following orders. A contingent was heading to Dusk Kingdom while another went to the border with Night, all according to plan. What wasn’t to plan was the contingent of soldiers forcing along a long train of humans.
They walked a distance behind the soldiers who were heading to Dusk, so they hadn’t been spotted yet, but they were clearly following them. The humans were all bound, with rope tied around their hands as they were led in a chain through the countryside.
What the fuck were they doing? I recognized a couple of the humans, even. Several loyal to Mother, a couple loyal to me. None of my father’s favorites were here, and my gut feeling told me that it was no coincidence.
The soldiers leading the train conferred with one another as they gained on the unit ahead of them. As they reached them, the soldiers I’d sent to Dusk paused to meet them. I didn’t know what was happening, but something was very off about this. I stopped flapping my wings to drop down enough that I could interfere if necessary.
But apparently not fast enough, as the soldiers who were leading the humans drew their swords without warning, magic beginning to be flung around as they fought the men they were meant to be fightingwith.
I watched my men fall as I darted through the air, barreling toward soldiers who should have been followingmyorders as General of Day Kingdom’s army. I snarled, giant fangs barred as I opened my maw with a roar of rage, letting it fuel me as their heads snapped up in surprise.
Some tried to run, and those I burned to a crisp with the flame that was all too ready to be let loose. The others, still fighting my loyal men, I couldn’t risk using my flames on. Not when I could catch my own soldiers with it. So, instead, I used my claws to reach down and pick one up, throwing him into a tree with a satisfying crack. I watched his body slump as I used my long golden tail, glinting with purple scales on top, to whack several others away.
I roared once more as my men cheered and drove a talon through the chest of one of the Fae closest to me. Another had started to lift himself up from his slumped sprawl on the ground. I extended my neck out and opened my mouth, letting him witness the fire at the back of my throat, the saliva coating my fangs.
He began whimpering as I let my mouth close around his torso, biting him in half with a rough snap of teeth.
The few men left threw down their swords, surrendering. A collective cheer arose, and I quickly shifted back into my Fae form, landing back on my feet and straightening my jacket. At least the fight was over, so I didn’t have to worry about not having my armor on.
“Prince Arien.” Bellin bowed his head as he approached. I’d assigned him to be the commander of the force going to Dusk, so I was very glad to see he was one of the ones who’d made it. “Thank you for coming to our aid. We didn’t expect our own men to turn on us in such a way.”
His statement carried with it an unspoken question, and I shook my head. “Neither did I. But this has my father’s fingerprints all over it.”
A gleam appeared in his eyes as he nodded slowly. He’d been loyal to me for many years, and I knew he didn’t agree with many of my father’s choices. He’d worked his way up from one of the lower rings in the city. He participated in underground fights to win cash to put on the table, until his talent was noticed, and he was chosen to begin training under a proper warrior. His huge size was equal to his street smarts, and he’d proven himself time and again since he joined the army under my command.
I’d been tipped off about him by one of Beltane’s people originally. My mother’s cousin was just as anxious to be rid of my father as I was. My Aunt Giselle was all but a hostage at this point. Aelius had forced her into a marriage with one of his loyal lesser nobles. He’d let my mother invite her sister to court to ostensibly keep her company and have family with her, until my mother had dared to speak out in opposition to him.
That was when he had Giselle married off. He’d sent them away from court after the wedding, and though her husband appeared from time to time, Giselle wasn’t allowed to join him. Keeping her sister all but captive ensured my mother wouldn’t oppose him publicly. Aelius controlled her fate now, and Mother wouldn’t risk her sister for anything.
Beltane was furious over the entire situation. He hated Aelius to begin with, but he would do anything to keep his family safe and get all of us out from under my father’s yoke. He kept his ear to the ground, finding people we could trust when the time came to act.
Bellin was an excellent find on his part. He wasn’t just one of my commanders, he’d become something of a friend in recent years. It was why I’d assigned him to this squad. He knew our true purpose and wouldn’t act against Asteria no matter what Cyrus may try to demand.
I made my way over to one of the surrendered soldiers with Bellin at my back, his sword at the ready, dripping wet with the blood of our own.
Such a waste, and all thanks to my father. By Hyperion, how many of our men would fall before he finally did?
I grabbed the man by the jaw, forcing his head up to look at me. “What were your orders?”
The man just smiled widely, blood smeared over his teeth. I punched my fist into those teeth, ignoring the scrape as they cut my fingers open, knocking one of his teeth loose as the man howled in pain.
“We can do this the hard way if you insist. I could string you up and play with you like a piñata.” I let my finger shift into a sharp talon, running it down his cheek and leaving a trail of blood in its wake as the sharp point broke the thin skin easily.
“Batting you back and forth until your guts spill out over the forest floor.” I watched his throat bob as he swallowed hard. I hated having to make these threats, but this was war, and I knew worse would undoubtedly be required of me at some point. I forced my dragon side to the fore, letting its bloodlust take the reins.
“Or I could burn you slowly,” I rasped, fire licking every word. “Bit by bit.” I dug my talon further into his skin, dragging it down his cheek to his jaw. “From foot to head, so you’re forced to watch as every part of your body is torched slowly.”
The man’s eyes widened, and he tried to take a surreptitious look down at where his cock was hidden by his armor. Unfortunately for him, I caught it, and like a cat catching a mouse, I let a smirk take over my face. “Ah, I see. Maybe we’ll start with your cock then.”
He shook his head frantically, horror plastered all over his face. “No, please! Fucking Hyperion,anythingbut that!”
“Oh, yes,” I purred, leaning in close. “I’ll start with your balls, I think. Bring the sac to a nice, crisp roast, before moving on to the head of your cock.” I let a burst of flame leave my lips, aiming just past his head, but close enough to singe the hair on the side of his head.
