My mouth opened and closed, not sure what to say. I hadn’t ever considered anything else. This was the path Mother set before me. And, of course, I’d do anything for my twin sister.
“I never had any choices, Arien.” Asteria smiled sadly, clearly understanding. “But I’m free now, and able to make whatever choices I desire. I want the same for you.”
“I’m not enslaved,” I said, confused, shaking my head.
She reached a hand out and cupped my cheek. “You don’t have to be a slave to be stuck in a cage.”
I struggled for words for a moment. I was a bit choked up to my mortification. I was a General for Hyperion’s sake. “It’s an honor to be your General, Asteria. However it happened, I like what I do, and I loveyou. This is what I want.”
She studied me for a moment before nodding decisively. “Well then.” She smirked. “Best get to work.”
Chapter Twenty-six
Cyrus
I reclined on my throne,crown firmly placed on my head, and looked out on the Fae in front of me. Those in the throne room were quiet, a change to the court since my father passed and I took power.
With his death, and more importantly, my ascension, things were finally able to improve around here.
Weylin was sent to the far border with Sunset, to prove his loyalty to his new king from the bottom up. Serving as a soldier in my army until I felt sufficiently satisfied. Or until the war broke out. Then, I’d send him where the fighting was thickest. Hopefully, he’ll find himself cut down soon enough, getting rid of one of my obstacles.
Daneiris was another to watch, but I couldn’t exactly send her out to serve in the army. So, along with the rest of my siblings, she was under strict surveillance. Curfews were established for each of them, and not one of them went anywhere without my knowing.
Zerlina was spending too much time with Daneiris for my liking, though the spy I had placed on her assured me that nothing disloyal was occurring, I still kept her close. She was my key to Dawn, after all.
Another significant difference was that I no longer had to hide what I was doing with blood magic—at least, not within my borders. A certain percentage of humans in each area were now required to be sacrificed to the cause. Calculated by the population density of each lord’s city and outlying villages.
Each human was sent to one of a number of camps spread across Dusk. There, they were bloodletted and bottled. Each bottle of blood was then sent back to me to complete the process. I trusted no others with the spell required to make it actual bloodmagicand not a worthless cup of human blood.
A benefit to my plans coming to light within the court was its members becoming much more manageable. They seemed to be scheming much less, which was a miracle on its own. No one dared cross me now, and it brought me significant pleasure to know they all recognized my superior power.
I did what my father had never managed, finally getting all of Dusk to shut up and do what they were told. Backstabbing and plots were rampant during Astraeus’s reign.
None would dare with mine.
I was currently waiting on Aelius, who should be strolling through the doors any moment. The humans he’d promised me had never shown up, and instead of guards loyal to me, I received ones loyal toPrince Arien.
We would certainly be having words.
Now that I was king, he could no longer disrespect me as he had before. We were on equal footing. Even if I was clearly the superior. He couldn’t even manage to get his house in order after hundreds of years as king.
After a good ten minutes of impatiently tapping the arms of my winged throne, watching members of my court shift nervously, the doors finally opened.
“Presenting King Aelius of House Earendel, King of Day Kingdom, Lord of Avalon, The Sun Dragon.” The herald announced dramatically, making me roll my eyes.
The man sauntered in, his personal guards and most loyal lords behind him. His blonde hair hit his shoulders and blended into the golden armor I doubted had ever seen battle. The purple dragon in the middle of his family’s sigil was the only spot of color in all the gold.
He’d be all too obvious of a target on the battlefield. A sun dragon, indeed. More like a brightly lit fool with an arrow pointing straight at him.
“KingCyrus, I hear it is now,” Aelius greeted, that smug air of superiority that I detested ever present.
“Indeed it is,” I replied dryly, nodding my head once. I leaned forward slightly on my throne, enjoying the opportunity to look down on him. “So please explain to me, king to king, ally to ally, where in the Otherworld the humans and soldiers you promised me are?”
Aelius’s brow creased, a wrinkle forming on his forehead. “They aren’t here?”
“No,” I growled, temper fraying. “Would I be asking if they were?”
Aelius looked deep in thought for a moment, “They aren’t in Day. Which can only mean foul play was involved.”
