“Son.” He greets Prince Kiernan curtly, then merely nods in my direction.
He remains standing and gestures to the room for attention. The General bellows for quiet. Silence falls like a blade. Prince Kiernan and I stand.
“You all heard the alarm today.” The King’s voice cuts through the stillness. “The Equitae have brought their threat to the very walls of this castle.”
A shocked murmur ripples through the crowd. We haven’t experienced the Equitae so close to our home—not since I’ve lived here.
“Yes, they grow bold.” His jaw tightens. “I have unwavering faith in our Thorn Guards and our Amplifier Fae, yet the threat to our race has never been greater. To this effect, I’m pulling the majority of Amplifier Fae from other work to support the Thorn Guards.”
Grumbles of discontent rise, but no one dares openly defy their King. Not after what happened to Vale Cross.
Pulling more Amplifier Fae to the Thorn Guards means harder work for those left behind without the extra boost. It also means the Amplifiers will be out there, beyond the walls,in direct contact with the Equitae. Even I understand their frustration.
“We cannot let the Equitae continue to push our boundaries.” The King’s voice rises. “They must be destroyed!”
His face contorts into something beyond anger—something manic. His lips pull back, thin and pale, exposing gritted teeth. Not a smile. A savage promise.
But his eyes are the true centre of his storm. A frantic, desperate energy burns in them, as if the immense power of his wrath is barely contained, threatening to shatter the fragile composure of a King, and reveal the wild animal beneath.
The air grows thick, heavy with the metallic tang of fear. The tension hums, vibrating in the very bones of the castle. It settles over the silence—a silence that is absolute and unnatural.
The King sits abruptly, offering no clear finish to his speech. He motions to the wait staff to serve the meal. I’m more thankful than ever that Prince Kiernan sits between us. I can feel the King’s anger like a rolling heatwave even from where I am. Fear coils like a viper in my belly, ready to strike.
Prince Kiernan glances at me. His hand covers mine where I’ve absently gripped the edge of the dark wooden table. I quickly withdraw it. He cocks his head, frowning. I dip my head and concentrate on eating.
“I gather there were difficulties during the dance lesson.” The King’s voice barks out, sharp and unexpected.
I look up. His intense stare aims directly at me. The food in my mouth suddenly feels like glue. I struggle to swallow.
“Alaya was having—” Prince Kiernan starts.
The King holds up his hand. “I’m presuming Alaya hasn’t lost the ability of speech.”
I finally manage to swallow. “Yes, Your Majesty. I’m afraid I’m not much of a dancer. I’ve requested extra lessons from Daphne.”
“Good. I’m relying on this ball to ease some of the unrest. The workers have been given leave for their own celebrations. We cannot let these attacks interfere with our survival. I will not allow it.” He growls the last words.
“We’ll be ready, Your Majesty. We know our responsibilities.” I muster as much conviction as I can.
The King turns his gaze to Prince Kiernan and smirks. “Well done, my son. Finally, she’s been brought to heel.”
I shoot a pointed look towards Prince Kiernan, but my temper rises and heat floods my cheeks when I see him share a knowing look with the King.
“Every bough will break eventually with enough pressure.” He chuckles towards his father, and I feel his hand slide onto my knee under the table and squeeze.
The roar of anger in my head threatens to explode. I slap his hand away. He looks at me as if trying to say something, but my vision clouds. The overwhelming pressure inside makes me tremble.
I need to get out of here.
I shoot up. My chair screeches against the stone floor, then tips over with a crack.
“Apologies, Your Majesty.” I barely stammer the words out. “It seems I’m not feeling well. Please excuse me?”
The King nods.
I step down and make my way across the large room towards the wooden doors—my salvation. They seem impossibly far away as my body continues to tremble, my steps faltering.
When I step into the hall, I break into a run. My legs pound in sync with my heart, striking against my ribs as I ascend the grand staircase, desperate for freedom.
