“Queen Lilith’s demon army came to our aid,” Louis pointed out. “But after tonight, after you publicly claimed Barbie and...”
“Good job, Killian!” Silas’s sarcasm always grated on me. “Humiliate the Queen of the Underworld, your ex, in front of everyone. What could possibly go wrong? And when the Shriekers show up next time, and they will soon, do you think the demons will fight shoulder-to-shoulder with us then?”
“They might have beaten back the Shriekers once,” I sneered at the shifter prince, reining in the urge to lash out in my foul mood, “but you’re a fool if you think Lilith and her demons are our salvation.” I drew a sharp breath, the air crackling with my frustration. “Demons are a permanent threat, regardless of my history with their queen. There’s a reason all five kingdoms refuse to acknowledge the sixth house.”
“Killian’s right,” Cade affirmed. “We could never trust Lilith. It’s better to know where we stand. We’ll protect Sy, Barbie, each other, and the realm at all costs. There can be no division. If one kingdom falls, the others follow. It doesn’t matter which falls first, brothers.”
I gave a grim nod. “Our selfish, shortsighted rulers don’t think as we do. They’ll never trust each other—not like us. We grew up together, trained in the same academy. Our bond is solid, but our parents inherited nothing but distrust and ancient feuds. Their paranoia will be the realm’s undoing. It’s time for our generation to rise.”
“Let’s tread carefully,” Cade cautioned.
“There isn’t time for caution anymore,” I countered, my jaw clenched with tension. “We have to be bold.”
Cade shook his head. “I’m not shoving my dad aside while he’s still in his prime. I can persuade him. He’s the most open-minded of our parents, a good king and a good father.” He gave a one-shouldered shrug. “Besides, the last thing I want is more responsibility.”
“But if he betrays our alliance?” Louis pressed.
“He won’t,” Cade insisted.
“Then why hasn’t he sent his army?” Rowan demanded.
Cade rolled his eyes. “And let the other kingdoms stab him in the back while his forces are deployed here? This needs to be a joint effort.”
“We can debate succession later,” Silas cut in. “Every second we argue is a second Barbie, Sy, and the other candidates spend in danger. Let’s fucking move and get our jobs done!”
We nodded, a silent agreement passing between us, and broke apart like wraiths into the night.
Rowan fell into step beside me as we headed for the administrative building where Ethel would be, no doubt congratulating herself for orchestrating this disaster.
Fear clawed at my insides, not for myself, never for myself, but for my mate. My little scorpion was strong, but she was the prime target of our enemies, and now she was beyond my reach.
Hurry!my dragon growled, his impatience a fire in my blood.Let’s get to the headmistress. As soon as you get your answers, I shall toast her.
Lock away your emotions, especially your fear for our mate,I lectured him, the words a cold mantra.Emotions make us sloppy. Emotions can get our mate killed.
I shut it all down, letting only the icy fury that had earned me my reputation and the calculated ruthlessness that made even my father wary dominate my mind.
If anything happens to our mate,my dragon vowed, his voice a dark promise in the depths of my soul,I won’t just kill those responsible. I’ll make them beg for death, over and over.
Chapter
Four
Cade
Istrolled into my father’s private sitting room, the one place in the palace where we could speak without the weight of crowns between us.
King Brandon stood by the full-length window, his back to me as he overlooked the Ashenveil Valley, where our kingdom’s magical leyline shimmered a faint blue in the darkness. He wore a simple blue robe instead of his formal regalia, his auburn hair neatly combed in the traditional mage style. Hearing my footsteps, he turned. His eyes, the same turquoise as mine, brimmed with a father’s concern as they fixed on me, the king momentarily set aside.
The room was warm despite its grandeur. Deep blue sofas faced each other before a fireplace adorned with sapphires, the symbolic gem of our kingdom.
My mother rose from her seat. Ever the scholar, Queen Reagan had been reading; a thick grimoire lay open on the side table beside her.
“Cade?” Mother moved toward me, her hazel eyes creased with worry. “Are you all right?”
The analytical part of my mind noted how quickly they had both shifted into crisis mode.
“No,” I said, the word heavy with unspoken urgency.
