But it was still true.
Cassander’s lips parted. “Do you forgive me, God?”
My brows furrowed, not understanding.
But it appeared to be a deep hurt since Mr. King flinched. He growled, “Dammit, Cass. Stop this now!”
“Dad understands why I had to kill her,his own mate. Why can’t you?”
Mr. King leaned forward and bellowed in fury, “She was our mother! She was both of ours. And you what? Decided that because she had a little darkness in her that she deserved to die?”
“She askedit of me.” Cassander shook where he stood, his features tormented. “I must take every mercy request seriously. It doesn’t matter who asks. I have to put my feelings aside and do my goddamn job. I’m the only person on this planet who grants that kindness.”
“Kindness is not chopping her head off.Our mother!”
“She didn’t want to live. Even Dad knew that.”
“And yet, he still didn’t kill her when she pled with him to help her along into a grave.”
Theron stepped out of the treeline, marching forward in old-fashioned cowboy boots and workout shorts, a rolled mat strung over his bare back. His steps were easy, unhindered by whatever power they were using, but his beautiful dark eyes were cold and lethal.
He hissed, “Both of you stop this. I’ve had to listen to this same argument for one hundred years, and yet you both still don’t understand what the other is saying. You never listen to one another long enough to comprehend a viewpoint not your own. Instead, you wallow in your own self-pity. I sure as fuck didn’t raise you to be that way.”
“If you aren’t going to listen to one another then…” Theron leaned forward, his cold eyes dancing between his two sons, and he bellowed, “Shut the fuck up! No one is listening back. You’re arguing at the sky or to a shoe for all you two hear out of each other’s mouth.”
My hand was covering my mouth, so I didn’t release a heart wrenching sob, my pulse hammering in my ears.
These monsters…weren’t monsters.
They were just sad,sadmen.
Cassander released a shaking breath, his tone tired and weary. “God, go get your mate. I’ll hold my power just like this—nothing more.”
Mr. King ground his jaw together. “Thank you.”
Then he pivoted and began marching away.
The five wilted men on the ground groaned and fell to their sides, holding their heaving chests, their expressions full of agony.
I ran down the steps and wiped away the few tears that had fallen down my cheeks. I sprinted as fast as I could and dropped to my knees next to Finn. My hands lingered over his sweating face, patting his cheeks with a light touch.
“Are you okay?” I whispered, my voice wobbling.
“Fine,” he hissed and rolled to his back. Finn gasped oxygen into his lungs. “I’d forgotten how painful that is.”
I glanced at the other men, writhing in pain. “Does it happen often?”
“Not since Theron ruled,” he growled. “Unbutton my top buttons. I can’t get enough air.”
I quickly fumbled with the buttons of his dress shirt. “How long do the effects last?” It was obviously the alpha king’s power that had taken them to their knees.
“About twenty minutes.”
“Do you want me to help you to the train?”
“No. I want to finish fighting the golems.”
“What?” I cried. I patted his cheeks again, little pieces of grass falling out of his hair with the jarring. “You can’t even move right now.”
“And I still want to fight.” His attempt at a smile was pitiful, a full-on grimace etching his features. “My blades are new. I like breaking them in.”
I sat back on my haunches. “Really?”
“Oh, yes, my dear. And they slice real good.”
“You’re a sick man.”
This time, he managed to smirk. “Only when I’m really having fun.”
