Hedidcommand them. I wasn’t sure why I’d ever doubted that.
“Sit in the chair.” Vexxion pointed to one parked in front of the fireplace.
He’d had a lifetime to perfect his expression, his voice, his every action, while I was a paltry apprentice in a game I had almost no hope of winning. But I wasn’t giving up yet. Vexxion’s words had solidified something inside me, as if he’d cloaked me in a blanket of his warmth, his confidence, his belief that right would prevail as long as we tried.
I sucked in a breath and walked away from him, keeping my gaze on the floor and my face as neutral as his.
The simple, light brown wooden chair had been placed infront of the fireplace flanked with plush sofas and large, squishy-appearing chairs. A low table took up the space in front of the deep blue sofas, and on the gleaming tile surface, I spied the game Wraithweave. This version appeared similar to the one Vexxion and I had played back at his mother’s estate—yet it was also different. Instead of the usual gameboard resembling a map of a fictitious country, this one had been crafted to resemble the continent I’d grown up on.
As I approached the chair, I slowed my pace to take in the gray, sandy wasteland on the left, the stretch of mountains dividing it from the surprisingly lush valley. This was Nullen territory, the place where villagers lived and struggled to survive. I studied the thrust of the Xandest Mountain range speckled with fortresses housing riders determined to protect those villages. The jagged stone buildings perched on each peak. Squinting, blurring my vision, I swore I saw tiny riders scurrying about, some training, others mounting dragons before soaring down across the valley on patrol. The mountains marched from the top of the continent to the sea at the bottom, sucked down into the water on each side.
The broad stretch of Nullen territory gave way to the border on the east where the vast fae realm brooded, determined to steal whatever power and territory we Nullens clung to.
A glance out of the corner of my eyes showed the king still speaking with the tall, robed man. Was he an advisor or one of the many minions who’d happily give their lives to protect their king?
Minions. Lieges. Were they one and the same?
I dragged my attention back to the board and slowed tostand beside it, noting the territory of Riftflame in the northeastern section of the continent, plus the island they still controlled offshore.
Vexxion’s inheritance, Weldsbane Court, covered the broad strip of land below Bledmire, with Lydel Court taking up the vast shore beneath. Beneath that and some distance out to sea, I studied the long island covered with a network of thorns. This was all Lydel still controlled, if people turned to stone and covered in a mesh of thorns could be considered controlling anything.
I traced my fingertip across the nest of thorns, expecting one to prick me. Instead, the mesh shimmered. If I’d blinked, I would’ve missed it. I stared, waiting to see if it would do it again, but the mesh appeared as solid and dull as it was before I touched it.
Ivenrail grunted and rose from his throne, his gaze landing on me. He flicked out a finger to the others. “Leave us.”
The Lieges oozed backward, slipping out through a door on the left, behind the throne. The robed man went with them, closing the panel behind him.
Ivenrail sauntered across the room while I walked to the stiff wooden chair and sat. I stared forward blankly like Reyla and Brodine.
“My minions brought me fresh Nullens today,” the king told Vexxion. He rubbed his hands together as if anticipating a glorious, ten-course meal he could gorge himself on until his belly exploded.
He really was draining the energy from every single Nullen the dregs could capture. I wasn’t sure why I’d still held doubts.
Anger boiled up my throat, and it was all I could do to hold it back from spewing. More villagers taken. My knees shook. If only we could protect them all, rescue them all. He had no right to do this.
Vexxion advanced over to stand behind one of the sofas. His steady gaze met mine, his shoulders squared against the lurking shadows. A subtle nod promised protection without a word, as if he was the silent sentinel who’d stand with me no matter what came next. “You’ll dine on the villagers later?”
My throat closed off with pain, but I reminded myself to listen and watch while giving nothing away.
“Yes,” Ivenrail gushed. “I thought your pretty little rider would make the perfect appetizer. Since you’re stingy, I’ll merely whet my appetite with her. I won’t taketoomuch, and I won’t keep her through the night.”
“Get it over with, then.” Vexxion sounded bored. Bored! Yet his eyes flashed with the stars I’d seen so many times at the estate.
How could he maintain such complete control? If I were him, I’d be blasting out with my power, or I’d snatch one of the blades off the wall and race toward the king. I’d slice off Ivenrail’s head, burn his carcass, and be done with him once and for all. Vexxion added a droning sigh. “I have other plans for the evening, and you’re delaying them.”
“If I remember correctly, you used to spend time with Selitta.”
“Selitta meant nothing to me.”
“I thought you two might—”
“So did she. You both thoughtwrong.”
“And now she’s disappeared.”
“Strange, isn’t it?” Vexxion drawled. “I wonder where she went.”
Ivenrail’s huff rang out. “Are you meeting up with her sister tonight?” He cackled. “I can see the allure. Delaine has lovely blonde hair. A pleasing figure. If you find noenjoymentin Delaine, don’t kill her. I still find her useful.”
