“Where is your betrothed?” my father asked the moment I sat.
“She’s out,” I said, not totally a lie.
His brow raised. “Out where, Son?”
Fuck.
“Tell me now.” His demand was merely a mutter, though we both knew it would’ve been a scream if he could.
“In order for King Grave and me to agree to the increase in crude.” I inhaled and wished I’d left with my sister. “Audryn’s with Grave, he required her for a month. She’ll be back in a week or so.”
The lines at the corners of his eyes dug in as he looked at me with complete disdain. “You’ve let another man take your betrothed? You’ve whored her out for resources?”
“No, it’s not like that?—”
“Your betrothed is in the hands of another royal, is she not?” he interrupted. “And with Grave at that? What were you thinking? What will the other royals think of such a foolish deal? What will be next? Will you trade her for a sheep? A bolt of cotton perhaps?”
My breath quickened with each of his words. Blood roared through my veins, boiling me from the inside out. My hands formed into fists and I was teetering on the edge of a dangerous cliff.
“I will not have my son and his whore wife sitting on the throne, regardless of her Divine magic.” He cleared his throat.
I gasped. “I have done all that you’ve asked of me. How dare you still threaten the throne!”
“Your sister will be the next heir since you are inept at making rational decisions.” He started coughing and reached for the cup on the table. “Call her back so I can tell her myself!”
Several moments passed as his shaking hand fumbled for the cup. It remained just out of his grasp as his coughing fit continued. Unfortunately, it subsided on its own.
“Guard.” My father’s voice rasped just above a whisper. He strained to find footing in a higher octave. “Guard.”
Jumping to my feet, I walked over to the bed, rage roaring through me. He was nearly dead, yet still held the power tomake a life-altering decision. He would destroy the life that I'd worked so hard for.
“You don’t deserve to be Rivale’s King, you never have!” my father continued. “Rodrick will sit where my son should’ve been. Will wear my crown on top of his bald head. Will hold the power of the kingdom in his hand with Leanna at his side. Will?—”
“There’s a reason you’re dying! Even the land doesn’t find you worthy enough to live among us! You didn’t even deserve an honorable death, and now you’re being punished!”
I snapped. And before I knew it, I’d snatched the pillow out from under his head, shoved it into his face, and held it down. He needed to stop talking. Needed to stop spewing his hate-filled words at me. Leanna didn’t deserve to be crowned any more than he did.Iwas the one who’d done everything possible to secure resources.Iwas the one who’d sent my future wife away in the hands of the disgusting male. And my father was the ungrateful asshole who didn’t recognize the concessions I’d been forced to make.
Several minutes passed, or maybe it was seconds—I couldn’t be sure. My anger slowed just as his thrashing body had, and I released the pillow, leaving it resting on his face. It took me several breaths to remove the cushion, revealing his pale skin. Carefully, I shifted his head, returning the item to its original position.
I took a seat in the brown chair and watched his stilled body. The blanket rose slowly, and my father took a ragged, shallow breath. His eyes didn’t open. I hadn’t killed him, but now faced the very real possibility of his waking up and telling everyone what I’d done. I’d be executed, and he’d likely have his bed brought to watch.
For a moment, I debated taking the irrevocable step to ensure my innocence. To tie up the loose end breathing in the bed several feet away. But no matter what terrible hatred hespewed, he was still my father, and I couldn’t do it. Instead, I leaned out the door and requested a healer respond for an assessment.
Ten minutes later, Mirael arrived and looked him over. She worked her magic through his body, and I waited, wondering if she’d be able to see what I’d done. When she turned to me with sad eyes, immediate relief washed over me.
“I’m sorry, but it appears his mind is gone,” Mirael continued. “I’m not sure how long he has before his heart and lungs give out. Days at best.”
“Will he wake up?” I asked, hoping the answer would be no.
She shook her head and averted her gaze.
“Thank you,” I said. “I’ll inform my mother and sister of the news. Stay until one of them returns.”
She nodded, and I left the room, catching my breath in the corridor. I gasped as the realization of what my anger had done hit me. I’d all but killed my father and left him to exist as nothing more than a breathing corpse. I rushed down the hall the minute feeling returned to my limbs.
“We need to plan the wedding,” I breathed as I opened the door of Leanna’s study, not waiting for her permission to enter. “I need your help, and we need to get it done straight away—Friday.”
“You’re not still angry?” Leanna eyed me.
