Not before this trip. He’d spent too much time with Brela and her friends. Even Serill had rubbed off on him lately.
His father chuckled. “Perhaps some of us gave up on you too soon.”
As if his fire wasn’t already dangerously close to bursting from his mouth, he knew who the man meant.
“How is Era?” Cason snarled through his teeth.
“Well aware that she will always be second compared to your power,” his father sneered. “She’s a good soldier. Loyal. Willing to do what is necessary, but will never be anything more than a soldier. She doesn’t have the same potential you do.”
“Are you going to ask me to come back? Is that what this is about?”
“That’s what it’s always about,” Thierry replied. “You could be somethinggreat, Cason. A leader, not some royal’s pet.”
“I’m content where I am.”
“Following the prince on ridiculous escapades through Valisea in search of books? Or were you not interested in our work on the wall?”
Cason couldn’t hide how quickly he stiffened.
Thierry chuckled. “I knew about yourmissionbefore Lyle even sent word that you were in Valisea. A clever lie, though that boy isn’t the brightest. It’s why he’s still on messenger patrols.”
Smoke curled from underneath Cason’s fingers. “Remont told you.”
“Remont is King Raff’s most trusted advisor. Perhaps that king of yours isn’t as clever as he thinks.” Thierry’s smile turned wicked. “Or perhaps he knew, and there is something more intricate at play.”
“The Veil wall coming down isn’t a game,” Cason growled.
His father’s smile disappeared. “Of course it isn’t, and neither is letting the shadow-cursed continue to exist behind that barrier.”
“So you’re just going to experiment on the Veil Worshippers and try to start another war?”
“It never ended! The war will never be over until they are wiped from existence, and those cultists stand in our way.” He leaned over his desk, eyes narrowing. “Have you forgotten what they did to your mother?”
Cason bared his teeth. “I willneverforget what they did to her, but you are putting innocent lives at risk if the wall breaks.”
“Then come back and stop those monsters. We have the weapons to finally stop them. Put your magic to use instead of wasting it with those cowards, guarding cultist texts.”
Cason waited a moment too long to respond.
His father smiled again. “You’re always spouting about honor. You want honor? Help us end this quickly. Stop the cultists and the cursed tricksters that stole your mother from us. Stop hiding from your magic and do something with that power.”
Those were the unintentional words that snapped Cason out of his spiraling thoughts.
“Magic isn’t good or bad. I’m not afraid of your fire, nor am I afraid of any magic. I’m afraid of the people who wield it with closed minds. I am afraid of the men and women of the remaining five kingdoms. I am afraid ofyou, Captain.”
Four hells, he still hated Brela, but now he hated himself, too. Every flinch she’d made this morning flashed in his mind. Every time he raised his voice, pointed a finger, and cursed at her, she’d withdrawn more and more. He thought it was just because she knew he was right.
But when he’d lit his arms on fire? That’s when she refused to back down.
She wasn’t afraid of his magic. She never had been.
She had always been afraid ofhim.
Cason knew why. He’d seen the same things she had in Valisea. They’d seen what people wielding magic with closed minds could do.
He was not them. He would never be them.
That’s why he was here. For the reminder.
