Sweat starts to bead on my brow, and I realize who’s left for him to address. I take a breath—counting to ten—already attempting to calm my racing heart.
“Silas,” the King of Andorwood says, in a deathly calm voice, “welcome home, my son.”
Silas tenses. “Hello, Malachi.”
The world seems to pause, and an unsettling silence moves through the room.
“Thank you for ruining yet another Andorwood ship,” his father mocks. “Seems to be a pattern with your foolish antics.”
“We saved dozens of people in the process.” Silas leans forward. “A ship can be rebuilt; lives cannot.”
“So noble of you, Silas.”
Shadows begin to flicker off of Silas’s back as his anger grows, but Malachi brushes him off and finally returns his gaze to me again.
“Briar Blackbyrne, the Queen of Daramveer in Andorwood. I believe I’ve seen it all, now.” He looks around, wanting the others to join in with his amusement. “Your father is probably rolling in the grave you put him in.”
The others watch intensely, as if the room might explode at any moment. Their stares are scorching, like the sun's rays against my back, but I ignore his dig and maintain my cool façade, refusing to give him the reaction he wants.
“Daramveer has fallen. My people have fled, and the Great Wiitches pose a terrible threat to us all.”
Malachi leans back, crossing his ankle over his leg, as if bored.
“I’m here to save our realm from destruction.”
His brow rises. “And who travels with you?”
I glance behind me, ready to speak about Maines, Oak, and Rose—who is still safely on the ship with Captain Darcy. I open my mouth to speak, and Malachi raises a hand.
“No.” He glances at my hands. “Not them.”
I narrow my eyes at him, allowing my shadows to ripple around me for a second, refusing to back down from this man.Silas slowly turns his head, horrified at my challenge toward his father, but I push further, darkening the room around us.
“Briar, breathe,” Silas pleads.
I cut my eyes to his, but don’t speak.
“Why spoil the fun we’re about to have, son?” Malachi raises his hands as he says, condescendingly, “Now, let her make her own choices.”
“Do not speak to him that way,” I snap.
Malachi laughs. “I will do what I want with my son. I have his entire life, and I won’t stop now because you are here.”
I glance at Silas, preparing for the anger radiating off of him to blind me, but to my surprise, he sits back in his chair.
“Now, answer me,” Malachi demands. “Who travels with you?”
My blood begins to boil.
“You know who lives within me. I’m not here to play games.” The black veins on my hands begin to throb. “And I think it would be unwise for you to ignore the fact that we’re going to war soon. Your entire kingdom is at risk, and here you are, taunting us.”
“Taunting you?” He angles his head. “I’m having a conversation.”
I huff a sarcastic laugh.
“Malachi, you know why I’m here,” Silas chimes in. “We need the help of the Andorwood army. We need to build a following. With their help, we can stop the enemy from burning this realm to the ground.”
Malachi moves back in his chair, relaxing his shoulders. “Andorwood will never help her. She will destroy us all.” He picks at his nails. “Just look at what she’s done to her own kingdom.”
