“You’re referring to a True Celestial threat being at the forefront of this situation?”
“Lessons have been learned well where Celestial threats are concerned.”
“They weren’t lessons. What you’re referring to were mistakes. Framing them any other way is dangerous for our kind.”
“Mind yourself,” Norla hissed.
I couldn’t.
I. Would.Not.
I held her fearsome gaze, registering the warning in it. “The Basilisk species stood down when we were targeted by the Celestial Plane. You knelt. Persecution ran rampant, and you were forced underground for scores of years. You sat back and accepted your subjugation. Things have only shifted now because of the actions of others—you benefitting from the Severance where the Celestial Plane was cut off, and our people could finally emerge from hiding. This situation is disturbingly similar. Do you really want to rely on others to drive back the enemy, to put our kingdom’s fate in hands that aren’t our own?”
She hissed at me again. “You’d do well to watch your tongue. You have overstepped the mark several times over. Questioning my rule is grounds for charges of treason.”
“Treason?” Zayn commented. “Come the fuck on.”
I gave his hand a squeeze, then went on to the ill-equipped fools before me who continued to demonstrate that with every word they spoke here today.
“Remaining neutral here is not possible. You will deny when you could have aided. You will be practicing appeasement of a tyrannical True Celestial. The very beings that tormented our kind, that nearly destroyed us entirely.” I sighed. “Sometimes,the only course is to fight. Your current mandate calls for more for our people, for us to flourish, to integrate and modernize with the wider supernatural world, yet you are unwilling to contribute anything to those benefits that you wish to reap.”
“How dare you?” Syde ground out, slamming his fist down on the armrest of his throne.
As if displays of violence from those physically weaker would affect me.
“My refusal stands,” Norla told me. “I won’t allow you to draw our collective power.”
Still keeping a hold on Zayn, because I could feel his growing agitation and discomfort, I stepped forward, enough to make the act of aggression known.
“I wonder how our people will receive the news that you refused an incredible opportunity to cement the Basilisk Kingdom as power players in the supernatural world, alliances with supremely influential figures that will see to both our protection and the integration our people have been craving,andeven to mark us as heroes to be revered eternally. When you explain it to them, will you be putting forth your actual reasoning, or manufacturing a falsity? The actual reasoning being your egomaniacal fear that if more of our people move above ground, you will lose your hold on them, your authority will be diminished, and perhaps even prove inconsequential if they defect and no longer consider themselves part of the kingdom.”
“Is that a threat?” Norla hissed, her serpentine eyes rushing to the surface.
I stared steadily back at her, making mine known also.“Yes.”
She shot to her feet, Syde following.
I released Zayn, then snapped my palms up, my citrine power flaming. “As High Lord Heir of the Excetra Crown, I invokeExigent Plebiscite. Effective immediately.”
I thrust my hands at the ceiling, sending a wave of my power rushing along the structure and through the Throne Room and beyond, providing enough fuel to encompass the entire Basilisk Dominion.
Every single Basilisk would now receive word from me—my call for a vote, essentially. One such thing that, under special circumstances, which I’d ensured these qualified as, could remove a decision from the sovereigns’ hands and give it to the people.
“Hmm,” Norla mused, the ferocity in her gaze petering out and what appeared to be reluctant pride taking its place.
“Your hospitality and cooperation would have gone a long way.” Then I wouldn’t have had to invoke that and transcend their authority in that manner.
“Perhaps.” She flicked her hand at Syde and he sank back into his throne. Then she gestured indifferently at Zayn. “You’ll need to remain in the Crown Palace for the convening of the vote tomorrow now that you’ve sent out the call. I suggest he stay beyond our walls.”
Zayn frowned, not understanding the intricacies, nor what an insult she was leveling upon him. She thought him merely a plaything of mine. No, she wished to convince herself that he was no more than that. I’d already continually demonstrated with my actions and body language toward him in front of them that he was much more than that.
“He’ll stay in my Royal Chamber.”
“Vaxan,” Syde snapped.
I held up my hand, and he balked under the authoritative move. He recognized that his position didn’t hold enough weight, not when I was employing my true High Lord Heir standing. In practice, it had the means to eclipse his and even rival Norla’s.
“Leave it be,” she actually told him.
