Honestly, he wasn’t sure what madness possessed his idiot brother that Varice thought himself able to take on that role given that he wasn’t much older, and especially since their people had been known to rebel and randomly cut the heads off rulers who angered them or made laws they didn’t agree with. But then, Varice had always been an arrogant prick with more stupidity than caution.
“Nay, Mada.” He was aghast at her accusation. “I’m here only to support you both.”
“Then prove it.”
Hurt and confused, he’d blinked and blinked again, trying to think of some way he could convince them of his sincerity. But nothing had come to mind. “How?”
“Give up your signet ring. You say you’ve no eye for the throne. Then you’ve no use for it. You have eight older brothers anyway, soit’s not as if you need the ring for succession. So hand it over and then we’ll know that what you say is true and that you’ve no desire for your father’s throne.”
And like a fool, Kalder had complied. After all, the small gold signet ring had been of little monetary value. It was so old that even the crest was barely discernible anymore. He’d assumed the only reason his father had given it to him was because it was so ancient that none of his brothers had wanted it.
Not once had his father ever bothered to explain its importance. He’d merely passed it over to him on the day he’d turned one-and-three by gruffly shoving it in his face and saying, “Guess you’re old enough now to have it. Don’t lose it, or else.”
Then his father had walked off and left Tally to tell him it was a family signet ring. No other explanation beyond that. So, little wonder he’d put no other significance to the piece.
He’d assumed the only reason his father had given it to him had been because he’d forgotten to buy him anything else to mark his birth.
How stupid am I?
But then, it was more an indictment of their carelessness with him than anything else. Because they placed so little significance on him, he would never have dreamed that he’d have been given somethingthisimportant.
Andneverat that age.
Kalder winced as his gut tightened and he relived that moment when he’d pulled off his father’s ring.…
Nay, not his father’s ring—hismother’sring from his pinkie and had handed it over to this treacherous slag without a second thought.
To prove his loyalty to a viper.
Sick to his stomach, he glared at Bron now and shook his head. “You knew what the ring was when you demanded it from me! How could you?”
His anger mounted as he turned toward Chthamalus. “Andyou… why didn’t you ever tell me?”
“He didn’t know anything more than it was a signet ring with the royal crest.” Devyl placed his hand on Kalder’s shoulder. “I only know what the rings are because I know your aunts and their treachery, and magick. And I promised your father that I’d watch over you for him. As you know, your father trusted no one.” He turned his red eyes toward Bron. “For good reason. He didn’t dare let anyone know what the ring was, for fear they’d take it from you and use it against you.”
Which they’d done.
“How did Bron find out, then?”
“That is the question, isn’t it?”
Bron lifted her chin. “You’re not the only one who can cast a spell, Druid.”
Kalder laughed at her words, drawing her attention back toward him. “Nay, he isn’t. And I’m not the only one in this family who can bleed.” Summoning his fire, he threw it at her.
She screamed as it hit her. But before it could engulf her, Varice whipped his cloak off and put it out. He ordered the watchmen to attack Kalder.
Bring it, you bitches.
For the whole of his life, he’d fought against the unreasoning rage inside him. Had tamped it down and tried to ride herd on thedarkest parts of his personality that had begged him to lash out at the world that had hated him since the hour of his birth, and destroy everyone and everything he could.
The world was ugly and mad.
Just like him.
Kalder was done with it all. More than that, he was done with them.
If he was bound back to hell, then he planned to chain them to the devil’s throne so that he could spend the rest of eternity beating their collective asses.
