“This shit is how you become Emperor some day!” Cameron insisted.
I whirled back toward him. “Emperor of what? Our shield isn’t going to hold forever. Once the Warden finds us interesting again, there won’t be anything to reign over. You know that. It’s why you insist on filling your last days with this bullshit, so you don’t have to face the reality that you’ve already been beaten.”
Cameron’s palm came out of nowhere. It cracked against the side of my face. I staggered backward, but it was only a step or two, because honestly, he hit like a little bitch.
Oberi lost his mind— he snarled at Cameron, lunging for my father’s face. I grabbed him by the collar that had been fastened to his neck and hauled him back.
Let me have him, Oberi growled, foaming at the mouth to rip out his throat.
It would’ve made things easier— for everyone, probably— but I still told him, No.
Oberi gave a few warning barks that sounded mean, and the fucker cowered away. My face stung, but I didn’t give Cameron the satisfaction of a reaction.
I wouldn’t hit him back. Somehow, my refusal to retaliate against Cameron had become some kind of agreement I’d made with myself. I could easily put my father in his place. I was bigger, stronger, and I was one hell of a better fighter. Unlike him, I’d actually gotten into scraps my guards didn’t have to get me out of.
But that was the point. If I struck back, he won. And I’d burn in hell before I allowed my father to make me feel like I’d lost a singular battle against him, even if the whole kingdom ended up in our graves because of it.
Cameron gave a cruel laugh. “Fine. If you don’t want to participate in becoming a royal, and are adamant about sticking to your heathen ways, then there’s nothing more I can do for you. Feel free to galivant the palace, because I’m not teaching you anymore. You’re useless.”
Funny he should say that, because he was the one who still hadn’t caught Alistair, which was impressive all on its own. Alistair was loud, arrogant, and drew attention everywhere he went. There was no way he wasn’t leaving a ton of messy clues behind as to where he’d gone. Cassiel would’ve caught him within the hour, yet the fugitive was still on the run somewhere. At this point, Cameron had to be actively trying to rule incompetently.
I couldn’t care less about being kicked out, so long as I no longer had to deal with him. “Perfect. Then we’re on the same page. Let’s go, Oberi.”
I turned, but my father’s voice carried after me. “If you leave this room, that’s it! It’s over! You and I will no longer have a relationship, and I’ll be done with you!”
“Fine with me,” I muttered, and I stepped out of the room.
Cameron didn’t bother fighting it. He was probably as relieved as I was that our so-called lessons were done and over with. Now he could go bend over in his quarters and wait for the Warden to slaughter him.
Once I passed through the door, I heard sharp footsteps enter from another entrance of the room. I didn’t know who it was, but Oberi grabbed my pant leg with his teeth and tugged it to hold me back. Wait.
I paused, pressing to the wall so I was out of sight, but I could still hear whatever was going on in the room. My stepmother’s voice echoed with barely repressed rage as she uttered, “This isn’t you, Cameron. Whoever this person is, it’s not the man I married.”
“Majestica men need to have some backbone. Somebody needs to knock some sense into that boy, because he doesn’t have any.”
“You struck him! Again!” Drea yelled. “I struggled to turn my face away when you took his finger, because that is the law of this family, but I will not stand for you beating the last living heir at every whim and turn!”
“I know how to handle my own son. He isn’t your blood, so keep out of it,” Cameron snarled. He really was in a nasty mood.
“I can’t keep out of it when you’re laying hands on the crown prince!” Drea demanded. “I took an oath to protect the Elvish family line!”
“Are you a guard, or my wife?” Cameron sneered. “Whose side are you on?”
“I am both, as you’re very much aware,” Drea replied coolly. “This is wrong. It’s not how you run an empire.”
“Don’t tell me what to do. You don’t understand the weight that’s been put upon my shoulders.” Hell, he sounded so whiny. It was terribly pathetic.
“You were a good man until Charlie showed up. Then you became jealous that your son was a better man than you.”
“How dare you. I’ve waited to obtain the crown, so I get to have my say in how I do things now that it’s finally my turn!”
I read between the lines. Me being alive and in line for the throne had broken something in Cameron. He considered it his throne… something he didn’t want to share.
“Cameron, you didn’t even want the throne. Not for years,” Drea said tiredly. “You ran away from it the first chance you got. Now it’s all you care about.”
“I was a petulant child when I ran from my responsibilities, just like that boy,” Cameron spat. “I didn’t realize what I was giving up.”
“You don’t know what you’re giving up now! You’ve all but lost your son!”
