He destroyed Zayne's trust in him. The most honorable thing to do was accept the consequences of his actions and never attempt to win back what he'd rightfully lost. Still, he never stopped being an older brother.
Trying to help his brother without that trust wasn't unlike cutting down a tree with nothing but his own hands. An enormous, stubborn tree with thick roots clinging to the ground it didn't want to lose.
Luke barely calmed himself down on the ride to the Phaedra's in time to meet the emperor in his study. Though he felt like he hid his feelings well, the Phaedra always read him expertly.
“Tell me what's bothering you, son.” The Phaedra already checked Luke. Damn. He'd never win.
“Nothing, my Phaedra.”
“You're brooding.”
They started a new game, but Luke knew from the first move the Phaedra had won this match. He was a master chess player, and he played the game from start to finish in his mind with ease. As skilled as the Phaedra was in chess, he was much more brilliant in politics and manipulation.
“Zayne isn't ready for this mission,” Luke said.
“You think I've made a mistake?”
He measured his words and his tone perfectly, but didn't back down. “Yes, my Phaedra.”
“You feel strongly enough about it to defy me.”
“You tell me to speak freely in your study.”
“You think I don't know what I'm doing?”
He paused, considering whether to say the next part. “I think your love for Zayne clouds your view of him.”
The Phaedra's expression loosened as he snickered, an unexpected reaction. “You're still young. Not as short-sighted and naive as your brother, but young in your own way. Interesting that you think my emotions cloud my judgment of Zayne, but you don't see yours do as well. Hate is as disorienting as love, my son.”
“I don't hate Zayne.” The notion raised his hackles. The Phaedra shouldn't validate his brother's self-pitying notion that Luke detested him.
“Love, hate…” With a shrug, the Phaedra made his next move. The game had already been decided, but they went through the motions anyway. “You've let the two tangle so much you can no longer tell the difference between one and the other.”
Luke trained his stare on a rook, wondering whether it was true, and whether he could untangle the two.
“You don't trust your brother. That's fine,” the Phaedra said. “Trust me, instead. I've heard your concerns. But Zayne is the only man for this job. He's the only one the prisoner will trust.”
“She's an untrained civilian. Surely—”
“Zayne cares about her. It might be his weakness, but what you can't see yet is that it's also a valuable strength.”
How did no one else recognize the threat Zayne posed to the empire? His idealism and stubbornness set him on a course that would never align with the Phaedra. “I've seen no good come of it in his life.”
“You can't see as far ahead as I can, boy. Trust me.”
Luke lowered his head. “Yes, my Phaedra.”
“Do you know why we play chess every few weeks?”
He looked up. “You enjoy watching me lose.”
This made the Phaedra chuckle. “It's because you see all my moves, and you still never surrender. I value your dedication.” The Phaedra held his eyes, his smile sincere. “And because you're very important to me. I'm afraid you forget this sometimes.”
“Don't pity me. I'm not as vain as some may think. I can handle you favoring Zayne over me.”
“Even though. I believe I hear aneven thoughsomewhere in there.”
“Even though I've never failed you.”
