Page 196 of The Fallen Fae King

He is unusually quiet.

I have silenced him. He didn’t expect this move.

Good.

By the Shadow Gods, I don’t want to begin my reign in blood, as a fucking tyrant like Hadrian or my brother.

Yet I won’t start it under the control of Maximinus or the Council. I won’t be seen as a beast or the warrior who can be outsmarted by anyone at court who plots against me.

This is a demonstration, and if I intend to keep my throne, it is necessary.

Yet everyone must see that there is evidence to what I do next.

I pull out the two signed confessions and hurl them on the floor.

Decima scrabbles at them. “What are these?”

“One of them is a confession from your daughter to your treason,” I reply. “Signed. Do you want to confess now too?”

Decima scans the letter in horror. “Your Majesty, forgive me.”

“Why should I? You were the one who once showed me this sword and told me, an Alpha, to kill my own Omega.”

“I can…” Decima crawls toward me, as her hair tumbles wildly around her face. “I can…give you other names…who plotted with me…”

“She’s mad.” Cato bursts out of his seat. “Kill her. Now.”

“If you insist.” I slash the sword down.

It hums with dark glee, slicing off Decima’s head.

Her body slumps to the floor, and blood puddles around her.

I take a step back not to soil my boots.

Daire flaps his wings. “The head of my enemy. How did you know it’s what I always wanted?”

“Because you’re a fighter like I am.” I wipe the blood off the edges of my sword’s blade on my cloak. “And she insulted you.”

Daire wraps his wing around Freya, pulling her against his side. “She insulted our Empress.”

“A dragon always says that two heads are better than one.”

I nod at Ignatius, who marches grimly to snatch Cato by the arm and drag him toward me.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Cato struggles in Ignatius’ grip.

“He’s bringing another traitor to…what did you suggest? Be executed?” I reply.

Cato splutters in shock, as Ignatius hurls Aquila’s dad sprawling in a heap in front of me.

Ignatius looks deeply satisfied.

I raise the blade to Cato’s neck. “Choose your next words carefully.”

“I have always been loyal.” Cato can hardly draw in a breath because he is breathing so fast.

“The second letter over there, written by your Omega son who you abused, says differently.” I lean closer, pricking Cato’s neck with the tip of the blade. “Now, he is safe from you, and I’m safe from your plot to assassinate me.”