Page 97 of To Bleed A Kingdom

The little control I have over the situation would be lost if I was stripped of my command, and I can't trust whoever my successor would be to take the necessary actions to protect our Kingdom. Griffin would, but it's not guaranteed that as my second he would assume my role. Which is why instead of blasting Aerin out of my way and storming through the door, I take a reluctant step back from him and blow out a calming breath.

“There's been another Soulless attack.”

Aerin pinches his eyes shut. “Was anyone injured?”

“Two guards,” I reply. Wanting to keep this information quiet as long as possible, I sweep my gaze across the hall, searching for any possible loiterers before lowering my voice. “They said they were attacked by over three dozen Soulless.”

“Three dozen?” Eyes widened in shock, his head jerks back.“That's not possible.”

“I thought so too, but it's true,” I reply with a bitter laugh, rubbing the back of my head. “We can't continue to field these attacks blind, Aerin. We need to act.” Placing my hand on his shoulder, I implore him to comprehend the severity of the situation. “I need to speak with my mother.”

Aerin groans, his shoulders slumping. “I can’t disobey a direct command, Darius. I’m sorry.”

Anger spiking, I curl my finger into his shoulder, digging all the way to the bone. “If I was Theon or Aurora, would you allow me through?”

The ensuing silence is answer enough.

Frustrated and livid, I shove him into the door and storm away, my commanders falling silently into formation behind me.

“Your mother spoke tome after you made your proposal to the Kings Council!” Aerin calls out. I slow to a halt, glancing at him over my shoulder. “For what it's worth, I agree with you.”

“Did you tell her that?”

“I did.” He nods, his lips flattening to an irritable line. “But she was not interested in my thoughts on the matter.”

All I can do is grunt in response, imagining how infuriated my mother must have been when her most loyal servant spoke out against her to back an idea presented by me.

“Your mother is a complicated female,” he states delicately. “But when it comes to Brecca, she's incapable of thinking rationally.” Aerin glances over his shoulder, seeming afraid that Adelphia could be listening on the other side of the door before he returns his gaze to me. “Usually I wouldn't involve myself in such matters, but I'll try to speak with her again. With the Soulless activity and the disappearances in Raetia, there's a possibility she may reconsider her decision."

Stiffening, I slowly turn to face him. “What disappearances?”

“The missing Raetians?” he asks, his brows bunching in confusion at my blank stare. “There have been several disappearances over the last few months. King Luthais hasn’t acknowledged them, but my sources believe them to be suspicious.”

“Why am I just now hearing of this?”

“I assumed you knew.”

“I did not,” I growl, furious I'm just now hearing this from him when it should have come directly from my mother.

He watches me for several moments before lifting his chin, his features hardening in resolve. “I'll speak to her.”

Good luck with that.

Nodding stiffly, I spin on my heel and storm down the hall, my commanders trailing behind as I force myself to retreat before I race back and break down that fucking door.

Passing my chambers, then Theon’s, Kiora’s, and Aurora’s, we descend the staircase before leaving the royal wing altogether. Rage bleeds from my pores and seeps into the air, casting a palpable menace around myself that all can sense. Palace staff scurry past or duck within alcoves, lords bow with trembling limbs, and I have to restrain myself from barking at the bumbling guard when he struggles to open the arched doors to the palace.

“She’s really not going to do anything?” Ajax asks, moving swiftly across the palace grounds.

“No.” I nod to the guards before stepping through the golden gates, feeling the hum of the ward vibrate along my skin before entering the courtyard of the nobility district. Attempting to calm my mind and the fury singing in my veins, I watch the lords and ladies of the nobility casually stroll along.

Completely unaware of the threats lurking outside our walls, they bask in the sunshine of another beautiful day. Shopping, socializing, gossiping. Laughing children weave between legs and hide beneath skirts while others linger near the magicked water fountain, dipping their hands into the water before praying to the gods with a toss of a golden coin. They all seem so happy and free, without a care in the world. I fear if we continue to do nothing, they won't remain that way for long.

“That's horseshit!”

Kace barks a humorless laugh. “Welcome to the selfish minds of royalty.”

Selfish, vain, and cruel. Adelphia is all these things and more. But my mother wasn’t always that way. She was once a kind and compassionate Queen. Loved by all her people, including humans. But after the death of her husband and King Rainier’s assault, something inside her broke, twisting her into a fearful creature so full of hate and pain, I sometimes wonder if that other version of herself ever truly existed.

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