Tedar leaned forward, drawing attention to a large, chipped tusk as he smirked. “Not from what I heard.”
My brow ticked up, and I scanned the room, noting a few generals glaring our way, speaking in low tones amongst themselves. “And what did you hear?”
Tedar leaned closer as if to whisper. “Listen, everyone talks, and after they cleaned up the massacre in the East, everyone knows now.”
My face scrunched in confusion. I had heard nothing of this. “The East? What happened in the East?”
“The World Ender had a lover and not just a fling like in his past. They say she is a beast made of flame and hate, and she followed you lot back. His beast. The female Ig’Morruthen.”
Dianna. He meant Dianna.
I nodded and sat up a bit straighter as he rambled on, the sounds of this room fading into the background.
That power radiated from the doorway, the same as his father, and I didn’t need to turn to know Samkiel was leaning against the doorway of the foyer. I rubbed my wrist, shaking my head.
“Let it go.”
“Is that any way to speak to your future king?”
I heard the concern in his voice.
“Future. You still have to surpass your father.”
Heavy boots echoed as he entered, his battle armor encompassing him entirely, that damn sigil cape flowing behind him. It’s the same one his father wore every damn council meeting.
“Why do you let her—”
I cut him off, spinning to face him. “I don’t let her do anything.”
His eyes widened a fraction, and he watched me carefully as he said, “You can join Logan and me. My father wishes for me to have my own kingsguard even though that will not be the name you claim.”
A snide snort left my lips as the large curtains blew near the opened expanse of a window.
“I decline, future king.”
“Why will you not let me help you?”
I glanced toward the door as if I could see her watching me, waiting.
“Vincent.”
His voice snapped me out of the trance I had fallen into.
“Why do you always wish to help so many?” I asked. “What’s in it for you? You are destined to rule this realm and everyone in between. You don’t have to pretend to be benevolent. They will lick the dirt from your boots, regardless.”
Samkiel shrugged, lifting a single shoulder, his hair curling around the shoulder of his armor. “I just want a better realm, a better world. This one is kind of shit, and I am over egotistical gods.”
“Respectfully, I feel like yours is a mirror.”
His lips quirked. “Mine is bearable.”
I believed him. I believed he wanted something more, something better, even if the world he saw was only a fantastical dream spun by oracles.
“Even if I participated and won, she would never let me leave. Her claws are too deep, my prince.”
His eyes shifted, the silver glow similar to Unir’s and Nismera’s. “You let me worry about her. Just come, try, and meet the others. There is no harm in that.”
Harm. He didn’t get it. No one did, but against all reason, I nodded. He said nothing else before he left, and I stared at that empty expanse of a doorway. He said try, and try, I would.