Page 23 of When Day Breaks

"I implore you, Travois. Do not be so eager to start pointing undeserving fingers like you didn't harbor the most profound secret from your family for years." My voice is resolute and calm, but nothing short of declaration and demand. I won't be taken for a fool by the likes of my brother.

Troian takes note of my words, likely remembering the moment we both found out what he'd been hiding from us. That he had known all along that their mother was alive and was even sneaking around our backs to meet with her. I should have been more upset with him for his deception, but it was of no use to cause another war when there was already an unspoken one brewing between us.

"I assure you that the boundaries of my promise to keep certain information sealed was of good intent to our mother." He turns to Troy in hopes that maybe—even in his smugly, proud tone—that she'd learn to understand. "But I think it's awfully humorous that you aim to unearth my rooted secrets while desperately burying your own." A devious smirk paints across his face and though I've mastered the game of poker long, long ago, something in me raises awareness that he might actually know what he is talking about.

"What do you claim to know that I'm hiding?" I don't let my demeanor slip even though I know he's not bluffing. He's got something on me and if it's going to come out, I'll let him havethis. He's always sought out the attention of anyone who would give it to him. At least, he used to.

After he turned, he became distant and cold, sometimes hiding away for weeks on end not caring to participate in conclaves of the Society or even wanting to stay relevant, not wanting anything to do with the world around him unless it could benefit him. I hated him for it, only because our father never cared enough to punish him for his disobedience, yet, I always listened to our father and I was treated to bruises and starvation.

But before he turned, Travois used to always make it known that he wanted to be king and that he deserved it more than me. His greed led to the reason why he wears the lone black glove on his hand at all times now, forced to remember the time he nearly decided he was done chasing a hopeless dream.

I think we all hold our breaths, waiting for whatever secret of mine he claims he can tell. Possibly the one where I've known Cyn for nearly two years and forged her path to me, interfering in others' lives to make sure she made it to her rightful place. Though, that hardly needs to be worried about in the form of secrecy seeing as I can do whatever the fuck I please, and making sure my future wife was safe in my reach is hardly something that can't be shared to the others. But then there's the treachery I planned to ensue once finally getting my hands on Ameliana for the loss of something so valuable to me, and for the betrayal she promised me when she only sought protection for the twins. Had he figured out my plans and now he's ready to dish it out on a silver platter before I'm even ready to plate it myself? That is the one thing I'm terrified to bring to my siblings' attention, though part of me wonders if Travois would even care.

Or maybe-

"Lucynda Claire," he deadpans. "Now known as Lucynda Duquesne."

Troian looks at me in utter confusion.What could her twin brother possibly be on about, right?Then again, she knows about the curse, and he doesn't . . . but that's not something to be proud of per se. Knowledge of the lavender curse could wage more war for—potentially—Lucynda's death, seeing as I can't remember a time in history where anyone survived that kind of curse. But that can't possibly be what he's about to share. So as Troy's blue eyes leave mine to focus back on the notably knowledgeable speaker in the room, I prepare for a shot of disappointment to ascend from my sister because I fear I know now where this is going.

"You know, it’s crazy to think that destiny could have had different plans for her…" Trav pulls his sinisterly painted eyes to my own, "Sweet, little Lucy. Like, say if her mom didn't flee the first time around, shortly after having given birth to twins, she still might have ended up a Duquesne at birth. The irony." His tone is menacing as he threatens to divulge the truth I opted to keep from them.

"What the fuck are you on?" Troian shoots him a look of dubiety with her wide eyes, her arms crossed over her chest and her hair thrown over her shoulder.

"But you knew that already, didn't you, Rivian?" Travois doesn't falter his glare at me, telling me in whatever fucked up way he sees fit that he knows exactly what I think he knows.

But why is it then that I'm not too concerned about the outcome? Is it because it was inevitable that all of my dark and twisted secrets would be uncovered? And this little piece of the puzzle might only scratch the surface? Or is it because I'm tired of holding on to the burden of keeping things from my family? Not that, again, I find that Travois would pay too much mind to care regardless. But somewhere inside me, there's a thaw. A need for absolution in something other than revenge.

Forgiveness.

I know now that whatever comes from the other side of all this; the war, the secrecy, the curse, the treason . . . I want to remain in power, and I want to rule with my queen, and I can only do that honorably if I am forgiven. So something in me isn't keen to fight my brother on his knowledge of one of many potentially traitorous secrets, because soon I'd need to start finding a way to speak for all of my errors and find a way to build trust around me within this kingdom again.

Soon, everyone in the Society might learn of my deceit, my selfishness, and they will likely turn on me and it would be easier to handle if I had my sister, my wife and possibly my brother on my side.

So, I don't try to stop him from sharing just one of many bones I've settled for my plan. Instead, I take a moment to analyze the other two who will also be privileged to the knowledge Trav is about to reveal. Am I worried about either of them knowing? I can't be too sure. I'd say I trust Kacian more than Zharus right now, and that's only because I haven't been too blind to not notice how strange Zhar has been acting lately.

Still, I don't speak a word, rather I wait for him to pull the plug and expose this big damning secret of mine, ready to finally get it off my shoulders, because do I really care so much to hold on to a secret that might wield insignificance in the grand scheme of things when the subject of such is suffering just a few levels below where we all stand? I know it might tear Troy up; she wantedtruthsfrom me and all I gave her were more excuses as to why I can't provide hertruthsjust yet. Her disappointment will sting but I know this too shall pass.

"Family bonding and all, maybe I'll go grab my sister and let her in on all the fun." He's a pusher. He likes to dig and dig until the dam holding in your very last nerve breaks and you snap. It's his favorite thing to do to people—for whatever fucked up reason, I am unaware—and right now, I know that's what he'sdoing. He's prolonging his big reveal by punishing me in the form ofpushing. Pushing me to break so that maybe I present myself as the bad guy once more before he finally tells all. It's a game of his I know too well.

"I'm right here, dumb ass." Troy smacks Trav's upper arm with the back of her hand before turning to shoot her daggered stare at me. "What the fuck is going on?"

"Notthatsister," Travois quips, though only I understand the attempt at humor. "You see, Lucynda isn't here because of some stupid soul-bind lore, is she brother?"

"Lucyndaismy tether," I state as if I need to defend myself to anyone.

I am the king, siblings or not. And right now, Travois is lucky I'm letting him have his oddly entertaining fifteen minutes of fame before he disappears and we don't see him again for another week or two. But he's not wrong. That's not the sole reason why she's here.

"Oh, but that would be too easy, wouldn't it, Rivian? Go on, tell her. Or maybe I'll bringAmyover here to share the great news."

"Who the fuck is Amy?" I can't bother with Troy right now. I don't want to hear her or look at her. I can already feel my treachery puncturing her trust in me. And the way Travois chooses to taunt the situation seems almost covetous and ruthless, and for no real reason.

"Ameliana." All four of us rear our heads over to Zharus, who's obviously come to the realization using the context clues Travois has been feeding anyone who will listen. His response resembles an eye-opening gesture; mimicking a lightbulb going off in his head.

"My mom?" Troian's head twists back to me and then to Trav.It's stronger, the way I know this news might break her heart."But what does she have to do with-"

"Troy," I whisper, still not brave enough to face her straight on. I can feel Trav's eyes burn holes into my temples as the air between Kacian and Zharus grows more aware.

"No. That's not possible. That would mean that-" Troian takes a few steps back, her eyes searching everyone else's before falling to the floor in disbelief.

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