Page 43 of When Day Breaks

"Who?" I question as we approach the table.

He pulls out my chair and I sit, everyone else sitting with me. Zharus stands behind me slightly to the side as I wait for his answer.

"The Faction. They got word of the fire and Travois' escape. They are asking for the peaceful return of Travois within the next seventy-two hours, and if they don't get him back by then, they will seek your abdication." Zharus' words are final.

Abdication my ass. After everything I've gone through, including my efforts to rid myself of this burden, I will not betold that my reign has ended on some technicality that seems to be out of my hands.

"They are also requesting the source of the fire be answered. Arson is not something the Faction takes too lightly." One of my other guards speaks.

There's never really been any cause for them to be present in the past few months since the previous king's death. My father always had them following him around as if his whole existence was at risk. But this meeting seemed to have been called by Zharus as he was able to obtain some information.

"Do tell. What was the cause of the fire?" I look across the table where several empty chairs separate me and my brother.

He's dressed in his typical casual attire. Dark jeans, black shirt, and a dark brown leather jacket. His black hair is pushed back enough to show off the faded sides of his head and his elusive blue and gray eyes are staring right into mine. He's smug as his smirk is thin and his arms rest subtly on the rests of the regal chair.

"Howdidyou escape?" I question him, making sure to match the same level of energy he's providing me with the nonchalance and the eye contact. But I'm not too foolish to know that I need to take this matter seriously whereas he could care less.

"Have you checked on your wife lately?" He meets me with another question instead of answering my own. Irritation rises in my throat, wanting to put him in his place for bringing her up. I don't know when this war truly started between Travois and I but I hate when he brings up things that he clearly knows affect me. It's as if he's trying to get under my skin, and I want to get under his as well.

"I'm yoursister." A heavenly voice speaks up from behind me, her echo gently soothing the rage I felt building just at the sight of my brother.

I stand to greet my queen. All the others turn to face her and bow their heads. I see Trav being a disrespectful prick out of the corner of my eyes, but he knows better than to let me say anything to him, so slowly he stands and forces his attention on his sister. My wife. The queen.

"Oh, I-" Startled, she makes her way to my side where Zharus pulls a chair back for her to sit herself in. She nods a shy gesture at him before taking her seat and we all follow suit.

Zharus and Lucynda haven't really had a chance to be fully introduced to each other and I suppose I'm okay with that for now. I want my wife to learn who is of importance to this castle but as it stands, I'm not sure I want everyone to know her.

I've got a bad case ofshe's mineand simultaneously, I can't trust anyone right now.

"Speaking of, where is Troian?" I turn to ask, wanting to break up the tension that layers the room.

Almost as if on cue, a throat clears behind us as my sister makes her presence known. She struts through the room and reaches the table.

"Right here. Wouldn't miss this little shindig for the world." Her tone is bubbly but feigned as usual.

Zharus reaches for a chair to assist Troian, but in tried-and-true fashion, she gives him a look that relays his stupidity for trying to help her. She swats his hand away and seats herself. Always on a mission to prove her independence and that is why I admire her.

Zharus grunts silently while Travois chuckles under his breath and at once, everyone who needs to be here is here. Minus Kacian, but I'll make time for him shortly.

I look around the table and see the scarcity of what most would call an army. A couple dozen guards make up the kingdom and only a handful of them are here. If we're discussing family orders, I don't enjoy the additional ears. Along with them,Zharus is open for conversation as well but as he has the job of providing information for certain times like this.

This is when I recognize that I have truly failed my early months of being the king. Most rulers would hold weekly or bi-weekly meetings to discuss economics or whatever other bullshit effects vampire existence, plan parties, host get-togethers from those of other societies, and make sure that armies are formed for events like this. Kings and queens also visit the compound grounds regularly to check in on the other members of the society and such. I've merely left everyone out on their own, not really providing them with any normalcy in the society. As shitty as my father was, he made for a decent king and it begs me to wonder if my people are thriving. I've been so focused on my own needs that I failed to take care of theirs.

I don't even know if they’ve been made aware of what's been going on this past month and besides the wedding, they haven't even seen much of me or their queen. Granted, I don't want anyone to see her in the current state she's in. That would shake fear in them without question. But I owe it to my people to have the right to be in the know and to ensure that they are taken care of on my watch.

The fire was a touch and go kind of thing, and I should have done a better job to explain things to them then instead of telling them to mind their own business and to go back to normalcy. But what is normalcy? I never really imagined a life where I wasn't trying to kill someone for my grievances. But now, as I close my eyes, I can see my wife and I, king and queen of Hollows Trace. All of my people in attendance at an extravagant ball that we hosted for all of the societies to come and drink, dance and chat amongst each other. My wife and I run a good kingdom. We're respected and powerful and no one is down our throats claiming treason. That's what it should be.

But instead, we're here. A table made up of the four of us with my guards listening on problems that are likely more family related than anything, and the idea of that stirs discomfort in me. But I know that we can't fight wars alone, so for now, I let them stay.

I feel my wife's hand softly press against my arm, letting me know that I've been in thought for a moment too long. I look over at her, a slight smile curls on her face and suddenly, everything starts to feel calm again. But I know it won't last long.

I clear my throat and look over to my brother who has been watching me intently since I came into the room.

"You didn't answer my question, Trav." I hold my tone to a level of sternness, demanding his attention. He looks between the girls and I, all of us with our eyes on him.

He showed up out of nowhere the other night, from a holding cell that is supposedly impenetrable, and while we know now that there is a request for his return, it still strikes me as odd how he willingly succumbed to the charges and accusations and now . . . he's here. "How did you escape?" I ask him once more.

"This may come as a shock to you, brother. But someone felt as though my presence was rather necessary during thesetryingtimes." He shrugs his shoulders as he looks around at the other guards in the room.

---