Page 8 of When Day Breaks

"I guess you don't. But none of that is important right now. The kingdom is on fire and Rivian needs you."

"What makes you think I give a rat's ass about my brother?"

This. This is why I'm here. Travois and Rivian have always been in a constant battle for whatever reason. Power? Money? Title? Respect? Who knows. It's not my battle to face and honestly, I don't care too much. I just know that having that kind of disregard for the king on my side will only be beneficial.

"Troian is dead," I tell him through my smooshed mouth, knowing that when I saw her last she was waking from her desiccation, but he doesn't need to know that. I know he'll have more sympathy toward his twin than for anyone else.

Travois' dark hair hangs in messy waves over his eyes and his muscles bulge as he uses the last of his energy to hold me to the bars, the acidic element still picking away at layers of my skin. Idon't want to find out if this stuff is deadly or if I risk not healing if I'm exposed to it for too long.

"Don't fucking play with me." He pushes me back and then slams me forward, causing a high-pitched ringing to sound in my ears.

"Fuck, calm down! I'm the one with the key." I wave my hand in the air showing the evidence of such, having been close to unlocking the door and sneaking away like I had planned. But now, I have to convince him to let me out of here without trouble.

"What the fuck do you want?" He demands from me one more time. And I could compel him to be on my side, but that would take the fun out of the work I'm doing here. But I’ll likely just compel him to forget he saw me after I set him free.

Travois will be a good distraction. The Faction will call for his return, he’ll likely cause some pointless fight with Rivian and maybe in the end, we can be allies.

"Just thought you'd appreciate the gesture." I don't know what else to say to him to convince him to let me go. But as he looks at me with rage in his eyes, hunger igniting behind his irises, he lowers me back down to the ground and loosens his grip on my shirt and soon, lets me go entirely.

"If I find out you have anything to do with any of this, I will decorate the castle with your head on a spike and feed your heart to my unrelenting sister." His threat is heard loud and clear. I always estimated Travois to be the strongest of his siblings. It's the way it works to be born in light of ananima vinculumwhether love is of the essence or not. Rivian just happened to be older, and the eldest sibling follows the law when royalty titles are in question.

But neither Travois nor Rivian have all the facts and I will find my victory in all of this.

4

from the ashes

Rivian

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO – December 10th

It's almost midnight and the sounds that echo through the dark air surrounding are only that of the natural creeks the castle is prone to and the gentle whistle of the wind that sweeps against the windows. But not all stays quiet in the night; it's where I learned to find secrets and why I love sticking to the shadows.

That, and it's my solitude.

I remove the blanket from my body, allowing the cold air to wisp over my bare torso, welcoming the crisp sting to caress my raw wounds.

Earlier today, I'd suffered whips to the back—by chain this time—and a few more cigarette burns on my chest. The skin still burns where the cherry-lit ashes sizzled on contact, but not ina way that makes me want to cry like I used to—like when I was eight—or angry like I'd used to get—when I was fourteen. It stings now in a way that makes me crave more. I want more pain, and I want to inflict it on others just the same.

My back aches with the feeling of thick, cold, silver metal coming down against my shoulder blades and spine as I attempt to get out of my bed, feeling the fresh memory of my father beating me into strength buzzing against my skin.

Pain is power, he growled as the chains came down against me. I stood up straight this time, much improvement to the times I'd hurdle into fetal position when I was younger.Power means fear of nothing.Lash.Fear of nothing means you are in control. Lash, lash.That is how a king runs their kingdom you weak boy.

Dad, stop!I used to beg my dad.You are no son of mine! I don't raise weak boys,he'd tell me in response.

As I got older, I stopped fighting against it. I'd just let it happen. But it only seemed to get worse the more compliant I got.

As I make my way to the hallway, quiet not to disturb the rest of the castle, I make a note of the time.

One more hour, I tell myself.

One more hour and my life will change forever.

I tiptoe down the hallway, not expecting to bump into anyone. The amber lighting from the ornate candelabras—one every two feet along the wall—illuminates the space with only enough light to keep the atmosphere seeming ominous. But I'm not afraid of the dark. I revel in it.

I get lost in my thoughts for a moment, thinking about what might be different after the day ends and the new one begins, but when a teen-aged girl jumps out around the corner and yellsBoo!, I won't lie . . . I do jump, but just a little.

"What the hell?" I shout to her in a heated, low whisper. Her blonde ponytail still bouncing about as a quirky smile falls over her face.

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