Page 9 of A Sun Scorched Bloom

Gray

Thelastoftherebellion—hisrebellion—disappeared into the dense line of trees beyond the city of Auropera as Gray knocked the sword from a young guard's hand. A soldier named Noah that Gray recognized as one of his soldiers knelt at his feet, hands above him in surrender. Gray had considered him for the rebellion on more than one occasion, but something had held him back. Perhaps it was the fact that he looked as if he had just left childhood, and Gray had no way of knowing if this was a battle his soldiers would walk away from. Or maybe it was because he saw something of himself in the boy. Not as he was now, of course, but when he’d been young and naïve—innocent andgood.

Noah was wet behind the ears and human, but his bravery was obvious. He was the only remaining guard alive on the streets of Auropera, yet his sword was free of blood. He hadn’t killed any rebels.So why is he here?

The rest of the guards had fled once they’d realized they had no chance of defeating him. A few of his rebels had spread the rumor that the king was on his way—a lie that had caused both his men and the royal guards to flee in fear. Gray, however, knew the truth. The king would have locked himself in his chamber the moment he’d been informed of the explosion in an attempt to save his own skin. But the soldiers didn’t know that. They feared Gray, as well as the king, and so they had fled.

Many of Brennus Nestruir’s soldiers would seek to join the rebellion in the coming months, Gray expected. Most of the guards had joined the Royal Army for no other purpose than providing for their families back home, their pay allowing for a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. It wasn’t loyalty to the cause that had led them to enlist—a fact he would certainly use to his advantage.

Gray’s blade pressed harder against the boy’s neck, a drop of deep red blood trickling from the small nick. "Where is Alaric? Who gave you your orders?"

Noah’s eyes widened. "I—I don’t know. We heard the explosion, and we ran to the gates. Prince Alaric found us, told us that to allow you to leave would be to commit treason to the Crown."

Holding his sword firmly against Noah’s neck, Gray took a moment to assess him. His body trembled, but he kept his chin high and his eyes locked on Gray’s. A mixture of sadness and concern churned in his stomach. He didn’t want to kill the young soldier, one who hadn’t raised his weapon to harm a single rebel. But at the same time, he couldn’t risk bringing anyone with even an ounce of loyalty to his father or brother with him. "And what do you think, Noah?" Gray finally asked.

The boy froze, his brow furrowing.

"Oh yes, I know who you are. Noah Copperton. Human. Eighteen years old. One living parent and three younger sisters. Did I miss anything?"

"No, Commander. But… How do you know—"

"Alaric thinks the army you saw fighting along with me are traitors to the Crown." Gray angled the sword up, raising Noah’s chin to meet his gaze, and a fresh dribble of blood spilled from his neck. "I’d like to know. What doyouthink?"

The boy’s hands shook as he held them above his head, his arms clearly fatigued from holding them up after carrying his sword during the battle. "I—"

Fire blazed from Gray’s left, a sudden surge in the low flames that had been slowly spreading across the dried grass bursting into an inferno that caused his metal breastplate to warm to nearly burning. Gray twisted toward the explosion of fire as a shard of familiar hatred wedged between his ribs.Alaric.

"And why, Evander, would it matter if the human believes they are treasonous or not?" Alaric hissed as he emerged through the flames. "Ishethe future leader of this kingdom? Or is he a soldier whose sole purpose is to followmyorders?"

Gray pulled his sword away from Noah’s neck and held it out in front of him toward Alaric. "Surprised, brother?" Gray asked with a forced smile as he pulled his shadows from inside his chest and allowed them to burst free. Their long black tendrils snaked along the ground toward Alaric, blending in with the smoke billowing from the grass.

"Surprised?" Alaric threw his head back and cackled, but there was no humor in his eyes. "That you’re the Eclipsed King? No." He waved a hand flippantly. "Nothing you could do could ever surprise me. It seems you’re not as interesting as you've allowed yourself to believe, nor as discreet."

"You’re a terrible liar, you know," Gray said, his taunting tone digging into Alaric’s old wounds. It was an old trick of his. Belittle him, poke at his weaknesses, and Alaric would make mistakes in his blind fury. "If you knew I was leading a rebellion, why wouldn’t you try to stop me? No. I don’t think you’re smart enough to have foreseen this."

Flames danced along Alaric’s fingertips, a lazy motion, as if he was completely unfazed and unbothered by Gray’s comments, but Gray didn’t miss how the fire whipped violently as Alaric’s jaw clenched. "Well, you’ve revealed yourself now. Along with every member of your little gang. You know, Father is very unhappy with you and your treasonous band of misfits." Alaric’s facade slipped as his eyes flashed black and red. "I’ve spent my whole life trying to show him your true character. And now? You’ve done my work for me." He laughed again, an unhinged, terrifying sound. "You’ve given me the chance to save the day. I now have the information I need to destroy the rebellion. And more importantly, to destroyyou. I should thank you, really."

Anger flared within Gray at the callous way Alaric spoke of slaughtering the brave men and women who had pledged to fight alongside him. "You know nothing. Even if you did, I’d rip the tongue from between your teeth before I’d allow you to defeat us. I willkill you, Alaric."

The prince stalked toward Gray, pulling his sword from its sheath. "An interesting threat, when I cannot be killed by your hand. Nor you by mine." A wicked smile crossed his face. "Shame you’ll soon find that the same cannot be said for yourmate."

"You do not speak of her!" Gray seethed. "The curse will be broken, and Iwillkill you. And I’ll do it the most painful, horrific way I can imagine. I’ve had plenty of time to fantasize about how you’ll take your last breath, Alaric."

"Not before yourLittle Flowerdoes," Alaric sneered.

Gray lunged with a roar, his sword rising in an arc as it struck with an ear splitting clang against his brother’s. Blow for blow, they met each other in speed and strength. Equals in battle, as it had been their entire lives. Where Gray thrust, Alaric blocked. When Alaric swung, Gray ducked. Back and forth they went as storm clouds grew in the sky. Gray’s one advantage.

Alaric couldn’t use his fire while wielding a sword. Not that it wasn’t possible, but he lacked the concentration and mental fortitude to juggle the two tasks. But Gray had practiced that exact thing. He had spent countless hours honing his magic into a weapon that could not be easily conquered. Lightning flashed above their heads, its power growing with each strike, building along with his fury.

"Even your lightning won’t protect your mate when I take her. Tell me, does she make the same sounds when she comes as she did when I burned her flesh beneath my fingertips? Those gasps frequent my dreams, little brother."

Wrath—unlike anything Gray had felt before—flared in his chest. He lost control of his power as he went nearly blind with rage. It was only for a second, but it was enough for him to lose focus and slow his movements. Seeing an opening, Alaric struck, his sharp, fiery blade sliding against Gray’s wrist. Blood spurted from the wound, deep enough that the tendons in his thumb severed with a snap. The sword fell from his hand as Alaric lunged for his knees, slicing through muscle and sinew as if it was nothing more than warm butter. Gray fell to the ground, blood running down his leg and staining the grass beneath him.

A sudden jolt of power ricocheted through Gray’s chest, far more intense than the pain from his hand and legs. His bond to Lea stretched tight before disappearing altogether.She’s safe.

A smile crossed Gray’s lips as the tip of Alaric’s sword kissed his cheek, digging into his flesh just underneath his orbital bone. He could take the pain from the cut of a blade as long as he knew that his mate was out of danger.

"So easy to distract. A single threat to that little mate of yours. A human," he laughed. "Ano one.An embarrassment. And you allow me the upper hand."

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