Page 74 of Cursed Heirs

Given that he was a vampire, that meant cloaking my movements, so I called my power and swept it the length of myself, employing just that. He wouldn’t be able to hear, see, or scent me. It did mean that I couldn’t fly over the kingdom, because the flap of my wings would move and disturb the air, something hewouldfeel.

So, I touched down on the bridge and maneuvered around the army, heading for the palace.

As soon as I made it inside through the huge entrance doors, commotion drew my attention.

I listened carefully and determined that it was the echo of voices coming from the dungeons.

I made my way through the space, following the corridor past the main living room, then making a sharp right turn into the throne room, a space my father used to hold court and to issue decrees, scare the living hell out of detractors… the whole power play of a royal in his element at the seat of his power—quite literally in this case.

I walked to the throne itself, a shimmering silver chair that extended half-way up to the vaulted ceilings, complete with onyx snakes etched into the arms and encircling both those and the legs of the mammoth thing. It made quite the statement.

I went to the candelabra just to the right side of it and I twisted one of the sconces.

A moment later, a trapdoor opened behind the throne.

It was a secret access point into the dungeons.

For my father’s purpose, it was an emergency escape, as a tunnel led out from the dungeon level to a portal out of the Dark Fae Realm that only royalty, his Commander, and the Court were aware of.

I descended the steps, going deeper beneath the palace, commotion growing ever louder, until, as I reached the edge of the arched entrance into the main space that consisted of gray stone cells either side, it became distinctive.

“Put your back into it, almighty one.”

“You are the one who wrought this and caused this predicament by keeping me weakened for far too long. It’s clearly taking its toll.”

“Clearly. However, it was worth it, as it makes you no threat to me.”

“Your hubris grows dangerous, hybrid.”

My father!

He was here with Constantine.

Under duress and he’d said he was weakened too.

“The only danger will befallyouif you do not unearth it very soon, Saryan.”

I frowned, keeping my back tight against the wall.

Unearth what?

I had no knowledge of anything being down here, but prisoners.

Although, right now, with the state of emergency, that wasn’t even the case. As per protocol, they would have been moved to a prison far from the palace, which was obviously the chief target during an attack.

My father and his fucking secrets. We were one in the same when it came to that.

I peered around the rough stone wall, the sight making my gut clench, my fists too.

There were two dozen acolytes all donning their hoodless crimson robes encircling my father and Constantine who were in the center.

These were the magic-wielder section of the madman’s followers, all of them with their palms aflame, their magic directed my father’s way in warning.

Fuckers.

And there my father was on his knees as Constantine stood over him.

The great and almighty Saryan Hart brought to his knees was a difficult sight to stomach.

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