Page 39 of A Fate so Cruel

To his surprise, it had worked. The teacher had also mentioned that time would help. As he aged, his body’s ability to harness magic would grow with him. She was probably the only one who’d given his predicament any honest thought.

“What do you want?” Alec barked. Rion’s hands clenched and unclenched. Alec stared him down, impatiently tapping his fingers on the arm of his throne. Short brown hair hung over light brown eyes. Gods, he looked so much like their father it was ridiculous.

Rion paused before the first step, just like he was supposed to, but unlike others, he didn’t bow. He couldn’t risk exposing himself like that lest Alec decide to damn the consequences of Saoirse’s wrath and be rid of him for good.

“I request permission to take a solo mission.”

“Denied.”

Rion hadn’t expected him to accept right off. “I’m sixteen and I’ve passed every required test.” Most didn’t take solo missions until their animal shifts appeared, but a shift was just one thing on a long list that the gods denied him. “I’m just as capable as any other warrior, I don’t see any reason why—”

“You know damn wellwhy,” Alec growled.

Rion clenched his fists and his sand responded by jerking in an agitated pattern. One guard drew his sword.

“You can’t keep me locked up here.”

“You’re only here because of Saoirse. You’re a walking abomination that should have been killed the moment your cursed magic appeared. If things had happened the way they were supposed to, then Caol and Father would—”

“Alec,” Saoirse’s harsh voice echoed through the main hall. Alec’s angry gaze shifted to her. His jaw flexed. “That’s enough.” Saoirse turned to him, her eyes full of worry. “I told you I’d discuss it with him.”

“I’m done waiting. I’m not a child anymore.” He didn’t need his sister fighting his battles. He’d already waited two weeks.

“She did,” Alec confirmed. “And I’m telling you the same thing I told her: No.”

“He’s just as capable as any other warrior.”

“It’s not about his strength,” Alec shot back. “What happens when the Fae in distant territories refuse to listen to him? Who’s to say he won’t just kill them like he seems to do everyone else?”

Rion bit back the bitterness rising in his throat. “I’ll follow whatever protocol you set forth.”

“And I’m just supposed to believe you?”

“You’d know if I was lying.”

“We’re having an issue in the south,” Saoirse interrupted. “Send him to deal with it.”

“That,” Alec emphasized, “is a sensitive topic not to be discussed outside our war meetings.”

“He’s family,” she declared. “Whether you want to accept it or not. He’s not going to do anything to jeopardize our family name.”

“He already did.”

Saoirse’s lips parted and she quickly glanced at Rion before looking away. Rion didn’t balk at Alec’s accusation. If Caol had been right about anything, it was in accusing Rion of shouldering the responsible for their father’s death.

“Caol was my teacher, too,” Rion said. He could have sworn pain flashed across Alec’s face. “He taught me everything from strategy to negotiations. I’m just as well-versed as you andSaoirse.” Probably more so, given all the years spent with Caol one on one.

Alec pinched the bridge of his nose and stared at the arm of the throne for a long minute. He heaved a defeated sigh and rubbed his eyes. “You can go,” he finally said. “But Saoirse is going with you and I’m sending a team to evaluate. Once their report returns, I’ll make a decision.”

“But—”

Alec cut her off. “He’s young. Regardless of tests, I’m evaluating and I’ll make my decision afterward.” Saoirse closed her mouth and nodded. “Gather your team and meet me in the war room in two hours. We have a lot to discuss.”

The Cursed Fae and a Shattered Heart

Chapter One

Rain rolled down the side of Rion’s face as he peered around the stack of piled wood. The fabric wrapping his knee soaked up the muddy water surrounding him. Thunder rumbled through the sky above and lightning snaked across the darkness.

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