Page 52 of Reign of Betrayal

I leave the training grounds without looking back at Reign. I find Raymon in the palace. He gives me the details I need, and I set off. I need to make one stop before I head into town.

Openingthe door of the shop, I see no one at the counter, so I immediately walk to the back. The heat is blazing, almost scorching my skin. The sound of hammers pounding on metal rattles through the air. I breathe in thick lungs full of soot as I walk further into the smithy.

“Prince Lukene.” The big burly blacksmith bows. When he stands, he uses the back of his hands to wipe sweat and soot from his eyes. The other men spot me and cower back. They all know who I am, fear what I am. Ari and I have been acquaintances for a while and he does amazing work for me. He has nothing to fear from me at this point.

“Ari, I have a huge favor, and I need it as soon as possible.”

“Sure. What have you got for me?”

I pull a piece of paper from my tunic, handing it to him. He takes the paper with his big, dirty hands and opens it up. He studies it for a minute before looking at me.

“How big do you want it?” he asks.

“It is for a woman. Can you make it as I designed?”

He laughs a joyous laugh which makes me smile. “Of course I can make this! It will be my finest work yet. I will send word when it’s done.” He claps me on the shoulder with his meaty paws.

I nod and pull a tiny sack full of coppers out and hand it to him. He grasps the sack, tucking it in his pant pockets.

I leave the smithy and head into the town to stake out the house. Reign is plaguing my mind. She is like a bug on a summer day that won’t leave you alone. She consumes my thoughts even when I don’t want to think of her. Only now, she is in my sister’s line of sight. You never want to be on Vanna’s bad side. I am not sure why Vanna has taken an interest in the girl. However, it proves that I need to leave her alone. After I get this gift back from the blacksmith, I will leave her alone entirely. I hope…

I need my mind back. I need it cleared. I need to focus. I need to not have her cloud my every thought and decision. Darkness fills every corner in me. I am not good, and I have a momentary lapse in judgment when I do show kindness. I am a monster at my core. Reign needs to be reminded of that. I need to remind myself of that.

Finding the house is easy. I watch the family for a bit, watch their movements. I am the cool and calculating Dark Prince making his mark. It is time I remember who I am. This is exactly what I need. This is what I am…

A killer.

An enforcer.

A monster.

I am not weak. I take lives, it’s what I have always done. It has never bothered me. I will end this magic wielder and his wife for thinking they can plan an uprising against the crown, against my kingdom. I close my eyes and feel the darkness in me. I let it flood my veins and calm me, caress me in its ebony essence. Calling upon it, shadows leak from me, and I head toward the house.

“More! Push yourself harder!” Kylo demands.

I try. I lift the burning ball of fire higher, willing it to blaze brighter, larger. It’s by far the biggest I’ve ever conjured, about the size of my head.

“Reign, don’t be afraid. Make it bigger,” Kylo orders again.

“I’m trying, captain!” I snap, sweat streaming down my face. Every muscle in my body aches from fatigue, making me sway on my feet.

“Enough.”

I collapse to my knees and my magic ceases. The once vibrant ball of fire flickers out, dwindling into nothing.

Gasping for air, I stare at the ground, completely spent. Kylo has pushed me harder than ever before. Suddenly, knees appear in front of me, close enough to brush against my own.

I lift my head to meet Kylo’s kind brown eyes. “You are holding back, whether you realize it or not. I feel your magic. You can do much more—somuch more.”

He stands, extending a hand toward me, which I graciously take.

“Come. Let’s get some water.”

We walk over to a table near the weapons. My legs tremble from the strain of the magic I just unleashed. On the other side of the training yard, I notice Captain James moving through the grounds, helping the other prisoners—Elm included. A smile tugs at my lips at the sight of it.

A guard is walking toward Kylo, the same one that guarded the entrance to the cursed roses. Something about him feels off. He is dangerous. He feels… evil.

He looks me dead in the eyes and smiles. The smile is full of malicious intent. A chill reverberates down my spine, and every hair on my arms and neck stands on end at the darkness I find in his eyes.

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