Page 195 of Unbound

He sits up, the blanket pooling around his waist as he runs a hand through his tousled hair. "I can't control how they look at me. None of them know who I am, either. And fuck. If they knew, they'd probably hate me, not bow to me."

I sit up beside him. "No more secrets, Raith. Not between us. We both swore oaths to each other. I swore that your fight was my fight, and I don't even know what that fight is."

He looks at me for a long moment, conflicted emotions battling in his eyes. Finally, he sighs, resignation settling over his features.

"I was born Raith Aurenciel," he says. "Crown Prince of the Red Kingdom."

The revelation hits me like a physical blow.

The Red Kingdom—Empire's greatest rival, the vast nation that has been at war with us for generations. My mind races, trying to reconcile the man I've come to love with this new information.

"That's impossible," I breathe. "The royal family of the Red Kingdom was killed in an accident eleven years ago. There were no..." I trail off, because I already know. Don't I? I saw it happen through his eyes. Through his memories.

There weren't supposed to be any survivors. But...

"I was found half-dead in the rubble, burns covering the left side of my body. A loyal servant of my family was the one who found me. They knew it was an assassination attempt. They knew I'd be killed if my identity ever became known. Within an hour, I was hidden away and sent toward Empire. It was the last place they'd look for me. And the scars helped keep anyone from recognizing me."

"Assassins?" I echo, my mind struggling to keep up.

His laugh is bitter. "The official story is that my sister lost control of her powers, causing an explosion that destroyed the royal wing of the castle. A tragic accident that killed the king, queen, and both heirs to the throne." His jaw tightens. "Leaving my father's cousin, Darian, as the only remaining claimant to the throne."

I feel the sickening picture forming. "You think this Darian arranged for it to happen? For the siphons to kill your family?"

"I know he did," Raith says, his voice hard. "And when I graduate, I'm going to return to Red Kingdom to make sure he regrets it."

My hand rises to cover my mouth. "If anyone discovers you're alive..."

"His claim to the throne would be forfeit," Raith finishes. "And he would stop at nothing to silence me permanently. He's the king of Red Kingdom. He could have an entire contingent of Red Kingdom primals hunting me at a moment's notice. Tens of thousands of armed men and women searching for me. For anyone who dared call themselves an ally or friend. Especially someone I care about.Someone I love," he adds, eyes heavy on me with significance.

I swallow. I can see now why he was so afraid to let me in. So afraid to let anyone in. He's worried they'll be casualties of his uncle's wrath if he's ever discovered.

"It's okay," I say. "I'm willing to take the risk for you, Raith. I'll fight by your side if they come for you. You have to know I would."

"An exiled prince... Interesting. Let him know I will fight to protect him as well, if needed,”Typhon adds.

"Thank you, Typhon."

Raith's expression darkens. He shakes his head. "You don't understand, Nessa. I'm not just planning to hide and survive, to live my life out in obscurity as a tool for Empire. I'm going to take back what was mine. I'm going to fucking kill 'king' Darian myself. I'm going to retake my throne, whatever it takes."

The words land like stones in my stomach. "You want to become king of Red Kingdom?"

"It's my birthright," he says simply. "And Darian is a tyrant who has brought nothing but suffering to my people."

A chill runs down my spine as I finally understand. The man I've fallen in love with doesn't just want to survive—he wants to become the ruler of Empire's greatest enemy.

"The war," I say, the question I can't not ask. "If you took the throne, would you continue the war with Empire?"

"The war is not what you've been taught, Nessa. The history your scribes record is carefully curated to support Empire's narrative."

"What does that mean?"

"It means I've seen atrocities committed by Empire that rival anything the Red Kingdom has done," he says carefully. "I've seen it from both sides now. Neither is innocent."

"But would you end it?" I press, needing to know.

Before he can answer, the deep toll of a bell cuts through the slowly brightening morning air—a single, solemn note that makes my blood run cold.

The Crucible is beginning. Earlier than planned. Much earlier. It’s the middle of the night, not morning like we were told.

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