Page 82 of Blood and Reign

Kai looks at me as if I’m an idiot. “You didn’t honestly think I wouldn’t check up on you guys.”

I frown, sensing nothing but honesty in his voice. “Why—”

“Who cares if the boy followed you around? None of this matters now. Just kill the man and let’s be done with this.” My mother gives me another one of her disapproving looks, making me sigh.

“Of course, Mother.”

“Rion, stop. You don’t want this on your conscience.”

I shake my head at Kai, disappointed in him. “You never really knew me then. Because I’ll go to great lengths to protect my family.”

“Our family would never send you off to kill an innocent man, and you know it.”

I ignore his words even when they strike a chord deep within me, pulling until it tightens against my chest.

I ignore him and everything else as I step forward, only to freeze at his next words.

“They’ve been having you tailed.”

There were a few times when I thought someone was following me, but no matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t find any evidence to back it up.

Was I right all this time?

I turn to Kai. “What are you talking about?”

Kai wastes no time telling me. “Should you not fulfill their duties, they’ll pull the plug on you. They have someone following you to make sure you go ahead with your… jobs.”

Why would they…

I turn to my parents, giving them a questioning look. “Is this true?”

My parents share a hesitant look, giving me my answer. My mother looks worried but quickly covers it. “At first, we needed to make sure we could trust you to do what needed to be done. That’s all.”

I tighten my hand on my blade.Trust? After everything I’ve done for them.

My mother continues not noticing the shift in me. “Trust takes time. Something you need to earn.”

“Have I not earned it, Mother? Have I not killed enough of our enemies to satisfy your blood lust?”

She raises her head, a haughty look on her face. “There’s always room for improvement. Besides, thosefriendsof yours brainwashed you. Do you know how many times Xavier had to work with you to get you to this stage?”

I freeze, the blood in my veins turning to ice. “What are you talking about? Ineverworked with Xavier.” Xavier was a warlock who liked to dabble in the black arts. He was double my age and loved playing mind games, especially when he made them do things they didn’t want to do. But he was never able to deceive me, my mind not weak enough for him to command.

Or at least, that’s what I thought.

My mother blanches, turning white before trying to cover it with a laugh. One that’s hollow and fake, it seems just like her. “Of course, you did. Maybe you’ve simply forgotten about it.”

“Tell me!” Both my parents flinch at the rage in my voice. But it’s my father who answers.

“With your abilities, you could be anything you wanted, but you were always too soft. The more time you spent with your little friends, the less you wanted to take on your responsibilities here.”

I hear Kai scoff. My father ignores him, continuing. “But when you came back to us, you were different.”

Yes. I’d lost everything, including the one thing that makes this world worthwhile.

Kiarra.

Without her, everything fell apart.

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