Page 56 of Crowned A Traitor
“Think, you have been distracted by your desire to leave. Abadan has gained traction with the Demons, has her own private army at the ready. The Lycaons are eradicated and Eve is but a puppet.”
“Abadan warned me about your venomous words.” Klara had to break his heart to get him to see the truth. “Lilith is dead. Ripped apart on Abadan’s orders. Your General got me out before Abadan could take my head for having a simple Human possession.”
“Why would you hold such an object?”
“Like Father, like daughter,” Klara scoffed, and he straightened his stance.
Lucifer disappeared from her vision in a flash.
“Did you kill Lilith? I saw how she helped you escape,” His voice echoed off the high ceiling.
How would he know Lilith had aided me?A spy in Abadan’s army must be feeding him information.
Klara’s eyes darted around the room, trying to find him. She watched the candles flicker as a hand wrapped around her throat. His fingers tightened just enough to scare her into answering him.
“I know how much Lilith meant to you, I would never hurt you, but Abadan will never let me rule. You wish Mila and Frendall to be my advisors. I wouldn’t last a century with the High Queen in Malum and her puppets in Hell.” Her Father’s eyes returned to normal, and he dropped his hand, knowing it was useless.
“I can’t agree with you, it was discussed at length. You were to take the throne from Abadan, and she was to return to Hell.”
Klara’s hand went to her throat, she wished he had tried to harm her because it would have snapped her soul back into her body.
“Abadan would never give up her position to return to an advisory role.”
“I can’t believe it, where are Lilith’s remains?” Lucifer’s hand went to the table in front of the fire, and he lifted the whiskey decanter. Klara knew precisely where Lilith was, torn apart and rotting in the tunnels beneath the Castle. “The escape tunnel in the Castle, that’s where they took her down.”
Lucifer shook his head in disbelief, bringing his glass to his lips. “Have you heard from Lilith? Or just Abadan?” Klara knew Abadan wouldn’t trust Eve not to tell the King everything. Eve was the only queen who had ever been in love with the King.
The corner of the King’s mouth shook, “Lilith is dead,” Lucifer said softly, and she could see the pain in his eyes. “Lilith protected me then ran straight into a hoard of Hounds so I could escape. I was dead whether I had stayed or left.”
Pity filled his eyes, “You could have come to me.”
“And would you have believed me?”
The King hesitated as raised voices in the hallway outside the throne room echoed.
“Appoint Frendall as your Heir. Label me a traitor, and you will see Abadan for what she is. They took out the Lycaons. Packs, dad! Hundreds that helped you win the Forest, burnt to death,” Klara strained to get it all out. She prayed for him to hear her and take action. Klara couldn’t remember the last time she had called him dad.
“Lycaons.” Mistrust was written all over his face as he looked at Klara over the rim of the glass. “Regardless of such rash action, Abadan has always supported me.”
“Supported her son, raised in your image. Why are so blind to what’s right in front of you? Want me to rule? Then listen to me!”
Lucifer raised a hand sealing her lips, “I trained Frendall for your leadership. When I left, there would be someone trustworthy at your side. He cares for you,” Lucifer’s eyes locked on her.
“Whether you trained him for me or not doesn’t matter,” Klara said as the voices grew louder, and she couldn’t be sure who they were after. The sealed doors bulged from the hinges. They couldn’t kill Lucifer but caging him would be a fate worse than death and Abadan was the only one who knew how.
“I don’t want to see you caged Father. The world needs balance, and Abadan will only bring carnage, as she has to Malum. Without you, there will be another war with the Fae Queen.”
Lucifer dragged his foot through the blood circle. The candles surrounding her went out as his hand went to her cheek.
“You are my greatest creation, worth every sacrifice,” her Father muttered, and she knew he wasn’t listening. His eyes glazed over as if he were already admitting defeat.
“Come home, end this. Your place is here,” Lucifer ordered. For the first time, Klara saw tears in her Father’s eyes.
“I can’t. Too many want me dead, those for and against you. I’m not the soldier you need. Trust Frendall alone and raise your armies!” Klara said before the doors burst open, and Demons surrounded them. “My eyes are everywhere, remember that,” Lucifer winked before she was ripped from the throne room.
“Dad!” Klara shouted as her soul snapped back into her body. “What is it?” Arthur asked, crouching down beside her.
Arthur held Klara still, afraid she might capsize them if she didn’t calm down. Her rage caused her to radiate power into Arthur. Arthur stared at her, and she saw her Father.
