Page 16 of A Storm in Every Heart
“So this king let him live due to superstition?” Alix clarifies.
“That’s not why.”
The door creaks open behind me and I stiffen as Kastian’s presence fills the room. Everyone looks up at him.
“Then why did he let you live?” Daemon asks.
“Because he’s a fucking coward and couldn’t look me in the eye while he did it.” Kastian closes the door behind him and leans against it, crossing his arms. “My entire family were powerful magic wielders. Magnus was only able to attack them because he used accomplices and ambushed them in their sleep. I happened to wake up as Magnus and his guards were entering my room. They restrained me before I knew what was happening, but Magnus couldn’t kill me while I looked him in the eye. He ordered I be banished to Dyaspora instead.”
A ringing silence follows his explanation. My breath catches in my throat and I can’t keep myself from staring at him. As much as I knew about his life before, I’ve never actually heard him explain how the court of Hydratta fell. My chest constricts. I can’t breathe.
“That’s fucked,” Jett bursts out, helpfully breaking the tension. “But if that’s who we’re dealing with then why are we still just sitting here? Let’s kill the emissary. Or better yet, maim him and send him back to his king with a warning that we’re on our way to take back Hydratta.”
“Both have occurred to me,” Daemon grumbles darkly. “But emissaries are peaceful messengers, if we kill him it would give Hydratta an excuse to start a war with us and we can’t handle that right now unless we absolutely have to. We’re still recovering from the curse.”
Fox cocks his head to the side. “We’re not far off from being able to handle a war…give me six months.”
“No,” Kastian says flatly. “There doesn’t need to be any war and we’re not going to take back Hydratta.”
“But it’s your kingdom, right?” Alix asks.
Kastian shakes his head. “Not anymore. I don’t want to go back to Hydratta. Most of the continent has believed me dead for decades, I’d rather keep it that way.”
I can see the confusion on everyone’s faces—they don’t understand why Kastian wouldn’t want to be the king even to take revenge. I understand; I understand perfectly,but I can’t say anything even if I wanted to.
“We’re not talking about overthrowing Magnus right now,” Daemon says, sinking back into his chair. “I’d like to avoid a war with Hydratta, not start one…at least not for six more months.” He nods to Fox in acknowledgement.
“I didn’t hear anything about you while I was hanging around the ships in Hydratta,” Jett says to Kastian. “I don’t think this is about you, Hydratta probably hasn’t even realized you’re here.”
“Right,” Daemon agrees. “As far as Magnus is concerned, he’s been ruling unopposed for decades. I don’t know why he’d want an alliance with us but it’s likely unrelated.”
“So, we’re back to the marriage issue,” Alix sighs, turning to me. “Obviously, he can ask all he wants but you don’t have to say yes. Magnus seems to think we’re operating like it’s the 12th fucking century over here and have the authority to sell you to him for six cows and a duck.”
I can’t help the corners of my mouth tipping up. Half the time I have no idea what she’s talking about, but the sentiment is clear in her tone. “Thanks, I think.”
“I think we should wait for the emissary to arrive,” Daemon says. “We’ll tell him a marriage isn’t going to happen and send him home. If Magnus knows what’s good for him, he won’t press the issue.”
“We should probably accept that we’ll need to send our own representatives to Hydratta,” Alix says to Daemon. “For diplomatic relations or whatever.”
Once again, the urge to say that I could be the ambassador is almost overwhelming. I know I could handle it, even with the added complication of a rejected proposal.
But for some reason, I can’t get the words out and before I’ve worked up the courage to ask, Daemon is standing up and signaling the end of the meeting.
Jett pushes his chair back and stands, intentionally bumping into my shoulder as he does. “Don’t look so moody, Dessa.”
“I’m not,” I say quickly, standing as well.
“Don’t worry, if that prick in Hydratta really pushes it I’ll marry you instead.”
I choke. “Oh really?”
“Sure, why not?” He grins. “Just picture how beautiful our kids would be.”
I start to laugh, but it quickly fades away when I turn around and find Kastian glaring at us. His glower pierces through me with a ferocity that far exceeds any anger he showed when discussing the death of his family.
My tumultuous temper rises, and I can’t help myself. I flash him a brilliant smile as I flounce out of the room.
KASTIAN, PRESENT
