Page 62 of Empire of Death
“I think you’re a fool to trust the word of someone who doesn’t have your best interest at heart.”
“I wouldn’t be alive right now if I didn’t trust him,” I said calmly. “And we have a mutual vested interest in the defeat of the Barbarians.”
“What possible reason could the god of the underworld have to bevestedin our affairs?” he snapped. “The outcome of our wars and the kings who sit upon our thrones don’t affect him whatsoever. So either he’s lying to you, or you’re lying to me—which is it?”
I wanted to lash out at what he said, but I forced myself to remain calm, to keep in mind that he would never understand my relationship with Callum even if I took the time to explain it to him. He was just worried about me like any brother would be. “I’m gonna say the same thing to you that I did to Mom—that I need you to trust me.”
He sank back against the chair, leaving his half-empty bowl of chili in front of him. His shoulders dropped slightly as his eyes moved elsewhere, squeezing his frustration tight so it wouldn’t escape.
“Just trust me, okay?”
“It’s not you I don’t trust, Lily.”
“Please,” I said. “I know it’s hard to accept, but I need you to have faith.”
“I don’t have faith in demons.”
“He’s not a demon.”
“He’s not human either—and you need to remember that.”
The next breath I took was my last for several seconds. Accusation hit the table, and I had to bluff like I was in a poker match. To refuse to let his words spark an emotion on my face. To refuse to let my secret become common knowledge.
Hawk finally pushed himself back from the table like he was about to depart the room. “I’ll work on the platinum. Father and I have had our differences in the past, but his absence has humbled me more than any life lesson he’s ever taught me. I don’t think we’ll survive this war without him leading us. I’m not saying I don’t believe in your rulership, Lily. But he’s the only one who triumphed over the greatest evils.”
“I take no offense, brother,” I said calmly. “I wish more than anything he were here too. Because I’m not sure if I can do this either.” I spent all my time plotting and thinking about our next move, and the only respite I had from that was when Callum wrapped me in his arms and made the world go still for a moment.
Hawk didn’t rise from his chair, releasing a defeated sigh like he felt guilty for what he’d said, even though I agreed with him wholeheartedly. “I’ll figure it out.”
We prepared the Southern Isles for an invasion, unsure exactly when it was coming but knowing with certainty that it was. Despite being the leader of the kingdom and the people, I felt utterly powerless. Hawk executed my orders, and the commanders followed my commands like they believed in my father’s decision to appoint me as his successor.
But I still felt like a fraud.
My mother spent the majority of her time at my father’s side. Either because she believed in me to protect this kingdom, or she was just too heartbroken to do much else.
I stood at the edge of the cliff and looked out over the endless sea, the sun low in the sky because it was an hour from sunset. Winter began its descent, and spring started to come forth with more flowers in the garden, but I feared the greatest storm lurked on the horizon.
I felt him before I saw him, a split-second awareness.
He appeared at my side, silently taking in the view with me as if the Southern Isles was as much his home as it was mine. He stood there for minutes before his hand reached for mine, encompassing it like a warm blanket on a cold winter night.
My heart ached when I felt him, my fingers giving his a squeeze in return.
Then he let me go before he turned his whole body to face me.
I met his stare, swallowed at how handsome he looked in the light. Felt a rush through my whole body and an electric pulse in my womb, an inherent desire to have his children, when I’d never been sure if I wanted them in the first place.
His eyes were locked on mine with a command that made me grow still. “I have news about the enemy.”
So this wasn’t a pleasant conversation. Very much the opposite.
“They’ve removed the golden frescoes from their ships and have reforged the gold into cannons.”
“But their ships already have cannons.” I’d directed the galleon to avoid their fire before they’d boarded our ship.
“A different kind of cannon,” he said solemnly. “With several sharp spikes and inverse hooks, so it can’t be removed from flesh without tearing it apart.”
I still didn’t understand. “They expect to hit the crew individually?”
