Page 2 of Empire of Death
“I’ve never…never felt so alone.” My father was neither living nor dead, and my mother’s place was at his side. The kingdom had fallen into my hands when I felt too young to hold it. When my father spoke about stepping aside, it had always been under the banner of peace, when he was still there to guide me through the transition. Not like this.
“You’ve always been alone,Xivin.”
My eyes hardened on his face in confusion.
“When you sailed out of that storm. When you killed a man thrice your size and fought to save your crew. When you commandeered that little ship and sailed it on the raging seas for four days and three nights.”
I experienced a tightness as I held his gaze, feeling the freezing-cold water hit my face like shards of ice. Feeling the sudden roll of a ship that would turn a novice sailor’s stomach. Remembered everything I was desperate to forget.
“Another storm is coming on the horizon—and you will conquer it.”
“I only persevered in Riviana Star because I had the strength of a god and an army of the dead?—”
“I could have granted those powers to anyone else, and they still would have been defeated. You were victorious because of your skill with the blade, because of the blistering rage you inherited from your father, because you’re smarter, faster, and better than those rats you chased away. I believe in you, when I believe in no one.” He stepped closer to me, his dark eyes piercing me with an intensity that no one else ever showed me. With a mixture of love and pride and desperation, he somehow touched me when he was feet away. “Your enemies will burn in the flames of your wrath, Queen Lily Rothschild.” His hand tightened into a fist, and he struck it against his chest. “The Death Queen.” He stepped closer to me, his closed fist at his chest. “I will serve you always as the eyes in the back of your head, the keeper of your secrets, the reminder of your worthiness—and the champion of your heart.”
2
LILY
Hawk sat in the armchair in front of Father’s desk, staring at the mahogany surface like Dad was seated there looking over the scrolls he’d received that morning. Hawk had inherited our father’s quiet persona, saying very little until actually needed. Dad had never been that way with us and Mom, but to everyone else, he was a statue.
I sat in the other armchair and watched my brother lounging, arms relaxed on the armrests, dead behind the eyes. He already knew what had happened to Dad because Mom had told him. He hadn’t volunteered to go with her, instead choosing to stay with me.
“Mom told me you’re in charge now.” He continued to look at the desk as he spoke.
I could feel his disappointment, his resentment as real as the air we breathed. One moment, he was supportive of my rulership, and the next moment, he wasn’t. Maybe because it had all been conjecture previously—but now this was reality. “I don’t want to fight about it, Hawk.”
“He’s unfit for the crown.”
My eyes flicked to the corner behind my father’s high-backed armchair and saw him standing there in his full attire, staring me down like I was the one in the wrong.
“Do not yield.”
Hawk raised both hands in mock surrender. “I don’t want to fight either. Just saying.”
“I told you before that I don’t want this to come between us.”
“Do not yield.” Wrath’s eyes bored into my face with black flames.
My brother straightened in his chair before he turned to look at me directly. “I was supposed to go to Riviana Star, but because you wanted to go, I was forced to stay behind. How will I ever show Dad what I’m capable of if you’re always given priority?”
“He’s a child.”
“Hawk, our father may never wake up again, and all you care about is the crown?” I didn’t want to cause a rift with my brother at this delicate time, but Wrath was right—he needed a reality check.
He gave an irritated sigh. “I don’t mean it that way?—”
“We’re at war with an enemy we don’t know, Dad is incapacitated, and Mom is so overcome with grief that she’s also incapacitated. I’ve never felt so alone, Hawk. Never felt so utterly terrified in my life. I’m worried that I don’t have what it takes to protect this kingdom and lead us to victory, but I’m obviously more qualified for the position than you if I can understand the monstrous responsibility and immense burden it is. If I’m notsitting here thinking about myself when I should only think of others.”
He stared at me for several heartbeats as if he couldn’t believe the words I said. “That’s not how it is?—”
“That’s exactly how it is.” I didn’t want to put my brother in his place, didn’t want to be his mother instead of his sister, but now I understood exactly what Dad meant when he described Hawk’s ineptitude. “My rulership is temporary. When Dad recovers and this war is over, it’ll belong to him once more. We should be working together to make sure that happens, not bickering about who has the power.”
He looked away, his profile showing the tightening of his jawline. But he didn’t argue with me or try to dig himself out of this hole.
“I need you, Hawk. I can’t do this alone.”
He continued to stare at the desk.
