Page 20 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

“I’ll make it as painless—”

“As you had my brother?” the prince asked, his voice proper.

Mason cowered to the prince; his expression dulled as he looked down at his feet. “I promise you; Tristan did not suffer. I made it quick, just like I will with—”

“Right,” Elijah said, cutting him off. He swallowed hard, trying not to lash out at his father’s right hand. He hated his father and what he was doing and after what happened to Tristan, he would not allow the same fate for the Elven family. The blood spilled from a child must end.

Prince Elijah held his hand out, flicking his wrist until black smoke left his fingers. A slow snake of smoke trailed up the guard’s stomach until it reached his throat. It then took the form of long fingers latching around his neck and squeezed so hard the guard’s eyes turned beet red. Blood began to spew out of his eyes, ears, and nose. He watched the guard thrash against the door, his chest still rose slowly, but then it stopped. His lifeless body slumped forward until it hit the ground.

Mason stepped back, preparing to run in the opposite direction.Elijah held his hand out and used that same power to grip Mason’s throat.

“Don’t worry, Mason, I’m not going to kill you. But it would be wise for you not to cross me, though. I need you to deliver a message to my father.”

He imagined for a moment that it was the king’s throat he squeezed. Elijah had fantasized about it every day of his life since his mother died. But he could not kill his father, because if he did, the order of the throne would be taken from him.

According to Zemiran tradition, a king was to pass the throne down to his next kin upon his death. Regardless of Matthias wanting to or not. With Tristan being dead, Elijah was going to be king. The only thing that would prevent that was if he killed his father.

Elijah released Mason’s throat and turned to the guard on the floor.

“You are not to tell him what happened here today! Instead, you’ll say the Elven woman escaped before you arrived.” He heightened his head, and his forehead furrowed. “That is what you will say.”

The uniformed man shivered despite years of hardened service in the king’s guard.

Elijah continued, “You are safer in my circle than my father’s. You will no longer report to him but me. Am I clear?”

“Prince Elijah—”

“Let me make myself clear, Mason. You do not have a choice,” he threatened. “I can use my powers to shatter your spine with one snap of my fingers.” The prince straightened his chest, simmering down the rage he felt course through him.

He took a couple of deep breaths, softening the expression on his face. Then he said to the terrified man. “I am going to need the smartest of my father’s servants on my side—and that’s you” He stepped closer to Mason and placed his hand on his shoulder. “The king is belligerent. He only cares about himself. I am trying to help you and our kingdom before he destroys us all.”

As loyal as Mason was to the king, he dreaded Elijah and his powers more. He would do as the prince requested. He would betray his king until the time came when Matthias took his last breath.

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