Page 7 of Darkest Heart

Azia pointed a ringed finger to his temple. “I feel you share my sentiments about the boy.”

“Yes,” I said, closing myself off to Azia. I’d built my barrier for years. Being around my adopted father meant I had to. He was an empath, and while Azia was a psychic, they shared in the ability to intrude on other's private thoughts and feelings.

I climbed my gaze back to his, nodding. “I believe he was involved, too. I told my father not to underestimate Astor.” I glanced at the sky. “The ones with nothing left to lose are the most dangerous.”

“It seems you and I are amongst the few who believe he was involved, then.”

I shrugged. “It doesn’t help in finding the princess.”

“As long as even one person knows, it makes a difference. I will alert His Majesty to his potential enemies. Implanting a seed of doubt about Astor will have him, at the very least, on alert.”

“I’m surprised Sargon’s going at all,” I admitted, my inner monologue seeping out into our conversation.

“His Majesty,” he corrected.

“Now is not the time for formalities.” I paced the clearing, moving through the shards of light seeping through the branches. The sky lightened into a pale pink, the wind disturbing the underbrush. “What can I do to help?” I shot him an incredulous look. “I know you have a plan.”

He hesitated, glancing up at his left before finally moving his eyes back to me. “Why should I trust you?”

“Because we both know what I want.”

“The crown,” he said, a glimmer of anger twitching the corner of his lips. “I’ve had my assumptions about your plans for a while.”

“Yes, and while you can hate me for it, it is not in your interest to warn Sargon.”

“I’ve tried.”

I inhaled sharply. “Did he believe you?”

“He’s wary of you.”

I smirked. He had some sense then. “Regardless, it does not benefit me to have Seraphina gone. She’s the blood princess, and the only one fit to take the throne. If my father and Sargon die, I cannot not take the throne. Not even with the title they’ve given me,” I explained, but Azia already knew. I may have been a prince now, but it was in name only. “I need someone anointed by the gods at my side.” I spotted a snake sliding up the branches. The world was full of synchronicities and symbolism.

Azia probably thought me a snake. In his eyes, I wanted the throne for my own desires. But it was more than that. Sanmorte needed true leadership. The mortal kingdoms were becoming more powerful by the day, and we had cowered for far too long. We were predators, yet we acted like prey. Sargon ensured that by keeping our being ability to turn mortals into vampires a secret. It was a political move. I recalled when he’d made the agreement with the royals in the other kingdoms.

He wanted to avoid conflict, as always. As a result, most of our food stopped coming here willingly. That secret had forced us into hiding. We snatched what we could from the shores of the closer kingdoms and tiptoed around other royal families to avoid a war. I was sick of it.

Azia clucked his tongue, his vindicated half-smile setting me on edge. I wasn’t afraid of anyone, per se, but there was an untamed darkness behind Azia’s eyes. Most didn’t see it. His calm disposition was deceiving. But I wouldn’t want to be around for the day where he would finally snap. The power he held paired with hate and vengeance would be catastrophic.

“I knew it,” he said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “You scheming, ungrateful monster,” he spat, losing his cool composure for once. “Olivia is married,” he countered. “I assume you didn’t factor that into your little plans.”

“A minor hiccup,” I admitted.

“Why tell me this?”

“Because, like I said, it is not in your interest to tell anyone. You need Seraphina back, and now you can trust me with your plans, knowing I am on your side. If not for different reasons,” I said, tilting my head. “Still, we want the same thing. You know I have connections all over Sanmorte. I have the Blood Brothers, and my members know everything. We have people all over the kingdom.”

“That club,” he seethed. “I’m glad to seethat’sback.”

“You should be.” I raised my brows. “It may well save her life. I know you don’t like me…”

“I don’t,” he interrupted. “I saw right through you from the moment Kalon brought you here, but…” he paused. “You are correct in your reasoning. His Majesty needs no more bad news right now. We need to find Olivia, before the entire monarchy topples. This societal order is the only thing preventing the darkness in this kingdom from leaking out to the rest of the world.”

I rolled my eyes, disagreeing completely. At least he wouldn’t tell Sargon about this, and we could finally take control of the castle. “We can try to kill each other once she’s home safe.” I forced a smirk, and his jaw clenched.

“And the aniccipere are dead,” he pointed out. “I tried to help them, to understand their purpose. All creatures are here for a reason, but they have done nothing but brought destruction and must be stopped. A war is coming, and they have numbers far larger than most know.

They’re organized and hate the system. If they have it their way, their new false king will take over the kingdom, the world will fall into chaos. If this is what a few of them can do in a morning.” He waved his hand around the area. “I fear what will happen without order. So, it is to your advantage to keep the monarchy alive, and Sanmorte safe.”

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