“I cannot speak to every carnalion, but I have rarely killed, and as we have discussed, I have been alive for a long time. I have defended myself if I was attacked or endangered, but I would much prefer to take the energy I need and leave people free to provide me with energy again in the future, should they be so interested.”
The Queen’s gaze was skeptical. “Surely, it’s not as easy as that.”
“It really is,” Yannoma countered. “We can feed off ambient arousal, though it is not as sustaining and rarely our preference.I survived on it for years when I was injured. But in a normal encounter, we consume the energy generated by a sex act. We enjoy the act, and so do our partners. We need a lot of sexual energy, and we have learned that it cannot all be from one person for an extended period—thatcanbe fatal. We adapted accordingly, and you are much more likely to find us enjoying a variety of people in a variety of ways. That is best for everyone.”
The Queen’s gaze had gone to Perian and Brannal.
“Are you feeding from other people?” she asked Perian.
Perian shook his head. “No, Your Majesty.” He glanced fleetingly at Kinan, who nodded. “I’m not a carnalion, or at least not entirely. My father was human, and my mother was a carnalion. I’m what is called a child of two worlds.” He drew a deep breath. “You may also call me a Life Mage.”
The Queen looked visibly surprised. “A Life Mage? Truly?”
Perian nodded, his expression serious. “The only being who is able to give energy to another being in order to heal them. What we lost in the Great Cataclysm was the knowledge that Life Mages acquire that energy from sex the same way a carnalion does. But unlike a carnalion, we don’t simply consume it. We need some to survive, but we’re also able to push energy back out to those who need it. When we lost Life Magic with the Great Cataclysm, it wasn’t a coincidence. As Kinan explained, it wasn’t because they perished to save the world. It was because someone decided that any demon blood was too much, and a concerted effort was made to destroy them.”
“We have the opportunity to change that, Mother,” Kinan said, voice assured. “The knowledge was lost for so long, and through fear and a lack of comprehension, we have hunted people who didn’t deserve to die. The truth was hidden so thoroughly that Perian didn’t even know what he was until what happened here with us.” He shook his head. “It’s too late to change the past. We can’t alter the fact that Father died, thatRenny was sick for so long, or that I spent years hidden from the world. But right now, in this moment, we are living in a world where—if we’re brave enough—we can change the future.”
Cormal just stared at Kinan, in awe of his vision and his passion. There was a chance for him to heal, but he’d changed it into a possibility formanypeople to heal, the possibility for carnalions to be safe.
Kinan was smiling at the Queen. “Mother, we can bring Life Magic back into the world. It’s been here all along, but we forced those who practiced it into hiding to protect themselves. We buried it so deep that the knowledge was lost in some cases even from those it personally affected. Now we know the truth. Carnalions are demons but not monsters. Life Mages are alive and could be doing so much more. If we treat people like we want to be treated, we could make a better world not just for them but also for us. There isn’t a downside here.”
She shot him a look. “Do not be naive. Of course there’s a downside. If this were to go poorly, we could have riots in the street. We could have revolts of terrified citizens.”
Kinan didn’t blink. “And if it goes well, we could have citizens healed from injuries and illnesses that they thought were incurable. We could have well-fed carnalions we don’t have to waste time trying to hunt or find, allowing our Mage Warriors to focus on the demons thatarea danger to our citizens. And those citizens could be having really fantastic sex, because carnalions and children of two worlds are apparently the best at that.”
There was a moment of silence, as everyone digested the fact that Kinan had just saidthatto his mother. And then Perian let out something that was definitely a giggle, and Cormal couldn’t keep his own laughter at bay.
Clearing his throat, he asked, “Is there something you’d like to tell me?”
Kinan turned a laughing face to him. “Sorry, sorry, not from personal experience. You know that you’re the only person I want or need.”
Cormal couldn’t help but soften at the warmth of that regard. “I feel the same way about you, Kinan.”
The Queen cleared her throat, and they all looked back at her. Thankfully, she looked faintly amused.
“I do not believethatis an argument that we should be attempting to make with the Council.”
But it wasexcellentprogress that she was even mentioning the Council, like this really might be something they took before them. The Queen was the final decision-making authority, but convincing the Council would go a long way to convincing the districts they managed.
The Queen stared at her earnest son for a long moment. Finally, she said, “There’s a lot of bad blood between carnalions and humans.”
“But that will never change unlesswechange it,” Kinan argued. “The past will always be there. If we allow it to limit us, we will never make progress.Someonehas to make the change. For the first time in centuries, we can fix this. Will it be difficult? Yes. Will mistakes be made? No doubt. But it’s not as though the status quo is victimless or free of violence. Carnalions and children of two worlds are hurt or killed. Mage Warriors and Warriors are hurt and killed. Citizens are hurt and killed. This isnotthe ideal. We can make it better, and we have an obligation to do so. The benefits outweigh any risk.”
And suddenly, to Cormal’s utter surprise, the Queen laughed.
“This is where you put me on the spot, isn’t it? They will attempt to heal you in exchange for my cooperation?”
Kinan nodded, all that stubbornness out in full force. “But it’s not them, Mother. It’s me. You know Perian. He’s already offered to try to heal me no matter what. I wouldn’t let him. Ifyou do the right thing, then you may also get an heir who is whole once more. But I’m the one holding out. If you elect not to help them, then I will elect not to take their help. If you want to continue to rule a broken country, then so be it.”
Cormal wondered just how much it cost Kinan to make such a declaration. There was not a trace of uncertainty or regret in his voice as he laid his ultimatum before his mother.
The Queen’s gaze settled on Cormal. “I don’t suppose you’re able to talk sense into him?”
Cormal couldn’t help but smile. “In general, Your Majesty, it’s the other way around. Prince Kinan is a very steadying influence. But he is… impossible to sway when he truly believes in something. He will always put the wellbeing of the country over his own. It’s what makes him such an excellent heir, even when I want to protect him from everything.”
Her expression softened. “Somehow, we are rarely permitted to do that.” She continued to stare at them for several long moments before she sighed. “You have given me much to think about. I am not prepared to make a decision that will have such long-reaching impact on the country without further consideration. Until I have made my decision, you are all welcome to stay within the castle. Perian and Yannoma, you will not be incarcerated, but I would recommend that you stay with those who can protect you. I will make it clear that you are currently my guests. Brannal, Cormal, please keep your tempers.”
They both nodded.
