The tithe.
Of course. The king’s precious display of power and wealth; his yearly collection of gold and goods stolen from the people whosuffered beneath his rule. No doubt he was seated on his gilded throne, basking in his own self-righteousness while the kingdom bled for him on their shores.
Esmyra’s jaw tightened, and she stepped past the fallen guards as they cowered away from her.
If Draevyn wouldn’t come to her, then she would bring the storm to him.
CHAPTER 9
Draevyn
Draevyn stood at the base of the dais, arms crossed tight over his chest. His jaw clenched so hard it ached.
The line of Lephyrin’s citizens stretched down the length of the throne room, each one waiting their turn to kneel before their king and present their offerings of whatever scraps they could spare. Jewelry passed down through generations, finely woven fabrics, crates of food they likely couldn’t afford to give away.
The king barely spared them a glance, nodding at some, waving others off like flies if they didn’t bring something he deemed worthy.
Draevyn was disgusted. He could see it in their eyes—the hollow look of people who had nothing left to give. People who knew that refusal wasn’t an option, that withholding even the smallest trinket would bring consequences.
Now, you’ll understand what it’s like to be helpless, and you’ll question how you thought you and your king could live so lavishly while giving so little to your people. Esmyra’s words from the night of the ball rang through his mind. His fingers twitched, the muscles in his neck tightening.
On the opposite side of the dais, his brother stood in rigid silence, expression hard as stone. But Draevyn knew that beneath Atlas’s carefully composed mask, there was unease.
Draevyn had spent his whole life trying to ignore what the crownreallywas. Had excused it, justified it, turned away when it was easier to pretend he didn’t see.
But not anymore.
The king sat upon his throne, feigning indifference as yet another trembling man approached. An older fisherman, his back hunched from years of labor, held up a pearl necklace with shaking hands.
Atlas took the necklace from the man and brought it up to the king. He took it, examined it for barely a heartbeat, then let it slip between his fingers to clatter against the stone floor.
“Not enough,” the king grumbled, waving the man away.
The man’s face paled in horror.
This fucking bastard.
Something in Draevyn snapped, and he took a step up the dais, heat simmering in his palms.
“You sit there and take from them as if you’re entitled to their suffering,” he bit out, his voice low enough so only they would hear.
His father barely turned his head. “Next!” he announced.
The fisherman was still kneeling, his face drained of all color as he scrambled to collect the pearls that had scattered down the steps and across the floor. Guards flanked him on both sides and hauled him to his feet as the man whimpered, before dragging him back down the line and toward the doors.
Draevyn’s chest tightened. “You say they owe you a tithe, but forwhat?” He gestured to the broken man being hauled away, to the people in line who clutched their offerings with fearful hands. “Protection? Safety? You steal from them and leave them with nothing. How long do you think they’ll endure this before they break? Your behavior will cause a fucking uprising!”
The king let out a slow, tired sigh. “Mind your tongue.”
Flames licked at Draevyn’s fingertips. “Or what?” He scoffed. “You’ll throw me back in the dungeons? Kill me like you did?—”
“Enough,” Atlas warned through clenched teeth. His expression was carefully neutral, but the look in his eyes seemed to be pleadingfor Draevyn to stand down. “This isnotthe time or place for this discussion.”
Draevyn turned to his brother, breath heaving. “Then when is? When do we talk about how he rules with greed and cruelty? About what he’s done and continues to do?”
Shocked whispers rippled through the line, and the guards all unsheathed their swords as they ordered them to hush.
Varis let out a low whistle from where he stood beside the king, his grin smug as ever.
