Draevyn stormed up to her, and he was surprised when she didn’t back down. “What did you make her see?” he boomed in her face as hestood over her. “Esmyra wasscreaming, Elowynne. Screaming! She fears nothing. I’ve never met anyone like her before, yet you drift into her mind, making her cower and turn in on herself within seconds. She’s been through enough! I could’ve reached her. Neither of you gave me the fucking chance.”
She swallowed hard. “Do you know what it’s like to see your betrothed’s life hanging by a thread? To feel death in the air?”
His lips curled in a bitter snarl. “Don’t talk to me about losing someone. Don’t you fucking dare.”
Draevyn barely knew the woman, but he was willing to bet she’d never suffered loss the way Esmyra had. The way he had when he lost the only woman he ever cared for by something entirely out of his control.
He could still feel Syrena’s talons scraping down his mind, carving their way in to place him under her control. He could still see her face morph into Esmyra’s, feeling her soft lips press against his own.
It was a disgusting, violating act. And Elowynne had done that to his Wildfire, invading her mind to make her see her greatest fears. He could only imagine what those fears might be.
Elowynne exhaled slowly. “Then let me tell youhisside. Do you know what it did to your brother, seeingyouof all people turn against him? You chose Esmyra over us. Over your family.”
“I could’ve stopped her!”
“She drowned the king on his throne!” she snapped. “What were we supposed to do? Bow? Wait our turn?” She took a step closer, her golden eyes gleaming in the dim firelight at his back. “Atlas is furious. Heartbroken. He hasn’t eaten. Has barely slept. You should’ve seen him, pacing our chambers like a caged animal. He’s torn, Draevyn. So very torn. How do you punish a brother for aiding someone who nearly destroyed your kingdom?”
Draevyn glared at her, his voice low and cold when he said, “Maybe Lephyrin needed to burn.”
Silence fell heavy between them.
She shook her head, a bitter laugh slipping from her. “You’re both so damn alike. Full of pride. Blinded by love and loyalty. Only it’s clearto me now that this is the first time you’re on opposite ends.” She met his gaze then, something almost sorrowful flickering in her eyes. “You need to choose where your heart truly lies, because there’s no middle ground left.”
I plan to swear you in as my advisor,Drae.It’s a way for us to rule together.He recalled his conversation with Atlas the night of the ball, before their entire world turned upside down.
“Think on it.” Elowynne’s voice pulled him from the memory. “I may be new to this family, but I’m not new to royalty.”
Draevyn’s eyes narrowed at that.
“You are the son of a king, and I’m the daughter of one. Remember, I left the Kingdom of Sumnae to be here, to join our royal Houses for the first time in history.”
“And whose House holds your loyalty then?” he challenged.
Elowynne gave him a sad smile. “Not all families offer love to one another the way you and your brother do. Do not forget that King Everhartt, myfather, sent me off to a foreign kingdom since I wasn’t a son, nor his heir.”
Draevyn’s eyes softened at her confession, but he said nothing.
“Anyway, since you refuse to speak to anyone, I thought you should know the coronation will be in a week’s time, following the king’s funeral,” she said. “All I ask is you make sure you know whoyourloyalty is to by then. Atlas has the weight of Lephyrin on his shoulders. Don’t put him in a position that makes it harder.”
With that, she turned and left, leaving Draevyn alone once more.
His jaw clenched, his mind reeling as the weight of it all settled into his chest. Draevyn would never be able to summon the hatred his brother wanted him to feel. He could never hate Esmyra—not when he knew who she was, knew her soul. Not in this lifetime or the next would he find it in himself to see her the way the world already did.
His fists trembled as he dragged a hand through his hair.
Draevyn had never seen Atlas look so cold and cruel. He knew that rage—knew his brother would hunt her down, no matter the cost. Especially after witnessing the fury in his eyes.
Part of him, the weak, selfish part, wanted to find her.To abandon the crown and his kingdom to go find Esmyra and whisk her away from it all. To take her and run where no one could find them—not his brother, her cunt of a sister, or even the gods.
But it was too late for that now.
The whiskey burned his throat as he downed what was left of the bottle, eyes locked on the fire.The flames crackled louder, and he could almost see her face there, ridden with fury and heartache. He gritted his teeth.
No more running.
If his brother wanted a war, he’d get it. If the gods wanted her soul, they would have to pry her from his bare fucking hands.
But first… he had to find her.
