Page 10 of Season Warriors & Wolves

“What is there to understand,” I said, cutting father off just as he was about to speak. “Would you rather I demonstrate why there will never be someone like me to be crowned?”

He lifted a brow and glanced at my father. “Demonstrate?”

I shot Melanthe a look hoping that she understood what I meant before standing and extending my hands forward, letting lightning skittering around my fingers. “Pretty, isn’t it?” Then lightning hit close by just outside the hall and everyone jerked up, staring out of the large, stained windows as electricity rained down on the shield over Tenebrose. The hiss of magic touching magic vibrated in the air till my very bones began rattling. When Melanthe finally snapped to the realisation that her veil was faltering, I felt my magic drain off, only flakes of it remaining now. The chain around my wrists burned and sizzled with smoke and heat, threatening to crack from the force of power assaulting them. I dusted my hands to cool down my skin and sighed. “Not so pretty when it touches you though. Your flesh will melt right over your bone.”

The room was stunned into absolute silence and resolute fear, eyes wide outside towards the fractioned veil, the hiss of smoke fluttering towards the skies, the relentless crackling thunder that drummed despite the lock of my power. Father and Melanthe included. If they only knew that was like taking a breath for me. If they only knew how much worse I was capable of doing.

The man cleared his throat and turned to me again. “You are powerful—”

“The most powerful,” I clarified, giving him a saccharine smile. Yet my biggest strength had never been breaking bones, but minds. Some saw red at the fit of anger. I saw an opportunity to watch them beg.

He cleared the obvious distress from his throat and said, “The Night King is powerful, too. We’ve made enemies with Solarya, Hanai and even the unblessed are refusing our trade because of him.”

How could I argue with that? I glanced over my shoulder at my father and pouted. “Ouch.”

Father pulled on my arm and sat me down on my seat. “This war is ours. The Night King will do nothing as long as I hold his brother down in our dungeons.”

If only he knew how wrong he was.

“Let us hope that is true, my king.”

“Leverage,” I said, crossing my leg over the other. “Magic. Gold. A powerful heir. What more can a kingdom need?” Giving each and every one of them a sweet smile, I said, “I will do right by my given title. With all of you by my side, this kingdom will reign power over the realm. Power no other Krigborn king has ever offered this land. Perhaps time did indeed call for a queen.” Then I will watch you all drown in it—choke on greed.

“We will hold to that word, Your Highness.”

“And hold onto it tight,” I replied.

He and the others shared a look and it took everything on me not to smile with victory when I saw the hopeful looks they shared.

News would travel fast of my crowning. Father would make sure of that. And I was going to use every reward that came with it.

When the hall began emptying, father stood and offered me a hand. “Join me for lunch.”

“Busy, I’m afraid,” I said, standing.

He raised a brow, almost amused, and grabbed my arm. “With what?”

“Training.”

“After training then.”

“I will see my brother-in-law afterward.”

His grip on me turned painful. “Are you now?”

“Father, I will slit my throat here, right in front of you, with my own nails before I even lift one single finger to help you if Malik Castemont is not well and safe. The only way for me to know so is to see it with my own beautiful eyes. It is the least you can do for cutting your time to find the sceptre pieces short before my husband finds a way to rip your guilty little soul out of your lungs.”

He still held tightly onto me, his fingers bruising my skin. “You played that game a little too well, my rose. Don’t do it again.”

“Why, what will you do? Hurt me? Beat me? Starve me?” I asked, pouting. Pulling my arm from his grip, I descended the stairs. “If you are so sure of your victory, why are you so afraid, papa?”

“I will not let you stir my court and my people again.”

Mine too, father. For a while, they are my people too. “Whatever you say.”

Chapter four

Black Knight to C6