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Ryder snorted.
Shrieks of surprise and fear echoed in the council chambers as my mate and I strode past the ruined doors.
King Novakin sat at the end of the table near the far wall. He pushed to a stand, as did all of the other territory archons. The king’s wings extended past his broad shoulders, their black membranes turning translucent in the light. Everyone’s auras soared.
“What is the meaning of this?” Lord Woodsbury, the archon of Isalee Territory, called.
“I knew you would be returning sooner or later.”My father’s icy gaze met mine. He bared his teeth. “Guards? Seize them.”
“I think not.” Sandus shot in front of me as Nish, Ryder, and Haxil fanned out around us. All of them held their swords up. Tempered warrior affinities hummed around them. Magic curled through the air, swirling around their limbs.
Ilara’s pulse fluttered in her neck. Despite her fear flowing through our bond, she held firm, not once showing an ounce of submission toward my father.
My lip curled, and the urge to rip my father to shreds unfurled within me. “We’ve come to join the meeting, Your Majesty.” My words dripped with mocking sarcasm.
King Novakin’s face mottled, and his hands fisted. “You’ve committed treason by plotting against me. Because of that, you will both be placed in the dungeons until I determine what to do next with your insubordination.” My father pointed his finger at my guards. “Stand down.Now.”
Ryder shook his head, his cheekbones as sharp as glass in the fairy lights. “I think not. We serve the one and only true king of the Solis continent, not the vile leech that sits upon the throne.”
The king’s breath sucked in, and Lady Busselbee paled.
“Your Majesty,” the Mervalee Territory archon twirled toward him in a swirl of silk skirts. “What in all the realms is happening? He’s the crown prince. Youcan’t possibly mean to?—”
“Silence!” the king roared.
My father’s guards still surrounded us, their swords still raised as my guards faced them. It would be bloodshed if battle ensued. My father’s guards were just as deadly as my own, which meant death would likely be dealt to both sides.
I swallowed the pang of fear that threatened to creep up my throat. I’d known death was inevitable if I were to challenge my father, so I chose my next words carefully. “I’ve only come today to show the council something. I have no wish for bloodshed.” I withdrew the looking glass from my pocket. “I shall willingly venture to the dungeons after it airs if that’s what the council wishes.”
Lord Crimsonale and Lady Wormiful shared a veiled look before the Osaravee archon puffed out his chest. “What is it you bring, Prince Norivun?”
“Something I believe the council will be interested in.” I held the looking glass up.
My father’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you have a looking glass?”
“How about I show you?” Before he could utter a response, I waved my hand over the glass and whispered the spell to activate it.
The looking glass’s magic flared, and an image blazed to life, projecting onto the ceiling of the domed council chamber.
Every councilor’s gaze shot up as the scene from Isalee began to unfold.
“What is the meaning of this?” the king roared. “Guards! Stop him!”
But when his guards tried to move in, mine met them just as fast until they were playing a game of cat and mouse, dancing around one another as each tried to best the other and find an opening. But it was enough of a distraction to keep the recording going.
The Isalee scene lengthened, showing us first destroying the veil and then the warlock appearing before our battle ensued.
“Norivun!” the king growled. “You’ll regret this.”
I smirked. “I doubt it.”
Each of the councilors’ attention remained fixated on the scene.
“Dear gods, what is thatthing?” Lady Busselbee recoiled when the image showed a close-up of the warlock with his gray skin and web of crimson veins.
The king’s eyes widened, his cheeks turning ruddy. All of the archons remained transfixed. Several gasped. More than one hand flew to a mouth.
And when that Isalee scene ended, it switched to our encounter in Canada. The looking glass showed our capture of the warlock, then our bargain, and finally the dark sorcerer on his hands and knees as I began speaking to him.
