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The king stood at the front of the courtyard, his four guards flanking his sides as the entirety of the castle guard stood at his back. Swords were drawn. Wingsflexed as the guards wore their battle armor. While Ilara had been attacked and we’d subsequently been arguing with territory archons, my father had been readying soldiers who were still loyal to him.
I bared my teeth in a hiss. “He dies now.” But before I could even call upon my death affinity, my father disappeared in another flash of mistphasing magic.
Yet his commanded soldiers remained.
“He’s ordered them to kill us right here and now.” Haxil’s chest rose rapidly, and his grip tightened on his sword.
“It’s because nobody outside of this chamber knows that the council has supported your challenge.” Lady Wormiful pointed to the looking glass stored back in my pocket. “The king knew that he needed to act before the council could speak against him. None of them know that he’s been removed from power!”
“And we’re not ready to fight him.” Lord Crimsonale’s gaze shot my way. “The factions are still in their territories. Those that are willing to stand at our sides won’t get here in time, even if Taberitha and I mistphase to them now.”
“But we have to try.” Lady Wormiful grabbed his sleeve. “We can’t allow the king’s reign to continue.”
“What in all the realms?” Lord Woodsbury shouted from across the room. “Are you telling me that the three of you have beenconspiringagainst the king?”
Lord Pinebeer and Lady Busselbee shared shocked expressions.
Lord Woodsbury bustled from around the table, his eyes flashing. “You all belong in the dungeons. Every single one of you. I’ll have you—” His words abruptly stopped.
With fisted hands, Ilara’s air affinity barreled out of her, right toward the Isalee archon.
“You’re right,” my mate said to Lord Crimsonale and Lady Wormiful. Lord Woodsbury gaped like a fish out of water as Ilara robbed his breath. “We haven’t a moment to lose. Go now. We’ll try to hold the king off in the courtyard.”
Gregorian and Taberitha gave sharp nods before disappearing in a blast of mistphasing power.
Lord Woodsbury fell to the ground, clawing at his throat. A whisper of magic fluttered around my mate when she released her affinity.
The Isalee archon gasped and heaved, then sucked in air and coughed. Fear shone in his eyes when Ilara again fixated her attention on him. She could have killed him, but she hadn’t.
I prowled closer, then knelt at his side. “My wife’s heart is softer than mine, but if you defy the council’s ruling and interfere in any way again, I won’t hesitate a second before ending you.”
Lord Woodsbury curled in on himself and shook his head. “I’m sorry, my prince.”
A yell came through the windows, then the sound of stomping feet.
“Norivun, he’s ordered them to storm the castle,” Ilara called. “We must act. Now!”
My pulse raced as the reality of what waited ahead hit me. I could kill half of the soldiers in the courtyard below with my death affinity. It would tire me greatly and likely render me weakened in a continued fight, but if I had to, I would.
I joined them at the window, already calling upon my magic to mistphase all of us.
“We can’t best them without you killing them. There’s too many.” Ryder’s eyes narrowed, and I had no doubt his calculating mind was already running through an analysis of what losses were about to unfold. “But we can stall them until the factions arrive.”
“We must get to the king.” I searched for my father, but the coward was hiding. “I can end this here and now with my death affinity if I kill him. Without their king commanding them, the castle guard will falter.”
“But the bastard’s hiding.” Nish sneered.
“Join hands,” I called. The sheer number of guards below would likely still harm us to some degree, but between my affinities and Ilara’s, along with my guards’ skills, we could hold them off for at least some time without blood being spilled. And by the gods, I didn’t want their deaths on my conscience. They were soldiers who were merely doing as they’d been commanded. They didn’t deserve to die for that.
But my father did, wherever he was.
“He’s planned something.” I swung toward my guards, and my mistphasing magic rose. “He’s always ready, always two steps ahead of me. Whatever’swaiting for us in that courtyard, be ready. We won’t get a second chance.”
They all nodded curtly, and I could only hope that the afterlife wouldn’t be greeting all of us come sundown.
CHAPTER 27 - NORIVUN
We reappeared in the courtyard below as rumbling clouds formed overhead. The entirety of the castle guard and just as many Solis Guard soldiers waited before us, only steps from the main door.
