“Hush, peasant. The royals are speaking,” Conan taunted with a degrading scowl.
Killian opened his mouth to let out a fuming retort, but his father’s booming voice cut him off before he could react, “I’m glad you’re all here, actually. I’ve needed to find test subjects for our latest project.” The king summoned Conan to join him, and the dastardly prince cantered slowly around our seething group. “You see, after today, I will have officially proven that I am the strongest man in all the Emerald Realm. But after I achieve the highest form of power, what am I meant to do after? I pondered this question for many years until an inspired thought occurred to me... What if we weren’t the only realm in the lands? Surely there had to be other realms beyond our seas, but even if they existed, we had no knowledge of what powers or resources they possessed. It was then that I decided I was merely at the beginning of my quest for ultimate power. From the first day of my rule, I was destined to conquer not only the Emerald Realm, but every other realm this world has to offer. And now, after all these years... I finally have the strength to take on any force that lingers beyond the seas. With the collective power of the strongest mages known to our people, I shall become mightier than any creature could ever dream. I will be unstoppable! The name Darius will strike fear onto every tongue that dares speak its sound! The world shall be mine!”
He lifted his sword triumphantly into the air, and I felt a crushing weight press down on me as I helplessly watched Conan join his father with a pleased grin.
No... How can this be happening? Were there truly other realms beyond our own? What kind of tragedies will befall them if we can’t prevent King Darius from conquering them? What will happen to our realm...?
The king turned his eager eyes to Conan’s sash and lowered his sword. His eyes dazzled against the glistening power that radiated off the magical stitching. “Conan... my son. You have served me well. As a reward for your strength and loyalty, I hereby appoint you as my successor. When I leave to explore the oceans and conquer the foreign realms, you shall be granted the honor of reigning in Ashbourne and protecting our homeland.” His greedy smile slitted his eyes as he stretched his hand toward Conan. “Now, give me the sash, so I may test its strength on the roaches that have tainted our bloodline.”
Conan’s smile twitched wickedly as his hand moved toward the base of the sash by his right hip. My mouth opened to scream out for him to stop, but my voice was robbed from the crushing panic that stifled my breath.
Darius can’t have that kind of power! He’ll destroy everything!
“Conan, don’t!” Killian yelled.
“You can’t trust him!” Miron bellowed as his nails dug into my wrist in desperation.
Conan flicked his brothers a silent glare as his hand touched the edge of the glittering sash. His movements unfolded in slow motion behind my gaping eyes as his hand slid past the sash and latched around his sword. A scream broke free from my muted voice as Conan unsheathed his sword in a blinding flash of steel and pierced it straight into his father’s chest.
His brothers went silent as the king toppled to the floor with a stunned gag. Conan lowered his crimson sword, then turned his bloodthirsty eyes onto his speechless audience. “Long live the king.”
chapter twenty-five
Father is gone...
A flash of unfiltered emotions jolted through me with a slow, stuttering sensation. Without thinking, my hand slipped from Elle’s and I rushed to my father’s side. Killian followed only a half-step behind as we slid to our knees to kneel by our father for the last time.
My lungs forced puffs of panicked air through my chest, causing my head to grow light and dizzy as I stared into the wide eyes of my dying father. Red stained his regal coat, and his mighty hands grew cold and pale beneath the sparkle of his extravagant rings. Killian’s gaze darted across Father’s wound as if he was considering performing medical treatment, but we both knew that any attempts to save him would be fruitless. He’d be gone in minutes.
Enraged tears burned in my eyes as I whipped around to face my gloating eldest brother. “What have you done!? He may have been a monster, but he was our father!” Every vein in my body blistered with the heat of my searing rage.How could he...
Conan let out an amused snicker as he tugged a silk handkerchief from his breast pocket. With a vile grin, he casually wiped his sword clean, staining the white linen with the blood of a king. “I thought you two already determined that he wasn’t your father? Or was Killian only being a whiny child again?” He tossed the handkerchief to the ground and raised his glinting sword to his eyes to inspect its shine.
Killian growled, “He still raised us, all of us! He deserved to stand trial for his crimes.”
“Stand trial?” Conan mused, biting back a laugh. “To do what, exactly? Let him take pride in his crimes before sending him to the gallows, anyway? I simply saved you the hassle. I must admit, he had some fabulous ambitions... conquering the realms outside of our own sounds rather enthralling. Once I’ve struck down the leaders of the Emerald Realm, I do believe I’ll have to explore this potential untapped power.” A malicious smile twisted his features, and I felt my blood run cold.
He's been planning this from the start. He intended to steal Father’s plan and conquer the foreign lands on his own.
“Father wouldn’t have been the best choice for a supreme ruler, anyway... He would never admit it, but he was far past his prime. Sometimes we young-bloods have to claim our rightful place.”
My jaw clenched as my hatred blinded me to everything outside of Conan’s twisted smile. A soft voice distracted me from my fury, sending a fresh ache through my bones.
“He’s dead...” Elle croaked. I flicked my gaze over to her and watched helplessly as she toppled to her knees. She kept her eyes open, but I doubted her magic would be able to take effect with the shield of tears glossing her vision. My heart lurched as I watched her crumple in despair. The king may have been her captor, but he was also the first person she had ever trusted. I couldn’t imagine what type of pain she was enduring in this moment.
Without a second thought, I left my father’s side and dashed over to Elle. I crouched beside her and threw my arms around her shoulders in a sheltering embrace. My magic flared to life as I masked her powers so she could at least feel in control of one thing.
“How touching,” Conan snarked, glaring down at me and Elle in repulsion. “I always knew you would fall to weakness. Love is for fools. Both you and Killian could have made such powerful leaders if you hadn’t allowed yourself to fall to such pathetic emotions.”
Killian shot his gaze from Father’s fading breath to Conan. “You’re even more oblivious than Father.” he sneered. “The only thing power will grant you is an endless craving for more. For our entire lives, Miron and I sought fulfillment in the form of a crown, but even that wouldn’t have satisfied us. Just look at yourself. You’ve won the crown and the kingdom, yet you still desire more. Why do you think you still hunger for more?”
“Because there’s more to be had,” Conan scoffed.“My satisfaction will come after every realm has been pressed beneath my boot.”
“You’re wrong,” Elle spouted fiercely from beneath my hold. I released my arms from around her so she could stand, still keeping my hand in contact with hers. “It will never be enough. Just like your father, you will always want more.”
She cast her ebony eyes over to me with a sad, yet beautiful stare. I squeezed her hand, then softened my gaze on Conan. “The hunger only stops when you desire something more than your own life.” He wrinkled his brow at me, but Killian and I both gave him longing expressions full of desperate hope. “I came into this room today, preparing to die for the one I love, but it doesn’t have to be that way.” I took a cautious step forward, and Conan merely rolled his eyes. “I mean it, Conan. You don’t have to do this. Our fate is only as real as we make it.”
Conan’s hand tightened on the hilt of his sword as Elle squeezed my hand. I glanced back at her and noticed that she was staring wide-eyed at Killian. She darted her gaze to me and locked onto my eyes with a panicked expression. “Killian needs help. Now!” She released my hand and nearly shoved me toward my kneeling brother.