Page 88 of Forged By Malice (Beasts of the Briar #3)

87

Dayton

E arly morning light shines over the ramparts of Keep Hammergarden. A gentle wind blows, carrying the scent of cherry blossoms.

My family and I wait together as if at a funeral.

Kel, Farron, Rosalina, and I stand in a row, peering over the stone rampart wall that looks over the main gates of the keep. Down below, a wooden dais has been crafted overnight. A crowd has begun to gather. Their hushed whispers merge together to form a near-deafening roar.

We were all confined to the keep last night. For safeguarding, Kairyn called it. We all knew the truth of it. He didn’t want any of us getting ideas about breaking Ezryn out of his own confinement. Not that I even have any magic right now. Farron drained it all to save Rosie, and I won’t be able to replenish it until we return to Castletree.

Despite the guards roaming the keep, I know any one of us—Rosie included—could have broken Ez out. But Kel’s words rang in my mind my whole sleepless night: This is his will .

Realms damn him, why does Ezryn have to be so bloody honorable?

At least those three had each other last night.

“The wait is killing me.” Farron digs his hands into his hair. “Can’t we bribe Kairyn to stop this? Threaten him? I’m not above well-executed coercion.”

“This isn’t about Kairyn, and you know it,” Kel growls. The Sword of the Protector gleams on his back, poking out of its sheath. Rosie had thrown it in the lake to hide it from the Below, and thankfully we were able to retrieve it before returning to the keep.

Ezryn’s storm had churned it up from the bottom of the lake, and Rosie had spotted it among the debris. “Ezryn would never forgive us if we removed his own agency to follow the oaths and traditions of his people.”

Below, the gates creak open, and a hush falls over the crowd. Kairyn marches out, black cape flapping. His father trails behind, being carried on a litter by four Spring guards. Each step of Kairyn’s heavy boots up the dais clangs through the air. I notice the crack in his mask has been patched with a line of gold.

The soldiers carefully place the litter down beside Kairyn. By the gods, Thalionor looks terrible. I can’t even see his face, but it’s evident by his posture: stiff hands clutching the armrests, head lolling on his chest. Yellow ooze drips from beneath the helm over his neck. I wouldn’t be surprised if they put a helm on a corpse and called him Prince.

A sob sounds, and I look down the ramparts to see Marigold and Astrid. Marigold’s leaning heavily on Astrid’s shoulder as the younger fae rubs her back. I know Marigold has served Ezryn since he was a child; this can’t be any easier for her than it is for us.

“Does the crowd seem odd to you?” Farron mutters, nudging Kel.

“What do you mean?”

Farron shakes his head. “I can’t put my finger on it. But some of them appear … vacant.”

“Ezryn has been a beloved member of the noble house since his birth. They’re probably in shock that he is to face trial,” Kel answers.

Down below, Kairyn raises a hand. “Citizens of Florendel, I stand before you steward of Spring, son of Prince Thalionor and the late former High Princess Isidora, and brother to the current High Prince of Spring. It is with great sadness I share with you that the High Prince will face trial this morning for the gravest of sins, the ultimate betrayal of his people.”

A gasp sounds, and my back teeth grind together. Hatred churns inside of me, staring at Kairyn. Kel says this isn’t about him. That he’s just doing what he has to, what the creed demands.

I call bullshit.

I’ve always known, ever since that little asshole used to tag around with us, that there was something wicked inside of him. Whether he was tormenting village kids or muttering remarks beneath his helm, I recognized it as more than sibling rivalry between him and Ez. He’s always hated his older brother. Resented him.

“I bet Kai fucking planned this somehow,” I growl. “Knew those guards would witness Ez’s face.”

Kel shakes his head. “Kairyn saved his life against the Nightingale’s monster. Saved all our lives.”

I pace behind them, hands itching for my swords. “I just can’t fucking believe we’re going to stand here, waiting and watching, as Ezryn’s life is in that madman’s hands! Ezryn’s going to let this happen to himself—”

Kel slams a hand on my palm and holds me in an icy glare. “This is Ezryn’s choice. You will respect it.”

I sneer and throw his hand off me.

Farron steps forward, eyes shifting between the two of us. “Ezryn had the choice to publicly unhelm Kai years ago, when Ez defeated him in the Rite. Surely, Kairyn will show the same mercy.”

“Or he’ll kill him,” I say.

A keening sound utters from up the rampart, and Rosalina doubles over, clutching her heart. It’s the first sound I’ve heard her make all morning. Seven realms, I’m an idiot. Kel shoots me a nasty glare, then walks over to her and places a hand on her back.

If I’m handling this badly, how must she feel?

She’s his mate.

She’s Ezryn’s fucking mate. Just like she’s mates with Kel and Farron.

The thought sends me spiraling, and I whip away, digging my hands into the stone wall to keep from punching it.

Tears spring to my eyes. Rosalina is mates with every one of the High Princes.

Except for me.

What did I do? It couldn’t be because I haven’t loved her enough, because, fuck, I’ve loved her so much I’ve felt like it would break me. Why would the universe curse me like this? Curse me worse than spending each night as a beast?

Then a thought strikes me like a blade.

Maybe it was because I was never meant to be the High Prince of Summer. Keldarion, Ez, Farron … They were all the eldest or the only. Fated in the stars for their Blessings.

I received mine through blood and death.

Maybe she was meant for Damocles. Maybe she would have loved him, and he would have loved her. He should be the one still living now.

And I should be the one buried in the ground.

Footsteps sound on the stair, and Eldy walks up, a forlorn look on his face. Whatever Rosalina did to him yesterday has worn off, and he has resumed his fae form. More of her strange magic. We need to explore it, but right now, Ezryn takes priority.

“Any news?” Kel asks.

“I have finished preparing him,” Eldy responds solemnly. “The trial is about to begin.”