Page 40 of Immortal Origins (Chronicles of the Immortal Trials #1)

“A few months ago,” Artie replied as he stared into the fire, “They arrived and completely took over, our Magistrate was paid handsomely and hasn’t come out of his home since.

Neither has the rest of the noble family, they stay holed up in their small castle and haven’t spoken to the public.

Somehow, The Brotherhood has a way to track all the Unclassifieds in the area.

It’s their belief that the gods abandoned us because our population grew too large for Magick and it’s had to spread out over so many beings that it’s slowly dying and the only way to stop it is to eradicate everyone without a calling.

They think if they accomplish this, the gods will forgive us and return, and Magick will thrive in everyone once again. ”

“That’s absurd,” Danthan cried out as though this news struck deep inside him. As a Governor in training, maybe it did. “No one knows why the gods abandoned us or why someone has the amount of Mana they do. That’s not their fault.”

“Yes, well, they believe it.” A muscle in Artie’s jaw ticked.

“Enough to murder hundreds. Their disciples wander around town, taking the names of any Unclassified. At first, people didn’t want to turn in their friends and neighbors, so The Brotherhood started executing anyone who protected them, saying that even the loss of some mages was worth the greater good. ”

“Why haven’t you told the king? The palace? Anyone?” Ambrose seethed.

“We did.” Marybeth patted the baby’s back. “That’s when the draconians showed up. In numbers like we’ve never seen. We thought they came to help us, that King Tallis heard our pleas, but when they arrived, all they did was help The Brotherhood.”

“What?” Ambrose jumped out of her chair, head whipping around to face Akadian. “Did you know?”

He didn’t look at her. “No.”

“I don’t understand, these are citizens.” Eurus shook his head. “They can’t be treated that way, they’re not servants.”

Ambrose did her best to ignore his comment. Citizens or servants, they were people .

“As far as we can tell, the king doesn’t care.” Artie shifted in his seat uncomfortably as he glanced at Akadian who had his eyes turned down. “He sent the draconians to us not to help, but to assist The Brotherhood. Once they arrived, no one dared to defy the deacon again.”

Tears glistened in the corners of Marybeth’s eyes. “We’ve lost so many people.”

“How can the king sanction this?” Danthan scowled.

“We’ve been asking ourselves the same thing,” Marybeth hissed. “There’s nothing we can do. Thankfully our eldest are Elementals but our youngest haven’t shown any aptitude yet. Though they still have time.”

Ambrose couldn’t stop herself from turning on Akadian. “How could you not know ?”

He ignored the accusation in her tone. “I didn’t know.”

“You’re the crown prince.” She couldn’t see past the red that clouded her vision as her blood boiled in her veins. An entire town, and maybe more were being terrorized and he didn’t know ?

“My role is different from my brother’s.

The kingdom is his charge to rule, not mine.

I don’t know anything going on in the kingdom that isn’t under my authority to know.

The king doesn’t consult me unless my particular skill set is required.

” Akadian lifted his head and looked her in the eye. “I didn’t know.”

“You’re useless,” Ambrose hissed.

“Watch your mouth,” Marybeth scolded her. “He’s still the prince.”

“Not mine.” Ambrose glared at him defiantly.

“Yes. He is,” Marybeth chided. “Whether you like it or not. Just like we deal with our situation, like it or not. There’s nothing to be done if the crown and gods won’t stop it, it’s their will, even if it’s not their acts.

” She looked from Ambrose to Akadian. “If he says he didn’t know, he didn’t know.

Either way, it’s the king’s decision, and he clearly made it. There’s nothing to be done.”

Like hell there isn’t.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you in your home.” Ambrose seethed, but she was still a guest. “It’s just not right.”

“Right or wrong doesn’t matter, there’s just what is. With that mark on your neck you should understand that better than any of us,” Marybeth said softer. “It is what it is.”

Why was everyone in the kingdom so ready to lay down without a fight and accept whatever came as the will of the gods?

They were long gone with only their effigies scattered around the kingdoms to remind anyone of their existence.

The only thing Ambrose could see was the will of hate and cowards preying on the weaker .

“I think that’s probably enough for tonight. We’ve got a long journey ahead of us tomorrow and we should get some sleep.” Danthan rose from his seat and shot a warning look at Ambrose that said not to speak another word. “Thank you again for your hospitality.”

“Well damn, just when it was getting good,” Podara yawned.

“Thank you Podara for your input.” Danthan shot her the same look he gave Ambrose. “Come on, I’m sure they have a busy day tomorrow as well. Let’s not bother them any longer.”

They bade the family a goodnight and retreated to the barn where they found ample blankets and pillows for each of them.

Podara threw herself on a pile of hay and was asleep before her head fully hit her pillow.

The rest of them found areas to sleep and grabbed bedding for themselves, none of them speaking about what Artie and his wife had told them.

Each member of the team too deep in their own thoughts as they prepared themselves for sleep.

A few of them glanced at Akadian as though maybe he might offer more information, but Ambrose knew he wouldn’t.

Instead, he excused himself from the barn to get some fresh air and left them all alone with their thoughts.

Coward .

She couldn’t stop herself. Ambrose slipped out of the barn behind him as everyone laid down to rest.

“I don’t believe you,” she accused.

“What?” Akadian spun around to meet her.

“I don’t believe you didn’t know,” she repeated.

“I don’t really care what you believe,” he said. But she knew it was a lie.

“How could you not know?” she demanded and poked his chest.

He sighed, “I’m just the prince.”

“You’re not just anything,” she folded her arms across her chest and stared up at him, his face only inches from hers but this time, the fire that roared inside of her was fierce, not yearning.

“Thank you, Little Rose,” he smirked, eyes flaring as he looked down into hers.

“It wasn’t a compliment,” she scoffed .

Akadian held her gaze as he stepped towards her, his frame shadowing her as she walked backwards.

He pressed further, stalking towards her until the wooden wall of the barn pressed into her back and his face was only inches from hers.

His eyes scanned her face as she forced her breathing to calm.

Leaning in close he whispered, “I wasn’t created to rule.

” His voice had gone somber with each word.

“Not every royal is created with the intent to rule. There are many of us who serve different purposes, the gods had… other plans for me.”

“Like what?” She watched his chest rise and fall with broken breaths and before she could stop herself she placed a hand on it. His skin burned her fingers but she didn’t pull away as he placed a hand on top of hers.

He paused for a long time before he answered, the two of them locked in the heat that flared between them.

“Each of the royals were created for a specific purpose. Some, like my brother are created to rule the kingdoms in the place of the gods, while others are given different orders. As you know, we can die—”

“The queen,” she stated, remembering the empty throne in the Capital.

“The queen.” He nodded. “But we live for a very long time to act out the gods will in their place. Everyone has to contribute to the empire, there are no exceptions. Ours just lasts for many of your lifetimes.”

“So, what’s yours then?” she whispered.

He looked as though he wouldn’t answer her at all. “Death.”

Ambrose didn’t know what she expected but it wasn’t that. “What?”

“I wasn’t created when most of the royals were, before the kingdoms split and the gods vanished.

When I came to be, the rest of the kingdoms and empire were thriving at their fullest, aside from the sixth kingdom.

When I woke up, it was already gone. It was a time when the gods were afraid and they needed something to quell that fear inside them,” he answered, his forehead so close to hers they were almost touching.

“Why would they do that?” Her breath caught in her throat and her heart picked up a few beats. “I don’t understand. What could make the gods afraid?”

“I don’t know.” His fingers laced lightly in hers and she didn’t pull either hand away.

She tried to remind herself this was wrong.

He was a royal, not her friend. But no matter how hard her brain tried to tell her, her heart wasn’t listening.

Something inside her felt as if she already knew him.

Maybe it was the look in his eye that reflected the same internal battle she felt right back at her.

Maybe it was the heat that flared between them.

When he looked at her… it was like he understood.

And the longer she looked back, the more she felt she understood. “Then, why did they make you?”

“To be a weapon. One strong enough to fight their battles for them. To be the empire’s executioner when they call.

” He turned his face away from her but she pulled it back so their eyes met.

She wouldn’t let him hide from her. “I am the wrath of the gods given physical form. I can feel their fear inside me every day, and the rage that comes from it. It burns inside me. And it takes every ounce of self-control to keep it at bay.”

Her palm burning where she touched him, Ambrose looked into his eyes for signs of deceit but couldn’t find any. He was telling the truth. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you asked.” Nothing was that simple.

“Is that why you said you didn’t have a choice when it came to punishing Thornehart? You were ordered to?”

“Yes.”

“Why did they make you like this?” Her heart broke thinking of what he must experience every day. She’d thought all the royals were the same, but she could see her own pain reflecting back from him so clearly. They were both prisoners.

His shoulders dropped and his forehead lightly touched against hers as she took in everything about him.

The way his lips turned up slightly, even when he was sad.

How his hair hung around his face and shielded them both from the world when he was this close.

The way his eyes danced with color and emotions when he looked at her—emotions she couldn’t always place.

She placed a hand on his cheek. So warm, and though he was so close, he still felt so far away.

“I wish I knew.” His eyes met hers before they moved to her lips, lingering there with a question she wasn’t sure he would ask.

Before Ambrose could respond, they were interrupted by a scream coming straight from the house.