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Chapter Thirty-three

Cyrus

The one downside to using blood magic was that one had to continue using it, and in increasing amounts, for it to continue being effective.

It wore off quicker as time passed, and I would begin to feel my magic waning once more. The inability to call my lightning always left me off-kilter, but fortunately, there were plenty of humans to provide more magic.

I stood over the cauldron, deep within the bowels of the palace, and poured in several bottles of human blood. I closed my eyes and began the spell to turn it into something useful.

“Cruach, guidheam ort.

ìobraidh mi a' bheatha so dhuibh,

Thoir am fuil gu biadh.

Glan e agus ath-dhèanamh e,

Agus leig leis a bhith na draoidheachd aig a bhunait.”

The blood bubbled and churned, transforming from pure blood red as hints of black appeared, and it all began to shimmer, magic being infused into it. I’d been lucky to find the spell left behind in an old dusty journal from a long-dead seer. Those damn acolytes of the Oracle always had useful visions, despite how much they unsettled me.

They surrounded the Oracle, living in the cavern with her. They wore all black and white in honor of the kings of the gods. While the Oracle was the one to meet with the royals, the seers would occasionally pop up to deliver one of their prophecies to other Fae, whenever the gods deemed it necessary.

Somehow, the journal of this seer had ended up in Dusk. I’d found it while searching desperately for a way to save our magic. It had been tucked behind another book on a far shelf in the upper section of the library that contained books on magic that often went ignored, since we all knew how our magic worked and how to use it.

But searching that once irrelevant section had changed everything. At first, I wasn’t sure if the writings could be trusted. Not when the seer spoke of myths as if they were real—creatures who drank blood and gorged on it across the land until they were banished by the gods.

Vampyres .

It was a children’s story, really. I remember my father telling Vissy and me the story when we were young. He’d caught us sneaking treats from the kitchen, and brought us back to my bedroom. It was one of the only times I remembered him being in any way soft to me.

He’d tucked us in and then began telling the story to warn us away from overindulging. Telling us how the Vampyres had once roamed Adamah, until they grew too bloodthirsty, and had to be locked away to protect the rest of the realm. I didn’t believe it, of course, but the seer’s writings had changed everything.

She had warned in her journal about the dangers of an awakening. An awakening of what, I wasn’t sure. She had only made sure to mention that blood magic could not be used, or chaos would be unleashed.

But chaos had already been unleashed.

It had already taken my magic, and I was determined to be the one who would leash chaos for my own gain.

I truly hadn’t believed any of it at first. Nor did I believe the spell she’d detailed in her writing, thinking it all a fanciful story. But then the dreams began.

I had seen the gods fall. I had seen myself rise. And blood underpinned it all. Blood flowing under and around me, lifting me up until a crown of blood formed on my head.

The gods may have abandoned me, but something out there wanted me to succeed.

So I figured I had nothing to lose, and tried the spell out. To my great surprise, it actually worked . My magic had been stronger than ever, and I’d celebrated by having Tavarius killed and getting Asteria to wet my cock all in the same night.

I should have just taken her then. But I’d foolishly wanted her to come to me of her own will. I’d wanted to break her down and make her want me.

And she had desired me. I could see it, and certainly smell it. Until Calix had swept in and ruined everything. That’s what I got for waiting. Thankfully, I knew that blood magic was the key to putting everything right.

I poured the mixture of newly formed blood magic into smaller bottles, keeping the vials on me so I could drink them as needed, and made my way back up through the palace.

Vissy was due to arrive today, and I was eager to have someone I actually trusted around once again. I passed Vikal in the hall, and my little brother grabbed his human, pressing her to the wall behind him. I smirked at him, looking the human over as he growled, his red hair like flames framing his face.

“What’s wrong, Vikal?” I cooed at him, licking my lips as I looked the pretty brunette over. “Scared I might hurt your human?”

“Leave her alone,” he snarled, a rage I rarely saw on his face. He was always so easygoing, but it was nice to see that Tynan force within him, even if it was severely misdirected.

I laughed, unable to believe he was trying to protect his human of all things. “She’s human, Vikal. A momentary distraction in a long, long life.”

Vikal shook in rage, and the brunette laid her hand on his arm, her brows furrowed in concern. Vikal calmed slightly at the contact, looking into her hazel eyes as he relaxed.

It had the opposite effect on me. My own rage began to rise as I saw the genuine care this human had for my brother.

That —that was what I wanted. Why couldn’t Asteria care for me in this way? Why had she fought me, run away, when I had offered everything she could ever want?

“Maybe I should take her,” I mused, scratching my chin as the two stiffened. “It would certainly teach you the lesson it seems you desperately need to learn.”

“You say we shouldn’t care about humans,” Vikal scoffed, shaking his head. “But you’re the one who started a war over yours.”

I straightened up, my eyes narrowing as lightning crackled around my hands. My lip twitched, and I had to hold myself back from killing my brother then and there.

“That's enough!” Kian shouted as he appeared out of nowhere, forcibly pushing me back until I hit the wall. He looked between us, a disappointed look on his face. “He’s your little brother. Can you not leave him in peace, at least?”

I couldn’t believe his audacity.

“I am your king,” I growled, facing Kian, who stood between me and Vikal, with the pretty human hiding behind him, radiating fear.

“And how is that exactly?” Kian countered, stepping up to me and staring me down. “What happened to Father, Cyrus?”

“You know what happened.” I snapped back, wanting to avoid this conversation. I didn’t want to even think of that night. It had happened, and I’d moved on. Regrets would do nothing but prevent me from achieving the greatness I’d been promised.

That little girl better have kept her mouth shut, though.

“I know you and Father were in his rooms. He was perfectly fine, and then he’s suddenly dead, and you are king. I know Father wouldn’t have approved of your plans, so it seems awfully convenient for you,” Kian said coldly, his face a blank mask that I’d never seen on my brother before.

I had a sinking feeling that I’d underestimated him. I knew he watched quietly, but I’d always taken him for a wimp. Too bookish and uninvolved in politics to be a problem. This was a new side to him that I didn’t know the ramifications of.

“What you’re suggesting is treason,” I told him, working to keep my face as blank as Kian’s and not give anything away.

“If it’s true, then that was treason.” Kian raised a brow back at me, his lips rising into a smirk. He turned to Vikal and his human, dismissing me like I wasn’t king of this Shalim damned kingdom!

“Come on Vikal, Carrina, let’s go,” Kian instructed, scowling at me before leading them away.

I stormed back to my room, reconsidering Kian and everything I knew about him. As I walked into my room, I ground my teeth and grabbed the girl waiting by the shoulders. She squealed as I slammed her back into a wall.

“What did you say?” I demanded, a snarl on my lips as my canines lengthened slightly.

The fear in Emmie’s eyes was soothing. Kian may think he can dismiss me, but he’ll learn how wrong he is soon enough.

“What are you talking about?” she pleaded, shaking hard enough I had to slam her back against the wall again.

“Did you say anything about what happened to my father?” I growled out slowly, and she shook her head rapidly.

“No!” She denied it, and her dread was a potent stench as it swept through her. “No, I didn’t say a word. I swear it on the Old Gods!”

I rolled my eyes, as if swearing on fictional gods meant anything to me. But she was being truthful at least. Meaning Kian came to his suspicions on his own.

I let her go, and she sank to the floor, trembling. I scoffed at her pathetic display. “Get up.”

She struggled to rise, making me roll my eyes again. I eyed her, considering what I wanted, or more like needed to work out my frustration. I could have her now, or later. She’d proven a proficient fuck. I could see why my father enjoyed her. But Zerlina was bound to be around later, and if I could have the two of them together, that would be ideal.

I shook my head. I didn’t have time to indulge now, so later it would have to be.

“Get ready, Lord Visita is due to arrive soon, and I want you circling with the humans. Do what you’re good at.” I instructed her, and she straightened up, nodding her head as if resetting herself. I shook my head, unable to help comparing her to the one I truly wanted.

Asteria was worth a thousand of this insipid girl.

“Got it. I’ll see what’s being said.” She smiled eagerly, as if I’d never scared her at all. I had to give her credit for that, at least. Her ability to suppress her emotions quickly helped make her a good spy among humans.

After a quick change of clothes, I made my way down to meet Vissy. My crown sat on my head, complimented by my jacket, a high-necked one in charcoal grey, with pink lining the trim. As much as I disliked the pink, I had to embrace it as king. The royal colors were another accessory that gave legitimacy to my position, just like the crown.

We should have had charcoal and purple as our colors, but it was yet another thing Night had stolen away. Just because our wings were pink didn’t mean everything had to be.

I smiled as Vissy swaggered through the main doors, but as much as I wanted to walk to meet him, I had to wait for the formal address.

“My King.” Vissy smiled, kneeling before me.

His brow hair was tastefully messy, ending a bit higher than his shoulders at the moment. His gold eyes glowed as he looked up, and I could see several women and men of the court watching him. He was a favorite among them, as was his wife, and for good reason.

“My King.” His wife, Nisha, kneeled before me, and I spared her a quick nod as I bid them rise.

Before I could even open my mouth, our reunion was interrupted.

“Ah, Lord Visita.” Aelius drawled as he walked into the great hall.

“King Aelius.” Vissy bowed his head in greeting. “I’d heard you arrived.”

“Yes, although I’m most disappointed my dear daughter hasn’t been captured yet.” Aelius sneered as his eyes caught mine. “Someone insists we wait. I didn’t realize it was so hard to kill one little girl,” he taunted, raising a brow at me as his head cocked to the side.

His expression was so similar to Asteria’s when she challenged me, that it had my lightning sparking in response.

“I’ve told you before, Aelius.” I ground out, frustrated. He seemed to think we should just send an assassin after her. Of course, he also thought I’d let her die, so he was wrong on many fronts. “Things need to happen in the proper way to ensure the war as a whole is won. I won’t let you leave back to Day just because your problem is solved, when mine remains.”

Vissy’s brows flew up, and his mouth opened in shock. He turned to me, but I shook my head at him, making his mouth close with an audible click.

Aelius chuckled, “I’m a man of my word, Cyrus. I’d help with Night regardless.”

“Forgive me for not believing you,” I replied dryly. “Now, if you’ll excuse us.” I nodded to Aelius before turning to Vissy, indicating for him to follow.

We walked down the hall in silence, Vissy cutting his eyes to me every so often, until he finally spoke.

“Are you—” Vissy cut himself off, his eyes wide as he stared at me, shaking his head.

“Am I what?” I ground out, hating the uncertainty in Vissy’s eyes. I could never count on my own brothers, but Vissy, he was the brother I never had. And more, at times, but never in any way serious. We trusted one another. He had never questioned me in all the long years we’d been friends.

“You don’t actually plan on killing Asteria, do you?” he asked, and I tilted my head back, eyes falling closed as I let out a frustrated sigh. How did no one else seem to understand?

I opened my eyes and lifted my head, staring straight into his golden orbs, “Of course not. I have other plans for her. She may not enjoy it, but her insolence cannot be allowed to go unpunished.”

“Insolence, or rejection?” Vissy countered, his lip curling. I could feel my rage rising at his own insolent attitude. “She refused you, and you can’t stand it. But she’s no mere human, Cyrus; she’s one of us.”

Before I even knew what I was doing, my hand was around his throat, and I had him pressed against the wall. A snarl curled my lips as I brought our faces so close together that our noses nearly brushed. “It doesn’t matter. None of it matters. Fae or not, heir or not, a new order is coming, and she, like so many others, will soon learn their place.”

“What’s happened to you?” He struggled to get the words out, my hand still putting pressure around his throat. I realized then what I was doing and let go of him quickly. He slumped back, and I blinked in shock. I’d never hurt Vissy. I loved him, more than anyone else in my life.

“A new order, huh?” Vissy scoffed, looking at me like he didn’t know me at all. “Do you know how you sound right now? I thought this war was to end Night’s attacks, but now you’re rounding up humans, lashing out at everyone, and don’t even pretend like I don’t know what happened with Astraeus.”

He narrowed his eyes at me, daring me to refute it. He knew me too well, and while I opened my mouth to defend myself, when he raised a disbelieving brow at me, I couldn’t get the words out.

He laughed wryly, “Where does this end, Cyrus?”

“What?” I asked, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

“Where does it end? What are your plans? What is the Shalim damned goal here?” Vissy’s voice rose as he went on, and I tried to shush him, only to be brushed off.

“Shut up!” I finally roared, making him rear back. “I am your king. You don’t need to know. You just need to follow orders.”

He scoffed, shaking his head sadly. When he looked back at me, his gaze was colder than it had ever been. “Fuck you, Cyrus.”

I jolted in shock, rage rising as yet another person turned on me. If I couldn’t even trust Vissy , there was truly no one left I could put any faith in.

“You’ve gone too far,” he spat, unaware of my rising fury, the lightning sparking at my fingertips. “The entire kingdom is in upheaval. Humans are revolting. Fae are scared and unsure what to do. Even under your father?—”

That was more than I could take. Being compared to him , being told I was inferior to him…

I lashed out with a bolt of lightning, and it hit its target with unerring accuracy.

I watched as my brother, in all but blood, fell to the ground, blinking slowly. I crouched beside him, his slackened face and shocked eyes locking on mine.

“Don’t worry, you won’t die,” I assured him, and he continued to blink slowly, still feeling the effects of being shocked by the lightning bolt. “But it’s clear you can no longer be trusted. Questioning me in such a way.” I shook my head sadly at him, tutting. “You’ll enjoy your stay in our dungeons instead of your usual rooms, I think.”

I called for one of my guards and had him taken away. I watched as they grabbed him by the arms, his feet dragging as they carried him away.

I sighed heavily, running my hand through my hair. That certainly did not go to plan. I needed to let off some steam, so I went in search of Zerlina. Losing myself in her mouth or cunt would take my mind off what had just happened. And what had happened before it.

Could no one around me see the vision?

Perhaps not. They had not been blessed with dreams of greatness as I had. I knew what this all led to, and I couldn’t chance anyone stopping me. If the kings and lords knew their own power was at risk, they would never follow me as I needed. At least until their usefulness was at an end.

Zerlina wasn’t in her rooms, and with a sinking feeling, I made my way toward Daneiris’s. Those two had been spending too much time together, and I was nearly positive I’d find her there.

As I got close, I could hear their voices, still at a low volume that was no more than a mumble, but it was definitely them. The guards at my sister’s door spotted me as I turned the corner, and quickly knocked twice on the door, before I even reached them. It instantly made me suspicious.

Did she instruct her guards to alert her if I came?

Why else would they not wait for me to be standing before them, as was standard procedure?

They opened the door for me with bowed heads, and I eyed them both carefully, noting their appearances to ensure they could be questioned later.

It wouldn’t do to alert my sister or betrothed that their guards would be questioned.

Entering the room, I found Daneiris and Zerlina looking up at me too innocently from the table. Several other ladies surrounded them, and their slaves were all against the walls, heads down, as if afraid to catch my attention.

As they should be.

“Cyrus, darling,” Zerlina greeted with a smile that was all fake courtly grace. “What brings you here?”

“Well…” I drew the word out, my brow slowly rising as I watched Daneiris stiffen slightly. Zerlina maintained her relaxed demeanor, but I could see their ladies shifting slightly around the table.

“I was hoping to find you, actually.” I smirked, then drew up a chair, sitting at the table with them, and making everyone present even more visibly uncomfortable. “But now, I find myself wondering.”

“Oh?” Zerlina asked, trying to maintain her demeanor, but her mouth gave her away, pursing slightly before she forcibly made her lips smooth back out into a smile. “What about?”

“Well, about what you ladies are up to, of course?” I smiled charmingly back at her, waiting for an answer.

Zerlina laughed lightly, putting a hand on my arm. “We’re just having tea, darling. You know we enjoy discussing the gossip of the court.”

I wrapped my hand around hers, squeezing softly at first, before putting more pressure on it, making her wince.

“Let’s try that again,” I suggested, both brows rising. “With the truth, this time.”

“That is the truth!” Zerlina argued, her teeth gritting together.

“Cyrus, stop!” Daneiris shrieked, her blue eyes wide. “What are you doing? We’re just having tea! She’s your betrothed, for Shalim’s sake!”

I growled, letting go of Zerlina’s hand. She gasped, cradling it to her chest. I put both hands on the table, using it to rise out of the seat and lean toward Daneiris.

“I know you two are up to something,” I whispered threateningly to her. “And I’m going to find out what.”