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Chapter Forty-five

Cyrus

Things were not going to plan.

I had finally found a way to draw Asteria out, and then…

They called me paranoid, but was it paranoia when you were right?

Someone was sabotaging me.

It was the only reasonable explanation. Someone in my court, most likely one of my meddlesome siblings, was trying to ruin everything I was trying to build.

One of my camps lay in ruins. The humans were gone, their chains dangling, broken open. Dead Fae littered the ground, those loyal to me to the last. Charred structures that were once workshops and soldier barracks greeted me everywhere I looked.

The humans in the city were getting louder in their discontent, too. Always hiding, scurrying around like rats as they defaced my city. Painting on the sides of buildings to scream to the world their wretched thoughts.

Madman. Tyrant. Chaos Bringer. Balance Destroyer.

I’d seen them all.

Someone was helping them. I was sure of it. The humans were too cowardly and meek to do this on their own. They had never been organized, never been able to stand against us in any meaningful way.

I refused to let them do so now.

The Dusk crown was only the first step in my plans, and no pathetic human would stop my rise, nor my revenge.

“Make sure this is cleaned up. Like it never happened,” I instructed Kesshuu, nodding to the mess before us. I paused then, considering. “How much did they get?”

Kesshuu looked down, shamefaced. “Two wagons’ worth.”

Lightning struck the ground, making him flinch. I couldn’t help it. My magic erupted without my say-so more often now, but it was little to fret about in the grand scheme of things.

“Find it,” I growled, shaking my head as I turned from the mess, stalking away. “I want all of it back. And every human or Fae responsible in chains.”

“Of course, my King.” He nodded eagerly, and I let my wings unfurl and take me into the sky.

I spent the entire flight fuming, but upon my arrival at the palace, I was excited to see the scores of soldiers in charcoal and red.

Finally, some good news.

“King Tariq,” I greeted as I landed before him.

“King Cyrus,” he replied somberly, giving me a deep nod. “I was incredibly sorry to hear about your father. He was a great friend for many years. How has your mother been managing?” I raised my brow. “And you and your siblings, of course!” He rushed to add.

I’d watched him flirt with my mother in front of my father for years, always claiming it to be teasing among friends. But the moment my father was gone, here he was, narrowing right in on my mother.

I also noticed Queen Oriana had been left at home.

Interesting .

“We’re all managing quite well,” I answered, smiling. “My plans will see Dusk, and Dawn, of course, reach a new age of prosperity.”

“Ah, yes. I’ve heard much about these plans, but little of any substance yet,” he responded, with a skeptical tone that grated on my nerves. But I’d been dealing with Aelius thus far; I could deal with this nuisance, too. Especially if my mother played her part correctly, and she’d never once let me down.

“Well then, allow me to fill you in on how we will take power into our own hands, and out of the gods,” I smirked, his brows flying upward.

“That is quite the claim,” he said, surprised, as I led him into the palace.

“It is quite the feat,” I told him proudly. “For too long, the gods have controlled the power we are allowed. Taking ours and trying to minimize us the moment we don’t play to their silly rules.”

“And you have a way around this? To maintain our fading power?” he asked, his voice hushed as his eyes glanced around the hall. Making sure no one could hear him admit to the fading power of Dawn’s king.

“I do,” I confirmed, smiling widely. His answering smile was accompanied by a slap on the back.

“Well then, I’m all ears, my boy!” While I didn’t appreciate being called boy, his cheerfulness at the discovery made up for it.

It was nice to see I wasn’t the only one who saw what a ridiculous ploy the gods' rules truly were. They thought they could control us, keep our behavior in line by dangling our powers before us like bait.

As I talked Tariq through my plans… well, the ones I would allow him to be aware of anyway, he jumped on board with little prodding. It was unfortunate that he would have to go. He seemed a reasonable man who could make a good ally in the future, too.

But sadly, for him anyway, there was room for only one king in Celesterra.

Six was just five too many.

Thankfully, it was an issue I had no problem fixing. My dreams showed me the greatness awaiting, and High King did have a nice ring to it.

* * *

Tariq brought a good number of Dawn’s forces, leaving enough behind to protect his kingdom but bringing me a whole army otherwise—which was more than I could say for Aelius.

Only three of Day’s six lords were here, and their numbers were now reduced after losing a battle against his insipid son. Finding out that Asteria and Calix had been there in the thick of the battle only served to enrage me further.

But I grit my teeth and back the desire to take that rage out on Aelius. For now.

I needed the numbers these supposed kings offered me for the moment. With my own army, Dawn’s, and what Aelius had of Day, we had enough men to carry out the show of force I desired.

Looking out over that army now, I was pleased to see the plan coming together. As they readied themselves to leave, I left to head deeper into the palace. I grabbed several vials of blood magic and stashed them in my pockets before making a stop in the dungeon.

“Have you thought at all about what you’ve done?” I asked, crossing my arms and raising a brow. A scoff echoed off the walls.

“What? Questioning you?” Vissy asked tiredly. He was sitting against the wall, his head leaning back and his arms resting on his knees. His usually perfect hair was scragglier than I’d ever seen it, and his golden eyes seemed as dull as his now filthy clothing. It made my heart ache a bit to see it, but I couldn’t afford to be soft.

“Yes,” I stated plainly, making him laugh dryly.

“Cyrus.” He looked up at me, making eye contact. My heart seemed to squeeze in my chest. “You’ve been like a brother to me my entire life. Which is why I’m going to be honest here.”

“Oh? Please , do tell,” I said sarcastically, hoping to bury the uncomfortable feeling in my chest.

“You’ve always had your bad qualities. Tartarus , we both have.” He shook his head. “But this, this is beyond anything you’ve done before. You may be a cruel bastard at times, but not like this .”

“And what is this , exactly?” I scoffed, shaking my head slightly as I gripped the bars of his cell tightly enough that my knuckles whitened.

“A mad tyrant,” he answered, echoing the words painted on the walls of Evenfall. I stood up straight quickly, lightning crackling around my fingers, forcing me to let go of the bars before I broke them.

“Who have you been talking to?” I demanded, fury rising as I glared down at him. I knew people were working against me, but to target Vissy? To sway him from me? It was too far!

“What are you talking about?” he asked warily, eyeing me like a dangerous animal.

“You think I don’t realize what’s going on here?” I spat at him. He raised a brow back at me.

“Could you perhaps let me in on it? Because I have no idea what you’re blathering on about,” he responded, cocking his head to the side.

“I know they’ve gotten to you. I’ve seen the slander painted across the city. Trying to paint me as a mad tyrant , as you said,” I snarled, trying to contain the bolts of lightning that were beginning to flash around the dungeon.

“Cyrus,” Vissy said slowly, watching the ricocheting bolts carefully. “I said that, because that’s how you’re acting. What you’re doing with the humans is so far beyond anything I thought you were truly capable of.”

“Since when do you give a fuck about the humans?” I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief at his lame excuse.

“I’ve always enjoyed them,” he drawled, making me give him an exasperated look. “Things are the way they are, but I never hated them because of that. Some humans were fun, some were shit. But killing them all? It’s crossing a line.”

“Oh? And what superior moral line is this?” I asked skeptically.

“One that sees you losing yourself in the process,” he responded seriously. “And you’ve walked right over that line, Cyrus.”

I paused for a moment, considering what he was saying. I had never hated humans—looked down on them, of course. It was only proper, after all. But I hadn’t truly cared enough about them to hate them. It was only Asteria and then the resulting rebellions that fueled that feeling. My magic was what mattered here. Getting my power back through their blood meant more than their lives.

And gaining back control of them was too important. I had to be respected as king, not made a fool of by a few rebellious humans.

Still, had I taken things too far?

No , I shook my head at myself. I wouldn’t allow them to shake my resolve. This had to be the work of whichever sibling of mine was trying to undermine me.

Trying to steal my rightful throne for themselves.

Just as they always had. Only now, they’d found a way to fuel dissent. Stirring up the humans and getting to my lords. Getting to Vissy . They thought I couldn’t see the conspiracy going on right beneath my nose, but I would show them what all their little plots amounted to in the end.

“They’ve gotten to you.” I shook my head at him sadly. His confused expression only firmed my resolve that he could no longer be trusted. “My damn siblings,” I hissed at him.

Vissy shook his head in denial. “Cyrus, no?—”

“It’s King Cyrus to you,” I snapped, unable to take the familiarity he showed in one breath when he betrayed me with the next.

His head reared back, and he looked at me as if I was a stranger—but he was the stranger here. This was a man I had shared everything with. Even Asteria! I had loved him more truly than anyone else in my life. I would have done nearly anything for him.

And yet, here we found ourselves.

“You cannot be trusted any longer. You’re no longer my brother, but a traitor to the crown. One who will be dealt with.” I fumed, staring at him with lightning flashing in my eyes.

He stood slowly, straightening to his full height as he stared back at me, eye to eye. His chin firmed as he clenched it tight, and his golden eyes flashed dangerously.

“So be it.”

* * *

The conversation with Vissy haunted me as I prepared to leave. Which of them was it, I wondered, who plotted against me so. Or was it all of them?

Weylin remained at the border, far from where he could cause trouble, as I waited for him to make a move I could justifiably imprison him for.

Daneiris and Zerlina were undoubtedly up to something, but I didn’t think either had the ability to coordinate something so complex. They thought too small. Daneiris’s temper tantrum with Asteria had proven that, and Zerlina wouldn’t dare risk her crown.

Vikal was clearly frightened. He was a weak boy and much too attached to his human. He was unable to see the bigger picture. Unable to grasp the true place of the Fae and the humans in the grand design. He would learn, surely. It would be my responsibility to show him the way. But he was too feckless to have been sneaking around and plotting to any extent.

Kian… I always viewed Kian as meek and bookish. He could fight, certainly, but he clearly preferred not to. To be fair, I didn’t fight much either before now. There was no need as crown prince, but being king was altogether different. Kian was several steps from the throne, but did he aspire to it? It hadn’t seemed like it.

Then again, I hadn’t expected his defense of Vikal and his pet, either.

One of them was certainly to blame. Maybe Weylin, even surrounded by my loyal soldiers, had found a way to communicate without their notice. There were ways out there for those who were motivated to find them.

“King Cyrus,” Aelius greeted me, with proper deference for once in front of my men, as I stepped outside.

“King Aelius.” I nodded in response. “Are we ready?” I asked, looking out among the troops amassed in preparation to march.

“We are.” He smirked, an almost giddy smile taking over his face. “I, for one, cannot wait to see how this pans out.”

Nervous anticipation filled me at the thought. I wished I could see Asteria’s face when she found out.

I made my way to the front of our combined armies, Aelius and Tariq joining me. I had to ensure they still felt like the kings they believed themselves to be, after all. It wouldn’t do for them to notice the true scheme in play.

When I made it to the front, I let my wings unfurl, flying up so everyone could see me. Aelius’s gold and purple-scaled dragon wings looked out of place between my pink and Tariq’s red feathered Pegasus wings. For once, I was proud of my wings despite the color. I had always wished for a more masculine palette than the bright pink House Tynan had.

But now, I embraced the flashy color, knowing that I stood out thanks to them.

“Fae of Dusk, Dawn, and Day!” I called out with a charming smile firmly upon my face. “Today, we leave for a very important mission. While this may seem like an easy task, the repercussions will be felt across the continent.”

The rumble of the crowd as they got excited made my smile grow wider. It was pleasing to see their enthusiasm.

“We are working toward a new future for Celesterra!” I shouted. “One where we control our own destinies! Where Fae rule with the authority we should have been given all along. When you reach our destination, each and every one of you will contribute to that future! Every human taken will feed our magic and renew our land. Every house destroyed will make a mark that cannot be denied. We will show Sunrise what happens when you support our enemies, and we will make the enemy to the south sit up and take notice. Our strength and power won’t be denied; your strength and power will only increase!”

The crowd cheered, and I soaked in the praise as they chanted my name. This was everything I’d ever wanted. Acknowledgment from these soldiers may not be the same as from my family, or even Asteria, but they could fill the void well enough.

“Under my— our —” I caught myself, nodding to indicate the two kings slightly behind me on each side. “Leadership, you will see a new age! But first…”

I trailed off, leaving them on tenterhooks as I smiled and then shouted as dramatically as I could manage, “You must all fight for it!”

The loud cheer that went up blended into a cacophony that had Aelius and Tariq raising their brows.

“Well, you certainly know how to work a crowd, at least.” Aelius’s half-hearted praise made me roll my eyes.

“To Sunrise!” I shouted, arm high as I pointed northwest.

They’d have no idea what’s coming for them.