Page 7

Chapter Seven

Cyrus

“Perfect.” I smirked, looking out on the new operations I’d instructed be set up while I was in Day, solidifying my alliance with Aelius.

Humans were already strapped to boards, or hung with ropes from their wrists or ankles, draining them of their lifeblood. When the final blow was dealt, that blood could then be used to increase my magic and make iron weapons. Already, Kesshuu, one of the lesser nobles who agreed wholeheartedly with my plans, was hard at work turning the useless sacks of blood and meat into something useful.

Kesshuu followed me as I walked the rows of humans, inspecting his work in my absence. He’d done very well. I knew he was angling for advancement, and his work here proved he could certainly handle more responsibility.

“I’d ask you to help with setting up sites like this across Dusk.” I turned to the Fae, seeing a gleam of excitement in his eyes.

“I’d be honored, my Prince.” He bowed, and I allowed a smirk to creep up my lips.

“As you should be.” I nodded as he lifted his head. “Now, we have much to do. I want you to begin with Falias. Vissy won’t argue with me, and he has plenty of slaves. I don’t want to deprive any Fae of their workers, but we must get adequate sacrifices from each city.”

“Of course, my Prince.” Kesshuu nodded, writing down plans as he went. “Should we also target the smaller towns? Maybe bring in humans from each to a larger city hub?”

I considered the idea. I needed as many humans as possible, but not enough that we’d be depriving ourselves of slaves to help us, or sate us. With that thought, I clarified, “Yes, but make sure you are leaving families mostly intact, so we have more slaves incoming. And leave any particularly good-looking humans alone. Or better yet, bring them here.”

The noble smirked back at me. “Good idea, your Highness. We wouldn’t want to lose out.”

“No, we most certainly wouldn’t.” I smirked back before thinking of the little human I was losing out on currently. The thought of her, now Fae, only served to sour my good mood.

Asteria would be back where she belonged soon enough. I would leash her to my side if I had to. In fact, that thought was enticing enough to bring a smile back to my face. Asteria could be collared and tied to the base of my throne. Kneeling before me as I ruled all of Celesterra.

My dreams of the future had only increased. The more blood magic I used, the more I saw glimpses in my dreams. Of me, ruling the entire continent. A new order. One where the gods had no bearing on who ruled or used magic.

They were the ones at fault. I only had to resort to blood magic because they had taken our magic. My lightning had even begun to wane, only coming back with the boost from the blood magic.

I nearly snarled at the thought. The gods and their balance . What a fucking joke.

I would bring a new type of balance to this world.

And those who opposed me? They would join the humans in chains.

Frustrated, I made my way back to the palace, only to find Zerlina awaiting me in my chamber. I groaned, rolling my eyes before turning to face her.

“What do you want now?” I raised a brow, watching her sipping her wine slowly as she relaxed back into one of my black velvet chairs. She was beautiful, I couldn’t deny that—but she wasn’t Asteria. And that only drove my rage on the nights she came to my bed. Until only the ring of bruises in the shape of my fingerprints around her neck brought me any satisfaction.

“Is it true?” she asked evenly. Her eyes met mine, and the tornado whipping through them belied her calm tone.

“Is what true?” I countered, bored already with this conversation. I had more important things to do than constantly reassure the insecure princess of her place. As long as I could dangle a crown in front of her, she’d at least play along, but I wished she’d be quieter about it.

Her lips pursed in annoyance. “Is Asteria truly Fae?”

Her question brought me pause. “Where did you hear that?”

Frustration rose immediately, almost violently.

“Oh, the gossip is all over the palace, Cyrus. About how your little pet was truly Fae all along. How you couldn’t keep hold of her, and Calix came to steal her away again .” Zerlina smirked, clearly enjoying herself.

Every single piece of gossip I’d hoped to prevent had, of course, made its way around the entire palace. My hands crackled with lightning.

Before I knew it, I’d launched myself at Zerlina. She squealed as the chair toppled backward, and my hands found her throat as I kneeled over her, snarling. “You will keep your mouth shut. And if you hear anyone speaking of such things, you will do well to report them to me. If I hear Asteria’s name out of anyone else’s mouths, they will soon find themselves without a head to speak. Do I make myself clear?”

“Aww.” She pouted dramatically. “Are we feeling a bit insecure, my Prince?” she purred, running her leg up mine even as I tightened my hands around her throat. “Don’t worry, I’m sure those outside the palace still have no idea you couldn’t even keep a single human in li?—”

Her words choked off in the most satisfying way. Finally sparking the arousal her purposely tantalizing actions couldn’t.

“You’d do well to remember your place here is only by my will, Zerlina. You’ll want to watch that pesky mouth of yours. By the time I’m done, there will only be one king. And one queen.” Her eyes went wide in surprise, having kept most of my plans to myself until now.

“If you want that queen to be you, I’d advise you to get in line, yourself. Do you understand, my betrothed?” I purred back at her, happy to see the fight melt out of her as she nodded submissively. The appropriate amount of fear now in her eyes.

“Good,” I growled as I pushed her dress up, releasing myself from my trousers before entering her in a swift thrust. I covered her mouth as she whined, not wanting to listen to her when I could imagine darker hair and brighter sky-blue eyes when I closed mine.

* * *

“What do you mean they haven’t answered?” I leaned forward, facing Garridan, one of my Fae spies. He’d been loyal for years, and his lack of desire for more than he had was surprisingly helpful. Unlike Kesshuu, whose want for advancement could be manipulated, Garridan instead just loved the game. Spying was his forte, and he made no apologies for it. Working for me gave him the thrill and fulfillment he needed.

It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Still, his comfort with me after years of working together grated lately. He was currently leaning back casually in his chair, blond hair tumbling back. His green eyes sparkled with intrigue, and I found myself wanting to punch the answers out of him.

I took a deep breath, and he let his chair fall forward with a bang.

“It’s as I said. Sunrise Kingdom hasn’t answered your request.” His flippant smirk had me grinding my teeth.

“Have you impressed upon them the importance of a swift answer?” I ground out, knowing the lightning in my eyes gave away my short temper when Garridan raised a brow at me.

“I can certainly remind them again.” He nodded his head toward me, and his inquisitive nature proved it could definitely be a negative when he pressed, “Is there a reason you can’t wait?”

I leaned forward, putting my elbows on the small table between us. Meeting in the brothel meant meeting in conditions below me, but it was a necessary condition to ensure those in the palace never looked too closely at certain people.

“Is there a reason you need to know?” I asked, malice sneaking into my tone. The blood magic made my temper a bit harder to repress of late, and I found myself having to stay my hand more than usual. “Maybe you should do what I tell you and not ask stupid questions.”

Garridan scoffed. “One of the reasons I’m good at my job is I know why I’m doing things. It allows me to improvise. You always said that was one of the things you liked best about me.” He raised his brows, widening his eyes as if to underline his point. “Has that changed?”

“My Prince.” He added pointedly after a moment, causing me to deflate a bit.

Garridan wasn’t my enemy. He wasn’t one of the many looking to undermine me. Or seeking to usurp me from my rightful place. I needed to remember that. I couldn’t let my anger over what happened with Asteria destroy everything I’d worked for all these years.

“You’re right,” I sighed, my shoulders slumping. “Things have been moving swiftly lately; it’s made me a bit more on edge.”

Garridan nodded once, acknowledging it before moving on quickly. Another reason to appreciate him.

“I need to ensure none ally with Calix,” I told him sternly. “With Day and Dawn, we currently box Night in. But if he gains allies in Sunset or Sunrise, they can box us in. It’s simple geography. I must ensure nothing gets in the way of my plans, and those two kingdoms have proven…” I searched for the correct phrasing for a moment. “ Reticent to get involved.”

“Understood. I’ll ensure they understand the importance of their response.” Garridan promised with a nod.

The silence of both kingdoms until now was hardly reassuring. At least, if anything, they seemed more inclined to stay out of affairs to the south of them than to help any other kingdom in particular.

With Day and Dawn with me, we had a good chance against Night. Should they increase their numbers, though, we could potentially face trouble. And I refused to allow Calix to win.

There was no reality where that was an acceptable endgame.

No. I would win. And then, I’d see Day and Dawn’s kings and heirs stricken from the board. Sunrise and Sunset would follow swiftly. Having them close only made it easier to take them out swiftly when the time came.

My father would ultimately prove the biggest issue. What to do about him was a constant question nagging in my mind.

All my life, I wanted nothing more than his approval. But I was moving past that now. My plans were bigger than he or I.

I had a destiny to fulfill now.

And no one would stand in my way of fulfilling it.