Page 61 of Scorched Earth (Dark Shores #4)

KILLIAN

Killian didn’t like the palace.

It made sense that the building could be shut in against the sandstorms, but with every window and door sealed, not an ounce of natural light to be seen, it felt to Killian like a tomb.

The Anuk gave him wide berth as he passed, eyes full of equal parts distrust and dislike, which he supposed was fair.

The blood between Mudamora and Anukastre had been bad for generations, and while it was primarily heated between them and the Rowenes family, Killian had made his own reputation.

Some of that had been lies and deception perpetuated by Malahi’s cousin, Ria Rowenes, but not all.

He’d let his own darkness take hold of him in those endless weeks spent defending the border.

Angry about Lydia’s choice to join Hegeria’s temple.

Guilty about not being there when Malahi was taken by Rufina.

He’d been harder because of it. Crueler when he’d fought.

Only Sonia and Finn had kept him from crossing the line, and it was the latter who now consumed his thoughts as he searched the sprawling palace for Xadrian.

He trusted Sonia. She’d served under his command as one of Malahi’s bodyguards, then remained at his side as his lieutenant when he’d traveled to Rotahn to guard the Rowenes gold mines.

She would do her best to keep Finn safe, but the orphan and self-styled king of Mudaire’s sewers wouldn’t make it easy on her.

Finn was used to going his own way. Though Killian had made him his squire, he’d left the boy behind when he’d ventured into Derin, and Killian remembered the hurt on Finn’s face when he’d left.

How long would he stay with Sonia before going back to his old habits of crime and life on the streets?

Streets that had to be even more dangerous than when Killian had left Mudamora, because he had no doubt that the Corrupter’s influence had only spread.

Please keep him safe, he silently prayed, picking up the sound of clashing blades and following it. Protect him, especially from himself.

Turning down a corridor, Killian stopped in front of an open door, watching Xadrian spar against two men and a woman.

The prince had discarded the garments the Anuk wore to protect them selves from the desert, head and chest bare, and Killian marked him at fifteen.

Killian was only five years his senior, yet watching the skinny boy fight, he felt old.

Xadrian disarmed all three of his warriors, but rather than seeming pleased about the win, he threw his practice blade across the room with an angry shout. Only for his eyes to finally fall on Killian. “You’re supposed to stay in your rooms.”

“Then you should’ve locked me in.”

The prince scowled as Killian entered the room and picked up the wooden practice blade. The soldiers all tensed, but Xadrian only said, “What do you want?”

Killian tested the balance of the weapon. “Strange how always winning is a frustration, isn’t it?”

The boy didn’t answer, only took up one of the other practice swords and motioned for the soldiers to leave.

“It gets boring,” Killian continued. “And to alleviate the boredom, one hunts out greater and greater risks.”

“The only thing I risk right now is the boredom of your prattle,” Xadrian retorted, though his feet were moving. Circling. “What do you want, Lord Calorian?”

“That’s why you started leading the gold mine raids when I came to Rotahn.”

Xadrian snorted. “I was there because you were raiding our villages and killing my people.”

“I wasn’t, but even if I was, the point stands.” Killian gestured at the boy with the sword. “The real threat was in the north along the border with Derin. That’s where you were, where you should’ve remained, but instead you came looking for a fight. Or more accurately, a challenge.”

They circled each other.

“Ria Rowenes deceived both of us,” Killian said.

“Sent her men across your border to attack villages under my banner only to turn around and weep on my shoulder that Anuk raiders were terrorizing Rotahn. She did so because Serrick wanted my reputation ruined, and she aimed to be his heir. The future Queen of Mudamora. Never mind how many people died as a result.”

Xadrian’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t accuse Killian of lying.

“Except while Ria fanned the flames, it was you and me who did the killing, Xadrian,” he continued. “It was you and me who chomped at the challenge, never once seeking a solution other than a fight. So I think we are just as at fault as she was.”

Tossing aside the practice weapon, Killian said, “If you want a fight, then let it be between the two of us. Leave our people out of it.”

Not waiting for the boy to respond, Killian left the room.