Page 13

CHAPTER EIGHT

KAZ

T he conference room in our new Silvermist base felt too small, too hot, too real.

Malak, Zane, and Rava sat opposite us on one side of the table.

Malak’s face remained blank and unreadable, Zane’s twisted with barely contained rage, and Rava’s eyes narrowed with sharp suspicion.

Griffin stood behind Talia’s chair, hands clasped behind his back despite the angry burn on his cheek that still needed treatment.

Talia herself sat beside me, her spine straight, hands folded neatly on the table.

Emil has seized the throne.

“Start from the beginning,” I said to Griffin.

He nodded. “I received the Princess’s emergency code from the palace approximately four hours ago. I teleported directly there, but was intercepted before even leaving the hall by Emil’s personal guard.”

“So, they were waiting for you,” Malak said, leaning forward slightly.

Griffin nodded grimly. “They captured me and took me to the cells. I overheard the guards talking about Emil taking control and King Adron being dead. They planned to use me to track Princess Talia.”

“A coordinated attack,” Talia spat. “Continue.”

I watched her from the corner of my eye, noting the slight tremor in her hands that she tried to hide by keeping them tightly clasped. I’d known her for such a short time, but I could read the shock and fury radiating from her like heat waves.

“They underestimated how much I’d fight to get back to you.” A hint of pride flickered in Griffin’s voice. “I managed to break free and make my way out of the palace.”

The king is dead. The thought hammered in my brain, making everything else feel absurdly normal when nothing was.

“So, what’s happening at the palace now?” Rava asked, leaning forward.

Griffin shook his head. “I couldn’t get much information. The guards were keeping quiet, but I managed to hear that Emil had taken control by right of ‘pure blood and clear conscience.’“

“Emil must have some support,” Talia said flatly. “He wouldn’t make such a move without preparation.”

“What exactly are they saying about us?” I asked. The answer wasn’t difficult to guess.

Griffin hesitated, glancing at Talia. “He’s accused you both of treason. He claims you orchestrated Leona’s kidnapping as a distraction while you murdered the king.”

“How convenient,” Talia scoffed. She turned to her bodyguard. “Leona and Aaron?”

“Safe in London, as you arranged,” Griffin assured her. “Emil doesn’t know their location.”

“Yet,” Malak said grimly.

Talia’s face hardened into a mask I recognized all too well. It was her armor, the same expression she’d worn when facing her father in the throne room just days ago. Watching her put it on piece by piece felt like watching someone disappear behind a wall.

“Then we have work to do,” she said, and I could almost believe she felt nothing at all.

“So,” Zane said, cracking his knuckles, “who do we hit first?”

Pride swelled in my chest, even as anxiety churned in my gut. This was my clan. My family.

I could feel the tension still simmering between us. They were pissed I’d hidden my mating with Talia, furious I’d taken on the Leona mission alone. But none of that mattered now. Rava would give me so much shit. Zane and Malak would still fight at my side. They always had.

“We can’t just storm the palace,” I said, though part of me wanted nothing more than to burn the place to the ground with Emil inside it. “We don’t know how much immediate support he has.”

“Griffin,” Talia said, drumming her fingers on the polished tabletop, “did you get a sense of how many clans have been informed? Or support Emil’s actions?”

Griffin shook his head. “Everything happened too fast. I think some of the guard made it easy for me to escape, but I couldn’t tell how deep the loyalties run.”

“So, we go in quiet,” Rava said, her eyes meeting mine. “Get in, take out Emil, get out.”

“No,” I growled. “Too risky.”

Rava’s eyes flashed. “Need I remind you if I hadn’t taken that risk, we’d all be mindless puppets acting out Javed’s twisted fantasies right now?”

I flinched. Javed’s control through the relics was still a raw wound, the memory of being forced to hurt my own sister haunting my nightmares. If she’d played it safe...

“We need to move fast, before Emil secures his position,” Talia said softly. I saw her wince at the mention of Javed, but her voice was steady. “The longer we wait, the more time he has to consolidate power and eliminate potential opposition.”

I wanted to argue, to insist we take more time to plan, but I knew they were right. Emil was undoubtedly moving quickly to shore up his claim. Every moment of our absence was one more for him to paint us as villains.

“Malak, pull every surveillance feed you can access,” I ordered. “I want to know who’s in the palace, where they’re positioned, and which entry points are least guarded.”

Malak nodded, already reaching for his tablet.

“Zane, weapons check. I want everything prepped and ready to move in thirty.”

“On it.” Zane pushed away from the table and headed for the door.

“Rava, help Griffin with that burn, then gear up. I want you to know everything he knows about the palace before we leave. Hiding spots, likely personnel, routes and areas reserved for the royal family and their guards.”

My sister nodded, her earlier anger seemingly forgotten in the face of action.

I caught Talia’s arm and drew her away from the others. Her skin was warm beneath my fingers, reminding me of how we’d woken wrapped around each other just hours ago. “Can I speak with you? Privately.”

She followed me into my office, her expression guarded.

I’d been turning this over in my mind since the moment Griffin had appeared at our door, bloodied and desperate.

The thought of Talia walking into Emil’s trap, of her bleeding out on marble floors, or locked away in some dungeon where I couldn’t reach her, made the fire stir beneath my skin.

“We could walk away,” I said, my voice low enough that only she could hear. “Start fresh somewhere else. No court politics, no power games. Just us.”

The words felt like a betrayal even as I spoke them, but I couldn’t stop myself. I’d felt what happened to those who challenged royal power, and I couldn’t let anything close happen to her. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t just thinking about honor and duty.

Her eyes widened in disbelief, then narrowed in fury. “You can’t be serious.”

“Dead serious.” I tightened my grip on her arm. “Emil isn’t our problem. Let the vipers eat each other.”

“And what happens to our people while they do?” she hissed. “Do you think Emil would have let Rava mate her orc? Or Leona run off with Aaron?”

I didn’t answer. Couldn’t. Because she was right, again, and we both knew it.

“You said you wanted to see our people do better,” she continued, her voice softening. “We are the best path forward, Kaz. You and me.”

You and me. The words echoed in my head, dangerously appealing. I’d spent my life fighting for my clan’s independence, for the right to choose our own path. Now here I was, contemplating a crown. For her. For us.

“Then at least stay behind,” I said, already knowing it was the wrong thing to say. “You’re the last Fitsum, not me. We shouldn’t both rush headlong into danger.”

“So, I should hide while you risk your life? Is that your idea of partnership?” Her eyes flashed. “Absolutely not.”

“This isn’t a game, Talia. This is my job.”

“Our job. Our responsibility.” She stepped closer, the scent of jasmine and embers filling my lungs. “I am your mate, and this is royal business.”

The fierceness in her amber eyes took my breath away. This woman—this queen —with her stubborn determination and unwavering courage. I’d been a fool to think she would hide while others fought her battles.

I kissed her, hard and fast, pouring everything I couldn’t say into the press of my lips against hers. I still thought she should stay behind, safe from Emil’s reach, but I wouldn’t insult her by suggesting it again. She had every right to fight for her people, her throne, her future.

Our future.

“Let’s go get your crown,” I said against her lips.

Red smoke cleared as we landed in Talia’s chambers, the lingering scent of jasmine now mixed with unfamiliar footprints. Books were pulled from shelves and drawers hung open, her private desk upended and papers strewn carelessly about.

I caught the flash of rage in Talia’s eyes as she took in her ransacked belongings, confirming she hadn’t left the room in such a state. Griffin’s tense posture said everything. We were in enemy territory now, and every second counted.

“Security room first,” I murmured to Griffin. “Get Malak in place.”

Griffin nodded, gripping Malak’s shoulder.

They vanished, leaving the rest of us to wait in tense silence.

I scanned Talia’s quarters, taking in the details I’d missed during our brief stay after our mating.

The mess somehow made the room more sterile, like a high-end hotel suite rather than a home.

No photos among the wreckage, no mementos smashed to pieces.

Nothing that revealed the woman behind the princess mask.

Had she ever felt safe enough to put down roots anywhere?

Griffin reappeared, his face grim. “Malak’s in. He said to give him five minutes to loop the security feeds, then he’ll guide us through on comms.”

He handed each of us a small earpiece, and I tucked mine into place. We’d used them on countless missions, but never for something like this. Never to take down a false king.

“Testing, one-two. Can everyone hear me?”

Perfect timing. We each confirmed, keeping our voices low.

“Movement on the south corridor, two guards at the door,” Malak’s voice crackled through our earpieces. “Emil just passed through with a group of six. They’re heading toward the throne room.”

“Throne room,” Talia repeated. She nodded grimly, the fire in her eyes burning hotter than ever.