Page 29

Cyrus

I made a mistake. I thought I could use Annalise’s fear to control her. I made her into a queen of creatures she refuses to acknowledge as anything other than her oppressors. She thinks that because she is human and I chose her to be my queen, other humans fall under that jurisdiction. She’s been placed in a position that forces her to hold guilt anytime she sees one of her own, and that has become a problem for me. She wasn’t made for this. I was blinded by my desire once again. She isn’t meant for this, and because of my unreasonable obsession, I have made a mistake.

“Cyrus.”

I look away from the terrace to see Felix coming toward me meaning the hall is set up for our meeting. After last night’s fiasco, I have half a mind to start another war and wipe Elias’s pathetic kingdom off the map. I can’t seem to pinpoint why he was so bold last night as to bring a human into my palace. Whatever his intention, it wasn’t meant to provoke me. It was to provoke Annalise. And she walked right into his trap. He’s trying to figure out the dynamic between us and this kingdom, but why he is so adamant about causing a scene, I don’t know.

Felix and I begin our walk through the hall when I decide to speak.

“I want him out of my palace,” I say.

Felix looks at me with a shocked expression.

“Did you forget you are hosting the announcement of his arrival?” he asks.

I shake my head, standing.

“I don’t care. He isn’t here for diplomatic reasons. If he were, he would have arrived when he was supposed to and wouldn’t spend his time sneaking around Annalise when I am not around,” I say in irritation.

Felix makes a face, controlling his temperament.

“Even so, you cannot publicly break off diplomatic relations—“

“Diplomatic? He brought a human into my palace, Felix. He tried to cut her throat in my banquet hall after comparing her to my queen. We are well past diplomacy,” I snap.

Felix is silent as he mulls over my words. I know he doesn’t agree with me, and he usually can talk me out of emotional decisions. But as I think of Elias’s behavior over the course of the week, I am unable to embrace the rational part of my brain, especially now that Annalise has openly defied my law because of his meddling.

Her judgment to step into a decision between beasts was a bold one. It is not something she should make a habit of or ever do in the future. She is not a beast. Her word is backed by no strength. While she did handle herself with grace, that alone is not enough in our society. Word will spread quickly of the future queen who stepped in to save a human, even though it is my law that they are outcasts not allowed in my palace. It will put a damper on her name. She may be human, but she is not going to be the queen of humans.

She will be the queen of the beasts, mother to a beast, and she doesn’t understand that.

“Are you sure you want to do this for a human, Cyrus?”

Felix’s words send a torrent of rage over me, but I fight my reaction, stopping to look at him.

“Try again,” I say slowly.

Felix drops his head slightly, his body language signifying he yields before a fight even begins. Felix thinks long and hard about his words before he finally speaks again.

“Is she worth the trouble you are about to incur, Cyrus? She has yet to prove herself loyal to you. The only hold you have over her is her son and still, she acts in the interest of humans. We are in this predicament because she ran away across the sea, and even then, you thought she rid herself of your son. You are obsessing over her because she is a challenge to you, not because she is worthy of your kingdom. You spoil her,” he says.

Felix’s words cut deep. I take deep breaths, forcing my inner beast to calm its rage. He speaks the truth, but the truth is not what I want to hear right now—not when my wits are not about me or when I’ve made a mistake.

I inhale deeply.

“Then what would you do in my position, Felix?” I ask.

“If I may speak plainly, Cyrus… Marry a beast suited to the throne. You can keep Annalise as your mistress, and no one will question you. But a beast will raise Ciel properly and put our people first. And she will give you powerful children. You are the last of your mother’s blood. You must understand the importance that comes with something like that. If Ciel is this powerful now, imagine what a full-blooded beast could be. They would rival even our ancestors. Our kingdom would be untouchable,” he says.

Silence overcomes us as I take in Felix’s words. Felix has always believed in duty first, which is why we not only became best friends, but I made him my right hand and head of my armies. His loyalty to the crown and our kingdom is fierce, and he’s thought of every possibility.

“You haven’t formally announced she is your choice, Cyrus. You can still choose someone else,” he says.

“I hear you, Felix. Let me think about it.”

I open the doors to the meeting hall, taking in the beasts in attendance. My servants, my guards, as well as Elias’s servants and guards, are all in attendance. And as I enter, Elias turns to face me, a cunning smile on his lips.

“Your Majesty. Will the future queen not be joining us—”

“Everyone out,” I say.

Silence overtakes the room, and all eyes fall on me. Felix steps closer to me, intent on speaking, but I silence him.

“Everyone except for my guest.”

The beasts of the room all bow, exiting the room to leave me alone with Elias. He watches me cautiously as I approach, and as I take him in, I notice the differences that Felix spoke of. His scent is strange, but not anything we can’t train our people to pick up. Humans think beasts only come in one form, but we come in many different forms, including his.

“Why are you in my kingdom?” I ask.

I don’t bother hiding my irritation. And he notices.

“Your Majesty, if I offended you—”

“Being here without a formal announcement was an offense, marking what I have openly claimed as mine is an offense, and bringing a human within my walls knowing our laws is a grave offense. We are well past pleasantries. I want to know what the fuck you’re truly doing here.”

I watch him closely, his reaction telling me everything I need to know.

He’s a threat.

He studies me as well, gauging whether or not I am crazy enough to kill him in my kingdom. And I am.

“I only came for her. The only human you allow within your walls,” he says in an even tone.

My gaze narrows.

“Why?”

Elias shrugs.

“I like her. I want her. I watched her for months, and she gauged my interest from a distance. I didn’t know a king had taken her from my lands, just some beasts.” Elias stands tall, looking around the hall before his gaze falls on me. “And the fact that she has captured you so intensely… she must be something special.”

“You are overstepping,” I warn.

Elias chuckles softly.

“Am I? After last night, are you sure you want to make her your queen? She obviously has a soft spot for her own kind. In my kingdom, she wouldn’t have to choose my kind over hers. At least, not at first, anyway,” he chuckles.

It all boils down to Annalise being human. It is why Elias has grown so bold at the mention of her name. And it is, as Felix said. I can’t start a war over a human who has openly shown where her loyalty lies. As much as I want to, I can’t.

And Elias knows it.

“You are a great king. I see that. Watching you has been a great honor. You care for your people, and you make choices that will benefit them for generations. But how will she fare among them? She doesn’t see us as her own. She fears us. She sees us as her enemy,” he says.

I step closer to Elias, and he frowns at the suddenness of my temper.

“Do you think I will not kill you within these walls?” I growl.

He smiles.

“I don’t doubt that you will. But you have shown me just how much your people matter to you over the past few days. You wouldn’t jeopardize throwing them into another war over a human, would you?” he asks.

Elias takes a small step back, holding my gaze.

“You are a powerful king, but you cannot control yourself when it comes to her for some reason,” he adds.

“Surely, you don’t think I would just… hand her over to you?” I growl.

Elias chuckles.

“After what she pulled last night? She’s proven that she wants nothing you have to offer her—Ahck!”

My hand is around Elias’s throat before I can think of anything else. His gaze is wide with shock as he looks down at me, and I feel my inner beast taking over. The darkness comes out of me, slowly seeping up my arm to where I hold him captive.

“Listen closely because I will only say this once.”

I pull Elias in close, keeping my hold around his throat. Shock is prominent on his features as he looks death in the face, and I find myself smiling.

“Leave my kingdom.”