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“You will never rule my court.”
“Does the court truly even belong to you? What do you think your people would say if they knew your mother was a whore and your bloodline is impure?”
I growl, launching myself toward Tynan. Fisting his shirt in both hands, I pull him up so he’s level with me. “Talk about my mother again, and I will string you up by your innards. Do not test me.”
“Awfully protective, coming from the boy who killed her.”
Black and red spots fill my vision, and I crash my fist into his face. His head snaps back, and blood immediately spurts out of his nostrils. He squeezes the bridge of his nose to staunch it.
“Nice punch, little brother.” He smiles, and blood drips down into his mouth, staining his teeth crimson.
The sight of his blood is another stab in the heart. It’s a reminder that deep down, Tynan and I are the same. It’s his blood, our father’s blood, that cursed me.
Poisoned my veins.
Tynan is a reminder of all the things wrong in my life.
“You need to head back to Shyga,” I demand.
Tynan slips his shirt off, using it to wipe the blood from his face. “Can’t.”
“What do you mean you can’t,” I grumble.
“There is one more shadow-spirit missing. I haven’t located it yet. Though I did track it to your little forest.”
Bloody hell.
I stride to the desk, placing my palms on the surface and leaning forward with a heavy sigh.
Tynan and Eoin are both a threat to my court. Eoin wants my throne, and Tynan has the information that could potentially help him earn it. Worse, they’re both a threat to Alessia. And the surprising nugget of our dreamwalking changes things.
“You’re banned from using your glamour while you’re here, Tynan.”
I’d ban him from speaking to members of the court, and attending the Ostara celebration next week, but unfortunately, that would only tempt him further. At least with wards on the grounds, I can physically ban him from accessing his magic. It’s the best I can do for now. That, and hope he’s gone before Ostara.
I need my brother to find the spirit and take it back to Shyga—to get away from me, my court, and the human girl who’s weaseled her way under my skin. The one I feel an innate obligation to protect with every fiber of my being, despite her warranted hatred for me.
A hatred I provoked—for good reason—but now regret.
Especially if my instinct ends up being right.
twenty-nine
Like a Sunset Rose
Alessia
The next few days are a blur. I train each morning with the shifter duo. They make it easier to remind myself to be patient—that once I’m comfortable and confident with my newly developing self-defense skills, I can leave.
I can leave whenever I want.
That’s what I’m holding onto. No one is forcing me to stay here, and the simple fact that it’s my choice to stay gives me the sense of freedom I’ve sought for so long. Freedom isn’t always about having a perfect, pleasant life, sometimes it’s merely about having the ability to choose which hard route you want to take.
Other than that, if I’m not in my room, I mostly stick to the kitchens, helping Das Celyn and Das Lulu with Ostara festivity preparations.
The autonomy is nice.
In fact, I’ve been toying with taking Eoin up on his offer. Though it seems as if I’m safe here, I can’t help the new feeling of my safety being an illusion. I don’t trust Rainer and his power.
