“Moving forward, there will be just one true ruler. Me.” She leaned back, resting her hands in her lap. “The Empire of Zephyrias will happily enter into this peace treaty.”

  Elias scoffed. “You took the dragon warrior prisoner! You think you can still make a peace treaty with Draconia?”

  “But that wasn’t us.” She laughed. “That was bandits. Did you not see? Bandits found a way into the Draconian quarters. They ransacked the rooms. They killed the guards. You saw them.”

  Was that what those ruffians were meant to be? Bandits. “Did you hire actual bandits to do your bidding?”

  She waved a hand at him. “You don’t need to concern yourself with the details. At the end of the day, the story told to the world will be that bandits killed you all.”

  Elias kept his face still. So that was what she had planned. “Is Gerard still alive?” he asked, unable to stop himself.

  “He is. For now.” Emmeline glanced out the window. “I thought that maybe with you in Draconia, I could move ahead with my plan for Zephyrias and Voltaria. But alive, you would always be a symbol for Voltarians to rally around and revolt. And of course, you could plot with your husband against me.”

  She shook her head. “No. It is better if you and your father are both dead.”

  “My father?” He’d assumed she’d keep him around. After all, she could probably manipulate him into anything, even making Voltaria part of the Empire of Zephyrias and to give up his throne.

  “I am so tired of having to deal with him. Manipulating him is wearisome. I’d prefer him dead.” She pressed her lips together. “I’ll make it look like a suicide. Perhaps a result of the grief caused by his son’s extremely violent and painful death.”

  She smiled, grey eyes dark and hard. She stared at Elias, as if imagining all the horrors she’d enact on him.

  She wants me to suffer. He’d wondered why she’d not killed him immediately. It made sense now. She’d spent years hating him. Now she wanted him to feel agony before he died.

  Well, if it bought him time, he’d take it. He needed to find Gerard and get him free. He needed to work out her plans and thwart them. And before she died, he’d make her wish she’d disposed of him straight away.

  “And who else are you working with? Who is this?” Elias jerked his head in the direction of the robed figure.

  The individual turned their masked face to look at the empress.

  She sniffed. “You don’t need to know that.” She looked out the window.

  Elias stared at the two of them. She’d revealed a lot to Elias so far. No doubt because she wanted to boast and make it clear to Elias how she’d beaten him.

  But why not tell him everything? Why hide who this person was?

  The masked figure turned and stared straight at Elias. Elias stared back.

  Who are you?

  Chapter

  Fifty-Seven

  The carriage approached a large tower. Grey stone crumbled from what years ago would have been an imposing structure. Now it looked like a strong breeze would topple it. Torchlight flickered within and on top.

  For over an hour, they’d travelled after leaving the White Monastery, passing through forests and fields. Elias had never heard of this tower on the island.

  “Is Gerard up there?” Despite his best efforts, Elias could not keep the note of desperation from his voice.

  The empress chuckled. “You’ll have to just keep doing as you’re told if you want to find out.”

  The carriage ground to a halt. A small army with horses gathered in front of the tower, as if waiting to ride out. Elias doubted he could take all of them at once.

  Unlike before, these wore uniforms. Zephyrian wind sorcerers, soldiers, and even two councillors, the latter of which Elias knew personally.

  He sucked in a breath. Because then he spotted several Voltarian lightning sorcerers and soldiers amongst the army. Fewer than the Zephyrians. But still … Then he saw Councillor Allard of Voltaria.

  Traitors! Blasted fucking traitors!

  “Are you surprised, Elias?” the empress asked, voice like honey. “Your own compatriots have betrayed you.”

  Elias didn’t answer. He didn’t look at her.

  There were also three robed individuals wearing masks, exactly like the robed figure who sat opposite him.

  Who are they?

  He could see Gerard nowhere.

  A Zephyrian soldier opened the carriage door from the outside. The empress, Beau, and the robed figure exited. The soldier who’d been beside Elias shoved him out, grabbing his arm as soon as his feet hit the ground. Another soldier grabbed Elias’s other arm.

  The robed figure approached the three others and conversed with them.

  Beau strode towards his sister, Anais, and his husband, Duke Albert. It seemed Gerard’s cousin had turned against Draconia.

  Fucking traitors everywhere.

  But he didn’t see any others from Draconia present. Or anyone from Botanial or the Grey Mountains.

  Empress Emmeline approached the army gathered in front of the tower. The soldiers tightened their grips on Elias’s arms and tugged him forward, forcing him to follow.

  Elias fixed his gaze on the Voltarians. “You have a fine collection of traitors, Empress,” he said, voice loud.

  Councillor Allard sneered, her cheeks flushing. “Who are you to insult me? I fought in the war! I’ve served as a loyal councillor, finding the best way forward for Voltaria. What have you ever done for our kingdom? You’re nothing but a weakling and a coward!” She looked to the empress. “May I?”

  The empress stared at Elias. She nodded.

  The soldiers gripping him immediately released him and stepped back.

  As one, Councillor Allard and the lightning sorcerers lifted their hands. Their fingers wove together in perfect synchronicity. Elias could see the flashes of their metal bracers in the moonlight as the sleeves of their robes fell back with their moments. Their fingers sparked.

  Elias took a deep breath. His muscles clenched as he braced, knowing what was about to come. Their fingers flicked towards him. Lightning zigzagged. It hit him in the chest. He cried out as pain tore through him. He collapsed back, body convulsing.

  He gritted his teeth. He could so easily grasp the power they wielded against him. So easily turn it around and strike them.

  She won’t let them kill you. Not yet. She wants you to suffer first. You have to wait. You have to find Gerard. You have to see what they have planned. You have to work out what the fuck is going on and stop it!

  Elias squeezed his eyes shut, fighting the urge to retaliate. Still, he reached to the core of his power, ready in case they did not let up soon. He wouldn’t let them kill him.

  His fingers tensed. Sparks danced along them. But he held back. He wouldn’t release his power. Not yet.

  “That’s enough,” the empress said, voice calm.

  The pain stopped. Elias sagged onto the ground. He gasped, pulling breath into his aching lungs. He released his power.

  “Was he just doing his little sparkles?” Anais laughed. “Did he really think he could fight back?”

  “Stand up, Elias,” the empress said.

  Elias didn’t move.

  “I said, stand up!”

  Trembling, Elias staggered to his feet. He wanted to say something clever. Something cutting. Something brave. But he was doing everything to resist killing the empress.

  She reached with her strange black metal claws to her belt. She pulled out one of the daggers. Her left fingers danced in the air, weaving and signing. Meanwhile, she held the dagger between two of her clawed right fingers.

  “What are you doing?” Elias stepped back.

  The empress smiled. Her clawed metal fingers glowed a bright blue. Empress Emmeline flung the dagger up, straight into the sky. It flew. Then it spun, circling around and around in the air above. At the same time, Empress Emmeline spun her left fingers.

  Then she swooped her hand. The dagger swooped, coming straight at Elias. Elias jumped back and turned, trying to dodge. Air whisked passed him as the dagger sliced through his sleeve over his shoulder, cutting fabric and skin.

  “Ahh!” Elias cried out, trying to grab the wound, but he couldn’t with his hand bound. He stared at the blood seeping into his clothes. Despite the sting, he didn’t think it was too deep.

  “What do you think, Elias?” Empress Emmeline held up her black-clawed fingers, no longer glowing. “This new invention works rather well. It allows me to harness my wind magic in a rather useful manner. I can even use it without any assistance from other sorcerers.” She smiled at him. “I’m sure you can appreciate the brilliance.”

  Elias breathed heavily as the blood soaked his clothes. Then he saw a group of wind sorcerers, fingers weaving. Elias braced.

  The wind knocked into him. He flew through the air. He grunted as he smashed against the ground, bones and flesh knocking together. He lay still. He felt warm blood trickle down his face.

  He groaned. Fucking wind sorcerers!

  It seemed they were using both old and new techniques to torture him tonight. Footsteps approached and stopped beside him. He opened his eyes and stared up at his stepmother.

  “I’ve wanted to watch you in pain for a long time, Elias. I wanted to wipe all those smug little smiles from your face.” She rested her hand with the black metal fingers across her chest, as if showing off her new bit of magic jewellery. “I’m going to enjoy tonight. Now stand up.”

  Elias struggled to his feet. But then he stumbled, crying out and letting himself crumble to the ground. Maybe if she thinks me too injured, she won’t attack me again.

  “I said, stand up!” she bit out.

  Once again Elias made a play of stumbling to his feet. Once again he pretended he lacked the strength. He collapsed into a heap. “I can’t,” Elias whined as pathetically as he could.

  She exhaled. “You two. Bring him.”

  Two soldiers gripped his arms, yanked him up, and dragged him towards the tower. Elias hung from the soldiers’ arms. He pretended to try to get his feet under him before going limp.

  The empress paused before entering the building. She pointed at a dragon harness. “What is that dragon harness doing here?”

  Beau stepped forward, chest puffing up. “I am going to ride Albert into battle.”

  “You can’t cast on your own,” she said simply. “Albert can fly alone. You ride with the other wind sorcerers.”

  Beau’s shoulders drooped.

  So there would be a battle. But with who?

  “Now go,” Empress Emmeline instructed. “Ride out.”

  Beau, Anais, Duke Albert—along with the majority of the soldiers and sorcerers—and the three robed figures mounted their horses. Empress Emmeline watched them depart.

  “Where are they going?” Elias asked, voice hoarse.

  She smiled. “Wouldn’t you like to know.” She turned and strode into the tower, the silent robed figure walking beside her. The soldiers dragged Elias. The handful of sorcerers and soldiers who’d remained also followed.

  Elias glanced around. I can take this many. Even injured I can kill this small a group with ease.

  They walked up several flights of wooden stairs, leading up and up. Elias hoped they were taking him to Gerard. He needed the man to be okay.

  They came to a battered wooden door at the top. A soldier stepped forward and turned the handle. The door swung open.

  Elias’s heart sank. More sorcerers and soldiers were assembled on top of the tower. The odds of an easy win suddenly lessened. He might be a lightning archmage, but that didn’t mean he could take on almost ten lightning sorcerers, twenty wind sorcerers, and the same number of soldiers.

  Then Elias let out a breath.

  Gerard! He’s here. He’s alive!

  Gerard knelt on the stone on the opposite side of the tower. Queen Consort Adelina stood over him, leaning down and talking to him.

  What is she doing here?

  Chapter

  Fifty-Eight

  Gerard stared, mouth ajar as he listened to the woman who had been his stepmother for the majority of his life. It seemed such a strange occurrence that his and Elias’s stepmothers were working together to kill them.

  Four soldiers from Zephyrias surrounded Gerard. And standing at attention around the top of the tower were more soldiers and sorcerers.

  “Adelina, do not do this,” Gerard said, trying to keep his voice calm. “You’re a kind-hearted woman. Do you really want to murder your husband and your five stepchildren? You can’t want that! You can’t want our blood on your hands!”

  “It’s not that I want to do this!” Her brows puckered. “But when the king and you are all dead, then my children will be queen, the heir to the throne, the dragon warrior, and the spare to the dragon warrior. They will no longer be pushed to the side! They will be respected and powerful!” Her voice brightened as she spoke.

  Trying not to be obvious, Gerard tugged at his shackles behind him. “Are my siblings and my father still alive?”

  “They are!” She paused. “But not for much longer. I’m really sorry, Gerard. I know this must be difficult for you. But we promise to make your siblings’ deaths as quick as possible. You can take comfort in that.” She hesitated. “Only Elias will die painfully.”

  Gerard’s chest squeezed. “What?”

  “Emmeline hates him. It was actually suggested that you and Elias be killed as soon as you were taken. But Emmeline wanted to watch Elias hurt.” She pressed her lips together, as if not approving of that part of the plan.

  Gerard couldn’t get air into his lungs.

  But Elias was an archmage! A fact no one knew. No doubt when the empress attacked him, he could kill her and escape. He wouldn’t be taken! He’d get away and be safe!

  “She thought Elias watching you be killed would hurt him, since he seems to care for you. That’s why you are still alive. Truthfully, I did not want him tortured,” she whispered as if worried Empress Emmeline might overhear her even though the empress wasn’t present. “But she has told me what he is like. He seems quite wicked.”

  But then Gerard’s brain snagged on something Adelina had said. “Who suggested that me and Elias be killed already?”

  She opened her mouth. She shut it. Her lips twitched, and she looked away.

  Gerard frowned.

  Then she exhaled and continued speaking as if Gerard had not asked the question. “I am sorry, Gerard. I did ask if we could kill you painlessly at least. Emmeline said she can do that. She just wants Elias to watch you die.” She shook her head. “I know it is all very … uncivilised. But at least the peace treaty will continue. You can be glad of that.”

  Gerard could not see that happening. Although he didn’t know their whole plan, it all seemed so chaotic and with too many moving parts. Could they actually pull it off? And surely someone would discover what the empress and queen consort had done.

  But maybe no one from the other kingdoms would care if the dragon king and his five eldest children perished. After all, they had just been at war with them. Perhaps the other kingdoms would overlook any suspicions they had against the empress and the queen consort and be comfortable making a peace treaty with the new rulers of Draconia.

  “My daughter will forge a great future for the kingdom.” The queen consort smiled. “She will be a wonderful dragon queen!”

  She glanced around at the sorcerers, soldiers, and bandits gathered. “I asked Emmeline if we could involve my children in this plan. They are so clever. But Emmeline advised against it. I pointed out that her children got to be involved.”

  She sighed. “But she said only the children who were at the White Monastery were. She reminded me that Prince Matteo isn’t part of the plan. I thought that maybe if the king instructed our children to come here, then they could be involved too.

  “But King Alaric didn’t want them to come. He doesn’t care about his other children one bit.” Her head bowed slightly.

  She placed a hand on Gerard’s shoulder and squeezed. “I am truly sorry that you have to die, Gerard. But I’m doing this for them. They will be important like you are, once you are gone.”

  Gerard forced himself not to shake her hand from his shoulder. “I’m sorry my father treated you and your children so badly. I should have said something. You deserve better.”

  “Thank you, Gerard. I’m glad you see that.”

  “But murdering us is not the way!” he pleaded. “Perhaps if I talk to my father, perhaps we can find new roles for them. Then they will be important too.”

  “I don’t … I don’t know.”

  “Please. You don’t want to do this! I know you don’t! We can find a way for your children to be important without you becoming a murderer. They wouldn’t want that.” Gerard opened his mouth, about to say more, but the door leading to the top of the tower swung open.

  The robed figure he’d seen earlier, along with Empress Emmeline, came forth. Then two soldiers appeared. Elias hung between them.

  Gerard’s heart clenched. Elias’s eyes were half-lidded. Blood spilled from his forehead, dripping down his face and onto his clothes. His hands had been tied in front of him with rope.

  “Elias!” The name tore from his throat. He tugged at his shackles. He got to his feet and took one step. Two soldiers grabbed him.

  He struggled against them. He managed to take another step closer to Elias. But a third soldier lifted his spear and smashed the butt into Gerard’s gut. Gerard groaned. They shoved him down. He grunted as his knees impacted with the stone.

  Hunched over and panting, he watched Elias’s sagging form be dragged forward.

  “Put him beside his husband. Don’t worry about being gentle,” the empress commanded.

  “Elias!” Gerard cried out.

  Why wasn’t Elias fighting back? He was a lightning archmage! Why hadn’t he managed to escape? They didn’t have him in shackles. Just rope. That wouldn’t stop his ability to use his magic.

  Maybe I was wrong. Maybe Elias is not an archmage.