But then why did he have that mask? Why hadn’t he denied it when Gerard confronted him? And why had he admitted to being the one to injure and scar Gerard?

  Gerard tried to look Elias over and assess his wounds as they brought him closer. His shoulder had been cut, and blood stained his clothes around the wound. They threw Elias. He landed heavily on the ground. Elias moaned and closed his eyes.

  On his knees, Gerard shuffled closer. The cut on Elias’s shoulder and the gash on his forehead seemed the only obvious wounds. And neither seemed particularly deep. Had they knocked him out before he could gather his power and fight back?

  Empress Emmeline walked towards them. She nudged Elias with her boot.

  “Stop that!” Gerard glared.

  But she ignored him. She pulled back her foot. She kicked Elias in the side. Elias groaned.

  “Hey!” Gerard yelled. He tried to rise. But one soldier hit him in the back, and another grabbed his shackled hands and yanked him back down. Two other soldiers pressed down on his shoulders.

  And all the while, Elias lay motionless.

  “Elias.” Gerard’s voice shook. “Elias. Please wake up,” he begged. He leaned forward. “Please.”

  But one of the soldiers gripped his shoulder, fingers digging, stopping him from getting any closer.

  The empress huffed. “Well, I won’t kill the annoying brat if he is unconscious. I want him to feel it. I want him to be torn from the world weeping and screaming and begging for mercy that will not come.”

  Then her gaze fixed on Gerard, who the guards still held back. She smirked. “You know what, let the dragon warrior get closer to his beloved. Let the lightning prince wake, gazing up into his adoring husband’s eyes.” She laughed. “Sorry, I mean eye. Then, when Elias wakes, I will shut that one eye forever.”

  The guards released Gerard. He shuffled until his knees pressed against Elias’s sides. He cursed his bound hands. He needed to touch Elias. He had to check him over for any other wounds.

  The rage he’d felt towards Elias earlier that day had dissipated. He just wanted Elias to wake. To fight back and be free and fine and safe. Gerard would give anything for Elias to open his eyes, look at Gerard, and smile.

  The queen consort walked towards the empress. “Emmeline,” she said, voice soft. “I was just thinking. Do you really think we need to kill Gerard? He was just suggesting that he might have a word with his father. Maybe we can resolve everything without resorting to killing so many.”

  Empress Emmeline’s facial features stayed frozen for a moment. Then she let out a slow breath. She turned to Adelina. “It is far too late for that, my dear. And we’ve discussed this previously. If there was another way, we would have found it. We only do this because we must.”

  Adelina lowered her head. “I know. But it doesn’t feel right.”

  Empress Emmeline placed her hands on Adelina’s arms. “Unfortunately, this is the only way for your children to get what they deserve. Remember you are doing this for them. A mother must sometimes do dreadful things for the sake of their children.”

  The empress stroked Adelina’s arms. “Soon it will all be over and we can put this unpleasantness behind us. You and your children will move into a bright future together, a future that you created for them.”

  Adelina nodded but bit her lip.

  Then Empress Emmeline walked over to the robed figure who stood near the tower door. The empress and the robed figure talked, too low to be heard. Then they disappeared down the stairs.

  Gerard glanced down at Elias, who still lay unconscious on the stone. At least his breathing appeared even.

  “Elias.” He leaned closer.

  Adelina walked towards them. “I am so sorry, Gerard. But it seems there is no other way.”

  “So you are involved in this too, Queen Consort Adelina? It seems I’m not the only one with an evil stepmother.”

  Gerard startled. He looked down. Elias still lay on the ground on his side. But he stared up at Adelina, violet eyes bright. It did not look like Elias had just woken from unconsciousness. And his speech was clear and strong.

  “I’m not evil! I promise you, I am not!” Her eyes pleaded with Elias. “When I explain to you why I do this, then you will understand!”

  “Then tell me everything,” Elias said.

  Chapter

  Fifty-Nine

  “Isee.” Elias nodded. “So you let the bandits and sorcerers into the quarters through the hidden passage.”

  The queen consort nodded. “I do feel bad for the Draconian guards. But⁠—”

  “You had to do what you had to do. For your children.” Elias filled his voice with sympathy. “I understand completely.”

  In the corner of his gaze, Gerard turned sharply towards him.

  But Elias didn’t return the look. He wanted to turn to Gerard. He wanted to look into his face. He wanted to see if Gerard cared even a little for him after everything that had passed between them.

  However, Elias had to focus. He had to find out everything he could. Thankfully, Empress Emmeline had at least temporarily left and the queen consort seemed keen to spill. He just had to get her to keep going.

  “It seems you have done your part well,” Elias said.

  She smiled. “We knew that tonight Konrad would be in a meeting until very late with the grand healer. There were other plans to keep Senta away. But I would need to ensure Luther went away directly should he return to the rooms. I rehearsed what I would say, like I did with Gerard. But he did not return.” She sagged, clearly disappointed that she hadn’t gotten to trick her stepson.

  “I was a bit worried because Gerard came back earlier than expected. But then he left for a little bit, so it didn’t cause problems with the plan,” she said.

  The soldiers guarding them shifted, glancing at the queen consort. Clearly, they did not feel comfortable with her babbling. But not so uncomfortable that they would tell Queen Consort Adelina to shut her jabbering mouth. No doubt she had been holding her tongue of late and was now grateful she had an eager listener.

  Did Emmeline really want to work with Queen Consort Adelina? She was not the brightest of co-conspirators. Elias supposed this was a needs-must situation.

  “And the king. What is the plan with the king?” Elias asked.

  “A note will have been left, telling the king that bandits have captured you and myself,” she said. “They will demand a ransom be brought to a location. When the king hears we’ve been taken by bandits, he will go on his own to that location, ready to fight.”

  She smiled at Gerard. “That’s why I mentioned bandits previously to your father.” Then her eyes dimmed. “But he was so dismissive of me. Like he always is. But it was part of the plan, you see?”

  A muscle ticked in Gerard’s jaw. He opened his mouth.

  But Elias got in first. “That was very clever of you!”

  “You think?” she asked, like a puppy desperate and yearning for a shred of approval.

  “Of course.” Then Elias paused. “But will the king not seek reinforcements before flying out to attack?”

  She laughed. “No. He will think he can easily take care of a whole troop of bandits on his own. He is the all-powerful dragon king, after all. If Senta, Luther, Konrad, or Gerard were in the apartments, he’d tell them. But they won’t be there. And he has no reason to think Gerard has been kidnapped. He’d have been suspicious if bandits were able to capture Gerard.”

  Elias nodded. “That makes sense.”

  “And he can’t tell the Draconian guards, since they’re all dead! He could go and find other dragons to come with him.” She shook her head. “But he will not seek them out. It will take time, and he thinks himself too strong to need assistance against mere bandits.” She laughed.

  “He might tell servants, or warrior doves, or anyone he passes, but he will not wait for slow-moving forces to accompany him. He will fly out alone at speed!” She clasped her hands. “And then he will die!”

  Fuck. She really hates her husband. Still, Elias just kept nodding and smiling.

  “We will have to make it look like bandits killed him though. We have to make it look like bandits killed you all. It can’t look like anyone else had a hand in any of your deaths.”

  “It is a brilliant plan,” Elias said, although he saw quite a few rather large holes.

  For instance, there were far too many involved. They had a small army for fuck’s sake! How would they keep what had actually occurred a secret? Furthermore, would people really believe that bandits actually managed to kill the dragon king, the dragon warrior, and his four siblings?

  But Elias kept his thoughts to himself. “Did you think of the plan all by yourself?”

  “I helped. But it was Emmeline and—” Her mouth snapped shut. She exhaled. “Then after the king has departed, the wind sorcerers and bandits will emerge from the secret tunnel and take over the Draconian quarters,” she said, not answering his question.

  “They will put on the uniforms of the Draconian guards,” she said. “And they will dispose of the rest of the siblings as they return. We have it all planned out to ensure that Luther, Konrad, and Senta return one by one. Then the sorcerers and bandits will make it look like it was just bandits who killed the siblings before they leave.

  “Emmeline is so brilliant,” she gushed. “And kind. She approached me after she saw the king flirting with that slut from Necros.” Her lips pursed. “A necromancer! He’d bed a necromancer over me! But Emmeline saw how the king treated me, and she was kind to me.”

  “And that robed figure, are you working with them too?” Elias asked.

  Adelina opened her mouth. Then snapped it shut. A muscle twitched in her cheek.

  What the fuck? “Who was the robed figure?”

  But Adelina’s lips stayed firmly closed.

  Elias wanted to push. But this seemed to be the one point she would not discuss. He moved on. “Where is the attack on the king taking place?” That he still needed to know.

  Then Empress Emmeline appeared in the doorway, without the robed figure this time. She strode towards them.

  “Where is the king being lured?” Elias pressed.

  But Empress Emmeline had drawn too close. “That is none of your business!” She glowered at Elias before turning her enraged gaze on Adelina.

  “Oh, I’m so sorry, Emmeline.” She dashed towards the empress. “I figured since they will be dead soon, it doesn’t matter.”

  The empress glared at the queen consort. Then she took a deep breath. She smiled, one of her very bright fake smiles. “You’re right.” She placed a hand on Adelina’s shoulder. “Sorry, my dear. It has been such a stressful day.”

  Then the empress turned to Elias, fixing him with her icy gaze. She smiled.

  But this was not a fake smile. This smile was filled with all the malevolence and hatred she held for him. It had built up over years and years. And now she wanted to release it.

  Gerard shuffled closer, leaning over Elias as if trying to protect him from Empress Emmeline’s wrath.

  “I have been looking forward to killing you.” Murder glinted in her grey eyes.

  Two groups of sorcerers, one lightning and one wind, got into position behind her.

  The muscles in Elias’s body coiled tight. His bound hands twitched. He should attack now. But he needed to know where the attack on the dragon king was taking place. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to save him.

  “I know it is rather base of me to enjoy you suffering.” She tilted her head. “But one must savour life’s little pleasures, don’t you think? Beau and Anais send their regards. They wished they could be here too, of course. But they are busy. However, I promised them I’d torture you before I killed you and tell them all about how you screamed in pain.”

  That meant he had more time to work out where the king was being lured. But how long could he be tortured before he became too incapacitated to stand a chance of fighting back? Especially against so many sorcerers and soldiers.

  “The people of Voltaria and Zephyrias loved and adored you despite your obvious weaknesses, flaws, and incompetence. They cared for you more than my own children.” Empress Emmeline’s eyes narrowed.

  “Why would they prefer you over my children? They are so much better than you. In every single way. They are smarter, stronger, and more responsible than you. But still the people love you more. Even the king still loves you, despite how vexing you are. But no more. You will be reduced to nothing.

  “Drag Prince Gerard away from him,” she ordered. “I don’t want him to be shocked. Not yet.”

  “No!” Gerard shouted and struggled as the soldiers pulled him back.

  “I thought it fitting that your own sorcerers start the torture.” She gestured to the lightning sorcerers, but she did not tear her gaze from Elias, as if not wanting to miss a second of the pain he was about to experience.

  The sorcerers’ fingers moved, weaving together, the exact same movements at the exact same time. Their hands flashed.

  And as their fingers gestured towards Elias, the lightning came. And so did the pain.

  Chapter

  Sixty

  Gerard struggled against his shackles. Elias writhed on the stone. His face twisted and spasmed. His mouth opened on a silent scream.

  The metal bit into Gerard’s wrists. Hands on Gerard’s arms and shoulders held him back. With a yell, Gerard got a foot beneath him. He started to rise. But another soldier stepped forward. Once again, he hit Gerard in the gut with the butt of his spear. Gerard doubled over.

  But Gerard would not give up. With every bit of strength he had, he fought and strained against the soldiers’ grips but to no avail.

  And all the while, Elias kept writhing in pain.

  “Elias!” Gerard shouted. “Elias!”

  Why does he not fight back? Why does he not try?

  Gerard could not comprehend it. If Elias were an archmage, than surely now was the time to fight!

  His stomach sank.

  I was wrong. I was wrong. And now I will watch him die.

  A strangled cry choked Gerard. “Elias!” he screamed.

  The lightning stopped. The sorcerers stood still, at attention, gaze on the empress, waiting for her next instruction.

  Elias twitched on the stone.

  “How was that for round one?” The empress stepped forward, boots echoing. She stood over Elias.

  Elias gasped. He rolled onto his back.

  She pulled a dagger from her belt and held it delicately between the black metal claws she wore over her right fingers. “Are you ready for the second round?”

  Elias choked and tried to move away from her.

  She just smiled down at him. She leaned towards him. “Before you die, Elias, I want you to know something.” She paused. “I murdered your mother.”

  A strangled sound escaped Elias’s lips.

  “She was so difficult to negotiate with.” Her smile stretched wider. “She kept disagreeing with me and pushing back. She was so annoying. Just like you. So I ordered her death. It was easy enough. A simple gust of wind as she was coming down some stairs. The fall looked like a horrible accident.”

  She gave an exaggerated pout. “Then I swiftly married your father. So I could control him. The negotiations went very smoothly after that.”

  For several moments, Elias’s heavy breathing was the only sound he made. Then he rasped, “It must pain you that you still can’t beat her.”

  The smile left her face. “What nonsense are you babbling about? I killed her! I beat her!”

  Elias shook his head. It flopped from side to side. “The lightning empress is still adored even after all these years,” he said, voice hoarse. “Everyone still talks about her. Everyone says how she was so much more beautiful than you. How she was much more powerful than you. How she was so much kinder and more graceful.”

  Elias lay wounded and bleeding on his back, but his gaze remained rebellious. “Dead twenty years and the people still love her far more than they ever have or ever will love you! Even my father still loves her, no matter how hard you try to erase her memory.”

  And despite everything, Elias smiled. “It must be horrible to feel the need to compete with a woman who has been gone for twenty years. To keep competing and keep losing. You’ve only ever been second best. Everyone knows it! You’re just a pathetic empress, rightfully jealous of a dead woman.”

  She snarled and kicked him.

  Elias grunted. Then he laughed. “You need to erase me, to erase the kingdoms’ memories of her, to erase my father’s memories of her. But it won’t work! You and your children will never be adored or loved as you so desperately crave! You’re all just so fucking pathetic!”

  “Pathetic! I’ll show you pathetic!” She reached down and gripped Elias’s long white hair. She yanked. Elias cried out, eyes scrunched closed.

  “Open your eyes. Look at your husband,” she hissed. “Look!”

  Slowly, Elias opened them. He gazed at Gerard with his beautiful purple eyes.

  “I know you care for him,” the empress whispered.

  And Gerard hoped with all his heart that it wasn’t true. Then his death couldn’t hurt Elias.

  “I will kill him. Just like I killed your mother.” She spoke directly into his ear. “You will watch him die, knowing you are too weak a sorcerer to save him. Then I will kill you.” She released his hair with a shove and rose. She turned towards Gerard, holding the dagger between her clawed fingers.

  But when the empress released Elias, although he swayed, he did not collapse. Chest heaving, he stayed where he was.

  “Will you grant me one last request, Empress?” Elias asked, voice hoarse.

  The empress turned to him with a scowl.

  “Where will the dragon king be killed?” he asked. “I want to know … so that Gerard can die knowing where his father will die. Grant me this small mercy. Please.”

  Gerard frowned. Why would that be Elias’s last request?

  She huffed. “I will grant you no requests or mercy. You deserve neither. I will grant you only pain and suffering.” She began to turn towards Gerard. Then she stopped.