Heir of Blood

Chapter 1

Emerson

"Yes, Father."

Chills erupted over my cheeks, then down my arms, all the way to my feet.

No.

I could've sworn my ears rang so loud I hadn't heard the words or the gasps that followed around the room.

Father.

I couldn't move my eyes away from her. Them, in the center of the room. The dark hair, their faces that had been so obviously familiar, but they were too far for us to see.

Something else came up my throat. Humiliation. How could I be so stupid?

Alaura shrunk away from the stares directed at her, hidden by the bandages that covered every visible piece of her skin and her long veil of hair. She lifted her head to Lucius, stiff as though she barely realized what she had just said.

Yeah, right, I nearly scoffed.

The council tried to sit still, but Callum mumbled into the silence. "Wait, what?"

The two sentinels sneered at him, a silent order to shut up.

Lucius took a long breath, only staring at Alaura—his daughter, with an amount of pride only a king could give.

Gods, how were we so blind. So stupid.

He rose from the throne, crouching in front of her with a smug face. "He whispered something unintelligible to her and she nodded, but tensed away.

"So you finally say it aloud, daughter. Go on, tell them all." Lucius addressed the whole room. "Their future Queen was mine before she was ever theirs."

Raev clutched my arm, tears rolling down his face. "I think I'm gonna vomit."

I only nodded. My worst nightmare. Unfolding right in front of my face.

Lucius cleared his throat. "However, you defied me, and everything you've been taught. For that, I should end the bloodline with me."

Alaura's head snapped up.

I didn't have it in me to worry for her. After all she'd done, part of my wanted her to sit with it. Drown in the guilt.

Lucius raised his chin. "But I won't. You will face yourself—your purpose that you denied centuries ago. The world will kneel to you, just as it does me. And every time you sit on this throne, you will remember exactly how you earned it."

Alaura craned her neck, no doubt trying to catch my gaze. I looked away on purpose.

I didn't want to be so cruel, but even more, I wanted her to feel every ounce of the pain she made me feel.

Her face barely showed, but one single tear rolled down her face, then another just before she leaned down to wipe them on her shirt.

Lucius stared, but only gestured to us. "Hold them in the basement until further notice."

Each member of the council walked over to one of us, Callum at my back, Xander at Nala's, the mysterious ravennette pointing random guards towards the rest of us.

I couldn't even fight them. Would Alaura feel guilty? Would she watch them dragging us out and realize what she did to us?

Lucius gestured toward his sentinels, then turned to Alaura as they walked over. "Don't make this difficult."

As she nodded, the crack in my chest seemed to mend as it formed into rage. They unlocked the shackles around her wrists, then lifted her to stand. Her legs shook, but she limped along with them.