Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

Ryker

Before my father could respond, I held up a hand to stop him. “Never mind. I already know the answer.”

“And what is that?”

“You intend to marry her yourself.”

My father’s head tipped to the side as he smiled. “You’re a useless fucker, but you’re not stupid. Are you going to fight me for her?”

“I have no interest in ruling Tempest; I never have. Leo should have known that, but then, I’m sure he did, and that’s part of why he never came to me with his ridiculous proposition. He was probably hoping, if he could get your help, the two of you could convince me to marry her.”

“I never gave it much thought, but perhaps.”

I stared at the wall as I tried to process everything my father had revealed. Leo had wanted me to rule the realm with his daughter; he’d believed I was capable of it, even if he’d known I didn’t aspire to it.

And I still didn’t want it. I didn’t plan to take control from Ivan and the nobles to seize it for myself, but I would destroy Tempest’s enemies… the men and women who ruled it.

If I had to rule to keep order afterward, I would, but only until the amsirah elected the leaders they wanted to reside over this realm. If they chose me, I would do it, but after centuries of fighting, beatings, and abuse, I’d prefer to retire to my mother’s property with Ellery, raise a family, and live in peace.

We had to win against them all first, because there was no way this man would let me find peace.

“Ivan won’t give up the throne,” I said. “Many aristocrats won’t care you’re the duke or that she’s Leo’s daughter, especially since she is a half-breed. They’ll stick with their king.”

“Maybe so, but many aren’t happy with Ivan, and an alternative might appeal to them.”

“You’re not an appealing alternative to anyone. The commoners hate you. They hate all aristocrats.”

“Including you?”

“I’m sure they distrust me because of my blood, but I went to war for them, and I survived Doomed Valley while trying to save their king. I’m not one of them, I never will be, but they don’t loathe me either. They loathe you.”

“So true, and as you can see, my heart breaks because of it.” My father placed his hands over his heart and feigned an expression of indignation. “I give zero fucks for those filthy creatures. They can hate me, but they’ll bow to me.”

“They already do.”

“Then they’ll kneel .”

The ferocious glint in my father’s eyes made my stomach sink. Most of the time, he could hide his power-hungry madness, but not today.

“But you’re with those creatures daily… and their women,” he said.

I suspected where this was going but wanted to hear him say it. “So what?”

“They know you and welcome you into their shit-holes. You’re the Scourge of the Ghouls who fought for them against those monsters. They like you… even if they don’t trust you.”

“And?”

“They may not trust you, but they admire you and know you’re my son.”

I released a bitter laugh. “That won’t make them trust you more.”

My father shrugged. “Maybe, but maybe not.”

“So, what’s your plan? You marry her and bide your time until Ivan pisses off everyone enough for the aristocrats to turn on him. Once that happens, you announce you’ve married Leo’s daughter.”

“Maybe.”

“And you expect me to help you with the peasants?”

“You can either help me, or I slaughter any who show any disdain for me.”

“You’d have to slaughter the entire realm.”

“It would only take half before they got the point.”

And he would do it. I didn’t doubt that. Ivan was an incompetent idiot who would starve, imprison, and kill some of them. My father would lay waste to Tempest and anyone in his way to make sure they cowered, groveled, and licked his boots whenever he approached.

“How do you plan to get her to marry you?” I inquired.

He waved his hand around the room. “What woman would turn down all this wealth, a palace, and power, especially when she has nothing?”

“Maybe she wants to marry for love.”

“It’s not difficult to get a woman to fall in love with you, Ryker. That’s the easy part.”

“Is that what you did with my mother?”

“Your mother was as foolish and na?ve as you. I never promised her marriage.”

“No, but I’m sure you hid who you truly are from her before revealing your true colors.”

“I got what I wanted out of the relationship.”

He had gotten a lightning bearer for a son, and while I was a huge disappointment to him, once I revealed my power, it was all that mattered back then. My father had been making moves to advance himself since before I was born, and Leo had given him the key to possibly securing control of Tempest.

That would be worse than Ivan continuing to rule.

I stared at the wall as I pondered my father’s revelations. Leo had a daughter he’d kept hidden from me and, I was certain, everyone else in the realm.

He’d most likely kept her a secret to hide her from Ivan; he would kill his niece if he learned of her existence. When he went to my father with the news, he’d taken a big leap of faith that my father would keep it secret.

“What did Leo give you to keep your silence about her?” I asked.