41. Hadeon

The little creature wailed in its mother's arms as she lay in bed. The king's whore, whoever she was, fretted over him, cooing and rubbing her nose on his cheek. AllI could do was watch in disgust. This tiny, pathetic thing was nothing. But my father looked on with something in his eyes that I had never seen. In that tiny thing, he saw his own flesh, his own blood, his own soul.

"You see, Hadeon, we've done it. We have the Dragon's heart, and now no one can stand against us. This world will be ours for us and your family. Nothing is in your way." He waved to the beasts on the bed. He looked at me, and I finally saw it. It was greed. I was just a youngling again, chained up. And he was dead, that Dragon was dead, and I held his heart, but still he laughed at me.

Ifelt my power surging inside my body, and I couldn't control it. I didn't want to. They were all small; they were all weak. I was the GreatHero, the one who was prophesized, and they were nothing. "You're right, father. Nothing is in my way." I released, lightning flew from every point on my body, and enveloped the room. My father was immediately incinerated. A look of shock was the last thing that was etched on his face as it burned away in ribbons. I didn't even look at the woman and babe. I only heard a faint shriek and smelled the burning of flesh. I let everything release until the walls shook and nothing existed but the crackle of my power.

Itfaded, and I was left in the scorched room. I stepped over my father's destroyed body without a second look. They would come for me, and I would kill them all.

Theymust have been close because I hadn't even left the room before the door flung open and Plagis flew in with a trio of guards. I raised my power again to cut through them.

ButPlagis spoke first. "Oh, what a great tragedy, YourMajesty." I paused. I was not the king.

Theadvisor held my gaze. "What a great tragedy to have befallen the GreatHero. His own family, murdered by rebels from the PearlKingdom, in their own home."

Iquelled my power. Even an imbecile would have known this was my doing, but Plagis was no fool.

"YourMajesty, we must make haste. The people will want to see that their future emperor can take swift action against such an offense." He led me down the hall and motioned for the guards to close the door. Yes, Plagis was no fool.

"I'll make sure that is taken care of, YourEminence. You won't have to think on it again. ButI have heard that the new DragonKing has arrived in the city, ready to swear fealty. What a powerful tool to have against those PearlKingdom rebels, yes?"

PresentDay

Plagishad been wise to send a slave with his note of the defeat in Xyr. I stepped over his charred body as I rushed to a lower wing of the palace. My magic struck out as I walked, cutting swaths through priceless tapestries and ornaments.

Thehalls quickly emptied of any souls who valued their lives as I headed toward my goal.

Ireached the healer's wing and flung open the door to the main recovery area. Two healers fussed over Luxos until they heard my approach and scattered like cockroaches. What little color was left in Luxos fled him as I stood over his bed. His entire torso and the side of his face were heavily bandaged, and I could smell the putrid liquids leaking from his wounds.

"You have one chance to explain this failure, Commander."

Luxosgritted his teeth as he tried to sit up but ultimately failed. "The bitch had magic." Now, that was interesting. "The healers said it was dragonfire."

Thescar across my own chest seemed to heat at that. "That's not possible."

"I can assure you,YourEminence, that it very much is," Luxos groaned as he tried to move again. I saw a yellowish-orange stain blossom on one of his bandages. "She called herself his mate." Yes, Abraxas had said the same.

"Then you have failed me on numerous counts, Luxos." He froze, no longer moaning and adjusting to his wounds. I felt his shadows lingering just out of sight, but I knew he wasn't foolish enough to use them. He had learned better long ago.

Ileaned over and gripped his jaw, and he hissed as I touched the burn on his face. His shadows rose but did not strike.

"You failed to discover the princess' powers. You have failed to bring me the dragon's heart or, at the very least, vanquish him. You have failed to win me his city, and now…" I let my magic lace over his open wounds until his shadows squirmed and I could hear them squeal. "…you have failed to bring me the greatest treasure I could imagine. The mate of the last dragon, a fragile and weak little girl." I sent lightning through him. He wouldn't scream, but his shadows flailed, revealing his agony.

"Tell me why I shouldn't kill you now."

"I can still get-t them for you." He could barely talk through his clenched teeth.

"And how will you do that after so many failures?"

"The same as before. Take those they care about. They'll come right to you."

Ilet my magic recede and released Luxos. He lay panting and sweating on the bed. His bandages were now coated in blood. I stood. "This is your last chance, Commander. Do not fail me again."