Chapter Thirty

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Tabitha

My footsteps are sure as I march back toward the throne room. I'm confident in going back there, demanding my father either hand the throne over or take me on, one on one. If he wants this throne badly enough, he can have it. But he'll have to kill me first.

My confidence drains when I see two large men walking toward me.

Raisi and Kozzanth.

Their skin and clothing are covered in black ash, reminding me of my own charred shirt. I was lucky the heat of the magic only grazed my skin, hardly leaving a mark.

"Thank the gods you're okay!" Raisi rushes toward me, wrapping his arms around me and hugging me.

"What is going on? Where is my father?"

"The throne room was burning. It was falling. We had to retreat," Kozzanth explains.

"So where is he?" I ask again.

"He was still in there when we left," Kozzanth answers carefully.

"I don't understand," I mutter, looking past them. "I don't understand any of this."

"Something is going on," Kozzanth says. "He is playing tricks. That staff he has? The amount of magic it holds is astonishing." Kozzanth turns to Theodas. "Have you heard of such a thing? A staff holding magic?"

"In theory," Theodas says in his chilled tone.

He is still angry with me. Part of me feels bad. A bigger part can't worry about it right now.

"So how do we get it from him? How do we fight him when he has all that magic?" Kozzanth says.

"No, no… this isn't right," I say. "My father is a vampire. He cannot wield magic."

"He is not wielding it. It is within the staff," Raisi says.

"So, anyone can do that?" I ask, truly annoyed at this situation.

The whole thing seems like some sick joke. We come into the castle that is empty other than my father. Now he has a magical staff? He's toying with us. Messing with our heads. And it's working. I hate that it is working!

"In theory," Theodas repeats.

I whirl toward him. "Do you have anything else to say?"

"Am I allowed to do that?" he bites out, raising a brow.

I grit my teeth, knowing arguing with him is a bad idea.

"Theo…" Raisi says carefully, catching on to the tension.

"You will answer my question," I say to Theodas.

"Since it's an order, I suppose I will. Yes, anyone can use magic if it is put into an object. One would only have to be taught how to expel it the right way."

"How does it get into the object? Does it run out?" Kozzanth asks.

Theodas sighs, running a hand through his hair. "That all depends on where the magic is coming from. Witches gather magic from everything around them, but it drains their energy too. Putting magic into an object means the user will not drain their own energy, but typically it can only hold so much. Unless someone found a way to make the object pull magic from around them the same way a witch would."

"How in the world would they do that?" Raisi asks, throwing his arms up and letting them fall to his sides.

I keep my gaze on Theodas, waiting for him to answer. He keeps his gaze on Kozzanth when he responds, but the answer still has goosebumps covering my skin.

"Dark magic."

The castle continues to burn, and though I hate to see my home lost, I can't say I'm angry about it happening. As many good memories this place holds, there are double or triple the horrible things that have taken place here. I can only imagine the things that have happened in my absence or when I was too young to understand what was going on. Who knows how many things were hidden from me?

Now that I am here and have seen my father face-to-face, I know he is trying to play a game with us. He is past the anger stage of me leaving and trying to take his throne. He is being patient. Something I lack. Something that could get me into trouble. But because I am certain he is waiting for us—or rather me—to go to him, I am comfortable leading my Dravens to the north wing of the castle, which was where I spent most of my time as a child. I find us an empty room so we can figure out what our next move should be.

How is it I've thought about this for so long, yet when I get here, nothing goes the way I planned? How has everything gone up in smoke? Almost literally. Are my plans that awful? Am I truly incapable of this?

From the aperture, I see the other end of the castle and the flames licking toward the sky, the black smoke billowing out of every crevice it can. It'll reach this end of the castle eventually. It'll burn the whole thing down. But it will take time.

There are already many on-lookers on the castle grounds, watching in horror and fascination, no doubt wondering what is going on and why nothing is being done about the fire. I can only hope they are smart enough to keep their distance, and not do something foolish like run inside to save the king.

"What is the plan?" I ask, turning away from the window and the people below.

"Am I allowed to—"

"Okay, what is going on with you?" Raisi barks, glaring at Theodas.

Theo's eyes dart to me and I keep my gaze on him, guilt swarming my chest but my stubbornness not allowing me to give in. I already apologized and he won't let it go. I've done my due diligence; now it's his turn.

"Nothing," he grits out, pulling his gaze from mine.

Raisi steps toward him. "You're lying. Dravens do not lie." His tone is a mix of shame and disbelief.

"I'm not lying, Raisi," Theodas says. "I just don't want to speak about it right now. I am fine."

Theo's eyes dart to me again, and this time Raisi catches it and follows his gaze. It settles on me. Then Kozzanth's does too. My ears heat with all eyes on me, something akin to embarrassment, I suppose. I will not let this emotional stuff get in the way of what I deserve. That throne is mine. Instead of feeling worse, I only feel more annoyed that Theodas is being so childish over this. Can he not let it go until this is all done?

"Every minute we stand here like statues is more time for my father to hurt my people," I snap, throwing my arms up. "So can we please stop whatever is going on and come up with a plan?"

They continue to stare at me like a deer caught in the woods for about two seconds before their bodies relax, and they all nod.

"My apologies," Raisi says.

"I am sorry as well," Theodas says, moving to one of the chairs. He sits down, pulling the band from his hair to fix it and put it back up. "There is only one thing I can think of that would work, but it is dangerous, and I don't like it."

"What is it?" I ask, stepping toward him.

"Your father made it clear it is you he wants. Kozzanth said he spoke the words that all will stop if we hand you over. So, we must use you as a decoy."

"No," Kozzanth barks.

"That's too dangerous," Raisi adds.

"Let's do it," I say.

Raisi and Kozzanth glare at me, but I ignore them, holding Theodas's gaze.

"Well, it's my call," I say, turning to look at Raisi, then Koz.

"But it's our duty to protect you," Kozzanth says.

"And listen to her," Theodas adds. Kozzanth narrows his eyes, looking between me and Theodas. I think he's put together what the issue is, but if he has, he says nothing.

"I don't like it," Raisi says. "How will this work?"

Theodas sighs before going into his explanation of what we must do. It all makes perfect sense. I think it will work.

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