Chapter 42

The moonlit sea glittered beneath my boots as I cast a path of air across its waters, my cohort of Bonded Men in tow along with a legion of my army, and the closest of my court around me. Today would grant me a fresh victory, one I could scent upon the air like a hound after the blood of its prey.

The fingers of my shadow hand flexed, and I felt Lavinia tugging on the connection she held over it, wielding me like a puppet. It was a reminder of her control, her influence. And that was a problem I was coming to see more starkly with every passing day. It wasn't an entirely unfamiliar situation. Those closest to me had always been the most dangerous, and I could lure any animal into my trap, no matter the threat it posed. All creatures had weaknesses or blind spots, and I always found a way to wield them to my advantage. In the end, I would come out on top.

Perhaps the truest threat did not lie with my queen anymore, but with the being walking at my heels. I felt the star's presence like a knife scoring into my back, peeling me open and deeming me insignificant. It would not do.

I had to tread very carefully with this new acquaintance of mine. A star in Fae form, come to walk upon this very ground I had seized as my own. His power was beyond anything I could comprehend as of yet, but if I could make a tool of him…trap him with cunning, then he would become a weapon like no other.

"Your eminence," I addressed Clydinius. "Come, walk at my side and tell me more of your time on earth."

Clydinius didn't move forward, but he did speak at least, his voice a haunting thing that rose my hackles. "I told you of the Vega curse."

"Indeed," I said, glancing at Vard to my left who let out a low whimper.

My greasy manservant was sweating, and I knew it was not from the climate; he feared Clydinius to his core. His pathetic existence as a Seer was at odds with the all-powerful star that he could not predict in any way. But the truer danger lay with me. Vard's usefulness was wearing thin now that Madame Monita was in my court, his mistakes totalled and tallied. She may not have been a Seer, but her astrological knowledge was almost as good as one, and better in ways. She had predicted that the rebel army were about to gain new followers from a large group of sea-folk, and it had taken the simple capture of a few powerful Fae on these shores to confirm my suspicions about who that prediction was referring to.

Vard's good eye met mine and a flicker of terror rolled over his features which made me certain he knew what I was thinking. Perhaps he saw the bloody death I would gladly deliver if he disappointed me one more time, and I hoped that might be enough to stir some worth out of him yet.

"The Vegas have lived arrogant lives for many generations," I said, continuing my efforts with Clydinius. "A thorn in both our sides, it seems. A common adversary."

"Now that I am free from the shackles of my star form, I am not in need of adversaries," Clydinius mused. "War is for creatures of skin and bone. I have tasted enough death and find myself unmoved by it."

"It is not about death, but power," I said, fighting the urge to glance back at the star. One wrong move and Clydinius could decide to rid the kingdom of its king.

"Power. Yes, I believe that may be the key," Clydinius said. "You must trust in the rising of the Trinity. Assist me in that, as promised, and I shall reward you."

I considered those words, still unsure if I could trust them. The star unbalanced the weight of power I held, his control over me absolute if he so wished. But perhaps my salvation lay in such a reward.

"I shall assist you in any way I can, your eminence," I vowed, adding extra tenor to my voice to sell my devotion. "Will you decide upon this reward, or may I make a request?"

Clydinius was silent for so long that for several painful moments all I could hear was the solid pounding of my pulse in my ears. I was playing a deadly game, walking the line of life and death. But this was how it had been with the Savage King, a push and pull until I had him right where I wanted him.

"Request what you will. Please me, and I shall grant whatever it is you seek, King of flesh and fire."

"Then I shall please you first and decide second. That is the order of importance to such things," I said, my lips twisting a little at the corner.

I knew precisely what I would ask for. There was one territory left unconquered in my life, one which would ascend me from Fae to god. Immortality. The kind no magic, no blade, no star could take from me. Unending life. The eternal king. Yes, just the thought of it set my blood heating with the furnace of a thousand suns.

"Is it much further, my King?" Lavinia floated forward from the ranks of my Bonded Men and Tharix came with her, his eyes set on the water as if it fascinated him somehow. The boy was easily distracted of late, and I had in mind to turn my belt upon his back and strike some sense into him this very eve. He was a fine specimen for an Heir, but he could be vacant in ways, and I did not see the drive for domination in him that I had seen in Darius. No matter though. Such things could be taught, honed by discipline. He would learn his place in this world, and if he could not show his value, then I would replace him with another, finer creature.

There were a few women among my Bonded who took my eye, but I would have to consider closer blood relations... Without doubt, I could claim the right to the wives of my followers. Any of my Dragons would be honoured to serve me in the production of an Heir. The trouble was, my balls were currently held in shackles by my queen. If only I could get her agreement to Guardian Bond with me herself, she would no longer be able to harm me.

My mind circled back to Darius and the ever-tormenting questions that had been writhing in my head since I had seen him in my castle. How the fuck had he managed it? I'd seen him die. I'd sent him beyond The Veil myself. No one returned from death. It simply wasn't possible, but I would be a fool to deny what I had seen. If he had learned some way of tethering his soul to this world, I would capture him and prise the truth from his lips to learn it myself. Then he could suffer in my company, bleeding daily by my hand, and I would find out if my despicable Heir could die twice.

Until that day, it seemed he would remain a thorn in my side. He and Tiberius's son had come storming into my castle and rendered my fallen star useless by some unknown power. There was no way to rouse it that could be plainly seen, and Lavinia had been weakened once again just when she had been on the cusp of destroying the Vegas and their army.

Clydinius had sensed that the star was sleeping, but not even he could pull it from slumber. He had vowed it would wake again in time. Days only. Then this war would be won by my newfound weapon once and for all. I just had to be patient, and that was a strength I'd learned long ago. All good things came to those who waited.

"Vard, you are meant to be charting our path," I clipped at the Seer. "Have you seen our destination yet, or shall we continue walking toward the horizon until we are dust?"

Vard winced as though I had struck him, and my fingers twitched with the instinct to do so. It seemed he was motivated enough to try and appease me though because his eyes glazed and a moment later he pointed to my right. I forged a path that way, creating the air bridge beneath our feet and following his direction until we stood in a seemingly innocuous spot above the calm water. In the distance, several miles back the way we had come, sandy beaches hugged the land's edge and a long, wooden pier reached out in this direction as if pointing to this exact spot.

"One step further, my King," Vard encouraged, and I did as he directed, raising a hand and sensing the crackle of powerful wards and concealment spells there.

I had learned from the lips of captured Fae that the Academy of Hydros was offering sanctuary to all kinds of water-based Orders. It was a specialist school for such creatures, shifters of the ocean, Sirens, Kelpies, Sharks, Calypsos, and even whispers of rare Water Dragons which would make fine additions to my Bonded.

"Allow me, my King." Lavinia stepped forward, her shadows sweeping out to strike at the spells hiding the Hydros Academy from view. I caught her wrist, crushing it in my grip and sneering at her.

"I can manage," I said, making my voice sugary at the last moment.

She gave me a sultry look then bowed her head and stepped back.

I raised my hand higher, wielding the tumultuous power in my veins and working to rip through the concealment spells one by one. My arm began to shake as I poured more and more power into the casts, tearing through another concealment spell and breathing heavier as I found even more waiting beyond. Still, I forged on, my strength clear to witness and the certain awe of my royal court making my chest swell with pride.

I latched onto the wards, meaning to dissolve them all and reveal the academy, but the magic of them slammed into me all at once. I was thrown from my feet, skidding over the air platform on my backside, so dazed I didn't manage to catch myself with magic before I went flying into the ocean.

I cursed and spluttered as my Bonded rushed to help me out of the water, and I snarled in fury, sending out a blast of air that threw them away from me. I carried myself up from the water and stepped toward Clydinius, sweeping a hand through my hair to get it out of my face. The star took me in with a bland expression and a snigger caught my ear, making me whip around to seek its source.

Tharix stood there, and for a moment I swore a grin lifted his lips, those blank eyes gleaming with something akin to amusement. Though it was gone in the next blink, I wouldn't let such a possibility lie.

"Do you dare snigger at me, boy?!" I boomed, lunging for him and grabbing him by the throat. He was big, bigger than even me now. Somehow growing by the day as if he intended on dwarfing me entirely by the spring.

His gaze dropped in deference. "I do not, Father," he murmured, and I grasped his throat tighter so no more words could pass his lips.

"You will repent for this when we return to the palace," I hissed.

No fear crossed his features, nothing but stony indifference stared back at me. It was as if pain meant nothing to this creature, and I didn't take well to that. I shoved him away from me, having no time to spare for his insubordination right now, but I would certainly make time for it later.

Air magic swept over me as some of my Bonded worked to dry my clothes, and I stepped towards the wards again, trying to hide my exhaustion. The amount of power I had used had almost drained me, but I would not be made a fool in front of my own people.

Clydinius waved a hand before I could make another attempt, and as if the magic of this world was nothing to him, the wards came crashing down, power crackling out of existence and revealing the piercing towers of a turquoise castle reaching up from the depths of the ocean.

A cry of war came from within the academy and Clydinius stepped forward, eyes blank as he tore Fae from their safe haven, ripping them out of the castle through windows and tossing them into the water around us. My Bonded hurried to capture them, caging them in magical pods in the ocean, and I watched as the star took on hundreds of Fae single-handedly with awe and trepidation making my soul quake.

His power was unmatched by any creature on Earth. He was the greatest being in existence, and I could not fathom the magic contained within his veins.

It was clear to me that there was only one answer to his existence; I needed to find a way to possess this very power, trap and claim it for my own. For there could be no greater being in this world than me.