Chapter 40

He tells me how much of an honor it is for me to gift him my blood and help him become stronger. He also tells me it is my destiny to help him become the leader of all magical beings and humans.
He will destroy everything.
Father sighs. “The girl must pay for her disobedience. She has to learn the rules. Why do women never listen?” He tuts and shakes his head. My stomach drops and an icy feeling takes root in my spine. I have no doubt he will follow through on his words. He will make her wish she had never tried to run. She doesn’t belong here. Then again, none of us do.
He gives me one of his cold smiles, and it takes everything in me not to let my disgust show on my face.
“What are your plans for today, my son?” he asks like he is interested in my life. We both know I am just a tool to him. An object he can use at will.
“I’m going to take a shower and then help Nikko with the final arrangements for when the Michaels arrive,” I reply, relieved to have a reason to leave my father’s presence. I would rather jump into the flames of hell than sit in the room with the monster I call Father a moment longer.
I walk down the narrow halls and marvel at how old and worn the castle is. They are just bare gray stone. All these years he has lived here and not once has he given a second thought to adding a touch of life to this dreary place.
I stop outside Kayla’s door and push it open a crack. I can see she has not yet woken. It has been days now. Lillian says she is fine, and sleep is all she needs. I am not so sure. Kayla is a witch and a powerful one at that. Surely, she should have healed by now.
The burns on her face and body are as bad as the day she got caught in the fire. Lillian sits at her side in an old worn rocking chair and coats her skin in a green substance.
Without thinking, I march in and snatch the container out of her hand. The stuff she is using seems off to me. A witch should heal with little to no assistance.
“What is this?” I demand. I can feel my body start to ignite.
“It is a healing salve, sire. It will help her heal quicker,” she replies, taking the container back and finishing covering Kayla’s burns.
My mind starts to spin. There has always been something off about Lillian. She is the only servant that does not protect her own.
The only word I can call her is a “Grass.”
“If that is a healing salve then she should have healed by now!” My voice rises. My temper is getting harder to rein in.
My life is ending, and I am finding it hard to think straight. I have gone over every possible scenario I can think of to get us out of this mess. Sadly, none of them will work in our favor. The feeling of being defeated weighs heavy on my broken soul.
Lillian’s high-pitched laugh makes my ears burn. I grab her by her smock and lift her off the ground. My nose is near enough touching hers. Still, she holds a twisted smile.
“What do you find so funny?” I say calmly.
“You think the king would allow her up and well? To roam the castle…he wants her this way. It suits his needs for now.” She tilts her head to the side. My grip on her tightens. “She will be awoken a few days before your wedding. Don’t worry, boy, the wedding will go ahead as planned.” She reaches up and taps my face. I am livid at her impertinence. I launch her across the room. Her head hits the wall with a sickening crack. She slumps down with her eyes closed.
Guilt spins into my heart. I am ashamed and afraid. Each day I am getting more like him. I swore I would never be like my father. But now look at me.
I walk towards her and bend down, placing my hand on her neck. I can feel her pulse. I back out of the room calmly. I am shaking inside. I will not become him; I chant in my head. His influence is strong. I can feel him trying to break my walls. I can’t let him. I have to fight. Not only for me now but for Kayla too. I know the Michaels will come for her. I have watched them with her. All three of the Michael Guardians will willingly give up their lives for her. I can see why. Kayla has a way about her that gets under your skin. Your first instinct is to protect her at all cost. I want to protect her. I just don’t know how. If and when the Michaels come, I will help them get her safely out of this place and away from my father.
They won’t be safe for long as he won’t stop until he gets what he believes belongs to him. Unfortunately, he believes Kayla belongs to him.