Black Crown (Darkest Drae, #3)(84)

“So you’re saying this meat is cow; it’s not human?”

“It is cow,” he said simply. “Now eat it.”

My distrust did not ease as my father sliced into the meat, bringing bite after bite to his lips. The rest of the Drae women followed his example, but still I couldn’t bring myself to eat from the thick slice.

I ate the roasted potatoes, parsnips, and carrots. I added more butter to my bread and ate all of it, sipping on the wine and water by my plate. I kept my gaze fixated on the meat, cutting into it and then pushing the pieces aside for something else until it was the only thing remaining on my plate.

“You do not believe me?” he asked, his irritation pulsing through our bond. “Have I ever lied to you? Have I ever betrayed your trust?”

“What kind of question is that?” I replied. “You’ve stolen my will at least four times.” I met his gaze and continued, slowly, convinced of the veracity of my accusations. “And you would lie and betray me if it served your purpose. I can feel it right now through our bond.”

And through the bond, I could feel his surprise and then pride at my comment. I could also tell he was telling the truth about the meat. I picked up my knife and fork again and cut a large piece of meat and then stuck it in my mouth.

Just like my bond with Tyrrik, this bond with my father went both ways. Useful? Perhaps? I didn’t need help seeing—

Stop thinking while you’re ahead, Ryn, I reminded myself.





33





We finished our meal, and the emperor cleared his throat. I felt him gather up the energy of our bond, and I glanced inward, seeing the mossy power webbing still obscured my thread-like link to my Drae power. He wasn’t completely gone, however I could still feel his sick anticipation.

Something awful was about to happen.

Druman filed into the room, surrounding the walls two layers deep. Their unwashed, disgusting presence extended out into the hall, dozens of them waiting to act on the will of their master.

The energy of the female Drae around the table shifted, going from mild content to anxious and tense trepidation.

Draedyn leaned forward, dark eyes bright. “I find our bond increasingly fascinating, heir. I’ve found when you become excessively emotional, your energy, thoughts, and feelings permeate my mind. While I know you could control and stop me seeing and feeling your thoughts if I give you access to your Drae powers, I’m not sure I will ever want to give this up. I’ve discovered so much through you.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

He licked his lips and pushed his chair back. “No, I don’t suspect you do. Come,” he said, standing. “Let’s go out on the balcony. Draeryn and Draelyz, you will join us.”

I whipped my head to look at my aunt. That wasn’t a good sign. She and the female Drae across from her paled, and Druman pulled their chairs out from the table.

Draelyz stood, resting her hands on the table, and my aunt rushed around the foot of the table to help the other Drae forward. Frozen with fear? Yeah, I’d been there, done that.

“Did you know,” Draedyn asked, linking his arm through mine.

What the hay? We were on linking arms terms now?

If the thought had reached him, he ignored it, saying, “The Drae women used to try to defy me all the time. Your mother was usually an instigator.”

I yanked my arm from his and said, “That doesn’t surprise me much.”

He smiled, fangs elongating past his lips. “No, I don’t suspect it does.”

Druman herded the other two Drae out onto the balcony and then stood shoulder to shoulder to cut them off from the rest of the room.

The orange-and-red rays of the dying sun glistened over the water. Smoke still rose from within Azule in the distance but much less than yesterday. The tang of ash coated the air. I stepped past my father, yearning to reach out to Tyrrik, regardless of the danger and stupidity of doing so.

I took a deep breath and pivoted to the two female Drae.

Draeryn and Draelyz were on their knees although the fierce expression of insolence my aunt wore was eerily similar to how my eyes narrowed and how my lip curled. As I saw my mother in her, I could also see myself, a weary, bitter, hard version of myself.

Draelyz was hunched over, and with the tattered edges of her tunic riding up her thighs, purple and green bruises were now visible on her pale skin.

“You beat her,” I said, pointing at Draelyz’s legs. Her face and arms were untouched, and my dinner congealed in my stomach. He’d only beaten the lower half of her body. Was it so I couldn’t see until now? Or because he didn’t want to see her mottled skin while he ate? “Why did you beat her?”

“Why do you think?” he asked. He pulled her hair back, revealing her beautiful face, her blue eyes glistening with tears. “Betrayal.”

His favorite word.

But he couldn’t kill them. They were Drae.

In a blur, he brought his hand back and swept it forward, his fingers turning to talons as he sliced.

I shouted in warning.

Draelyz managed a half-whimper before Draedyn’s talons sliced through her chest. Her body pitched forward, and her head bowed.

Draedyn glanced at one of the Druman and pointed at Draelyz. The mule pulled a knife from his belt and a bead of silver dripped to the black stone. I sucked in a breath, my body stiffening, but before I could yell out a warning, the Druman drove the blade through her back. Her body jerked and then crumpled. She fell on her side, seizing.