Chapter 14 - The Brother in the Dark
His name was Soren.
Selene had believed him dead for nineteen years.
Soren believed she had abandoned him.
“You never came,” he said.
Selene took a step forward. “I thought they killed you.”
“They tried.”
His smile held no warmth.
“Varrik saved me.”
Mara tightened her grip on Rowan’s sleeve.
Soren noticed.
“So this is the king.”
Rowan lifted his sword. “And you are standing too close to my family.”
Soren laughed.
“Your family kept me underground like an animal.”
“My father did.”
“Convenient distinction.”
Elara woke.
The instant she saw Soren, she reached toward him.
Mara pulled her back.
Soren’s face softened.
“Hello, little flame.”
Elara cooed.
“No,” Mara said.
He looked at her. “You think I want to hurt her?”
“I don’t know you.”
“You know exactly what I am.”
He pointed at his scales.
“What she will become if humans fear her long enough.”
Selene whispered, “Soren, come with us.”
“To where?”
“Away from Varrik.”
Soren’s eyes hardened.
“He is the only father I ever had.”
A roar rolled through the tunnel.
The black scale in Selene’s hand split in two.
Soren smiled.
“He’s waking.”
Mara stepped closer. “Isolde thinks she can control him.”
“She can’t.”
“Then help us stop her.”
Soren studied Mara for a long moment.
Then he moved aside.
“Go.”
Selene exhaled.
Mara did not.
“What’s the price?”
Soren’s smile returned.
“Smart sister.”
He looked at Elara.
“When the choice comes, don’t choose the humans just because they look like you.”
Rowan raised his sword higher.
Soren vanished into the darkness.
They hurried on.
At the end of the aqueduct, they found the iron crown chamber open.
Isolde stood inside.
Dozens of priests surrounded a pit of black fire.
Above it hung an enormous iron crown on chains.
And chained beneath the crown was General Corvin.
Lucan and Tessa had not reached him in time.
Isolde smiled when she saw Mara.
“Perfect.”
Mara looked at the pit.
“What are you doing?”
Isolde lifted a knife.
“What every queen before me was too cowardly to do.”
She cut Corvin’s palm.
His blood fell into the fire.
The entire palace shook.
May you like
Then Isolde looked at Elara.
“Now I only need the child.”
