Page 46 of Merciless Is My Crown

“March into the High Barrens and demand the throne, along with an army for Zorander to command?” I wanted to laugh. “Appoint myself their leader? These people do not know me. They have no reason to trust me. They might kill me on sight. Is that your plan, Mother?”

“With that mark on your arm, you can claim the throne. All you have to do is take it for yourself.”

“It takes more than a mark to claim power. Just ask Carex how that worked out for him.”

Adele’s eyes gleamed. “Your father ruled for a thousand years.”

This time I did laugh. “So you don’t care how Carex came to power, so long as he was able to hold on to his crown for a long time? You’re exactly like the rest of them, aren’t you?”

Her eyes widened, color flushing her cheeks as I continued. “Which is why Tavion and the others expected me to be spoiled and cruel. When they first saw me, they saw you and assumed I was exactly like you.”

“You have no right to judge me,” she hissed through her teeth. “You are a spoiled child who knows nothing of this world.”

I raised my chin, some of this exhaustion sliding away as I finally saw my mother with startling clarity. “You are the second person who has told me that today. Allow me to set the record straight so there is no confusion.”

I took a step and Adele retreated back the way she’d come.

“I have seen things you should be glad you’ve never seen. I have stood at the end of the world and faced down a god older than the universe. This magic you think is some kind of gift?” I snorted. “This power carves its mark deeper and deeper into my flesh every time I wield it.” I jerked my shirt over my head, standing there in nothing but a bra and the iron bands, then ran my finger up the crackling black line along my side.

“Every time I use my magic, I make a decision first. Will using this power be worth the cost I inflict on the men I love? Will this be the time I finally turn us all into monsters?” I mused aloud, noting the faint twist of disgust on Adele’s face.

“I sank my blade into my best friend’s heart and watched her rot away in front of me, and I will do many, many terrible things before this war’s over and everyone is free. But do you know what I will not do?” I took another step, herding my mother toward the door.

“I will not scheme my way onto a throne. I will not use those weaker than me as stepping stones. And I will not be manipulated by my own flesh and blood to grasp power because they missed their fucking chance.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Now, if you don’t mind…”

“You are making a mistake binding yourself to these males. A mistake you will regret.”

I advanced until Adele’s back hit the door.

“These males, as you call them, are my life. I belong to them and they belong to me in a way you will never understand. I would die to save them. And before the end, I will sacrifice everything for them.”

I leaned closer.

“For them, I would sell my soul to Corvus himself. I would spill my own blood as long as they were protected and healthy and safe. Their welfare and happiness means far more to me than my own, but you wouldn’t understand that, would you?”

“You would choose them over your own blood? Over me?”

“I would choose them every time and never regret my choice for a moment.”

“You’ll regret this, Anaria. Power is all that matters. Those who have it, rule…”

“And those who don’t, serve.”

The air shuddered out of my lungs as Tavion emerged from the shadows in the corner of my room, his face a twisted mask, a half-full bottle clutched in his hand.

“Mother. Say goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” Adele squeaked, then she dodged through the half-open door. I closed it behind her with a faint snick and braced myself. “How much of that did you hear?” I asked, trying to decide how drunk he was.

Tavion’s slow grin was a terrible, raging thing, promising all sorts of retribution as his eyes raked me up and down, taking in every last detail. My nakedness, the dark line up my side, the white brand on my arm.

“Everything,” he said as he lifted the bottle to his lips, powerful throat bobbing as he drank.

The word hung in the air between us, the room growing warmer the longer we stared at each other. He was too damn proud for his own good, but that stubborn, dogged pride…I sometimes wondered if that was all that held Tavion together.

If he’d lost everything else that mattered and arrogance was all that remained, the one thing no one had yet managed to strip away.

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