Page 88 of Red King

“I can tell you exactly who they are,” he says, his eyes shining with what I can only describe as madness. “Let’s get Draig out of the way. After that, we tackle the Mainland. I know a way in. If we get control of those in power, we take control of the Mainland. From there, the world.”

His quest for power has corrupted him to his core.

“How are they pitting Draig and Mistveil dragons against one another?”

“According to the Draigers, we are quite feral.” He laughs. “Can you believe that?”

“I know this already.” I’m trying hard to keep my cool.

“When it is they who are the feral ones. They’re the ones who need Tributes to keep their dragons under control.”

Again, this is nothing new.

“I mean, how pathetic to need Tributes. To be so reliant on humans.” Ice snorts.

“We need Tributes, too, only for a different reason. We’re also reliant on humans at this point.”

“My point exactly. That makes us reliant on the Mainland. Reliant on the humans.”

“So you think it’s them. Are they the reason our females are mostly infertile and that those who can bear young mostly have male offspring?” I stand and turn away, rubbing my shoulder. It can’t be. It’s too far-fetched. “Are those on the Mainland to blame for the Draigers being feral in their dragon form? It’s bullshit, Ice. You’re talking through your ass.”

“Am I?” He looks at me head-on.

He looks deadly serious, but I know for a fact that my brother is a pathological liar. He’s lied to my face successfully before and a multitude of times. I am a good judge of character, but I never saw through him. He’s that good…or that fucking evil. It depends on how you look at it.

“You tell me.” I turn back to face him and fold my arms.

“I’ll tell you everything; just stop this madness.”

“Stay your execution, you mean?” I lift my brows.

“Yes. I’m more useful to you alive than dead. I can help you. We can rule this whole fucking planet together…you and me.”

“I don’t want to rule the planet.”

“So damned weak,” Ice growls. “You’ve always been pathetic. Too damned soft. We could have everything.”

“What happened to you to make you like this?”

“You try being the youngest son to royals,” he spits. “You see if you like it when your older brother is in line to be the king. The star of the fucking show. The one always in the limelight while you live in the shadows. When your brother, who is older by one fucking minute, is next in line. I’ve always been nothing. Overlooked at every turn.”

“You arenotnothing. You were never nothing. You were our brother. You were our parents’ son. A prince to our people. I feel sorry for you, Ice.”

“Youshouldfeel sorry; I’m being put to death tomorrow. You have the power to stop this.” He reaches over and grips my arm tightly, his chains rattling. “Stop this…please, Arctic.” His eyes fill with tears. “Help me!”

I pull free. “It’s too late for that.”

“It isn’t.” He sounds desperate. “If you want me to beg, I will. Just stop this. Stop this, and I’ll tell you everything you want to know. I’ll do anything. I don’t want to die.”

“Anya didn’t want to die.”

“I’m sorry that happened. Anya was good and sweet and—”

“Don’t talk about her!” I shout. “Don’t say her name. You don’t ever get to say her name.”

“Please, brother. Please…I beg you, please spare me.” Tears fall freely, rolling down his cheeks. For just a second, a heartbreaking moment, he reminds me of the boy he once was. The little boy who followed me and looked up to me.

My little brother.

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