Page 13 of Song of the Heart Scale
“Gianna knows too much,” I muttered darkly. “And Zacharia, too. I'm done playing their games. It's time to change the rules.”
Maeve looked at me worriedly but offered a firm nod. “Whatever you decide, my lady, I stand with you.”
I managed a faint smile, grateful for her unwavering loyalty. “Good, Maeve. Because things will get far messier before they get any better.”
4
DAMIEN
The wind roared past me and my wings effortlessly sliced through the night sky as I soared toward Obsidian Reach. Below, the sprawling landscape was dappled in moonlight, the darkened forests and winding rivers mere silver ribbons beneath my dragon form. The volcanic island loomed ahead, rising starkly from the glittering sea, its jagged peak ominously silhouetted against the starlit sky.
My powerful wings beat steadily, carrying me swiftly toward the mouth of the volcano. The scent of sulfur and smoke grew stronger as I descended, a familiar, comforting presence despite its harshness. With practiced ease, I angled my wings and dove sharply into the cavern's wide mouth, flames briefly flickering around me before I landed with a heavy thud on the polished obsidian floor.
As soon as my claws touched stone, I shifted back into my human form. My body shuddered with the transformation, muscles contracting and reshaping until I stood fully upright. The cavern was lit by torchlight and shadows flickered against the smooth volcanic walls. At the far end, pacing restlessly, was my Uncle Bai.
He spun around as I approached, his expression pinched with worry. His silver-streaked hair was disheveled, eyes shadowed by sleeplessness.
“Damien.” He exhaled sharply, visibly relieved yet troubled. “Where have you been?”
I raised an eyebrow, concern edging my voice. “I spent the night at the Ryder residence and then I spent the day at The Gilded Serpent, gathering information. What's happened?”
He hesitated and turned away, tightly clasping his hands behind his back. The silence stretched, thick with tension, until I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Uncle, speak plainly,” I urged, stepping closer. “What’s wrong?”
His troubled gaze flicked back to me. “I’ve just returned from Dragon Valley. There's news—disturbing news.”
My heartbeat quickened at the foreboding tone in his voice. “Disturbing?”
Uncle Bai sighed deeply and looked away once more before finally speaking, his bottom lip trembling. “Damien, the emperor is dead.”
For a moment, the cavern fell utterly silent and the weight of his words hung between us like a tangible force. My breath caught as disbelief warred with a strange sense of detached sorrow. Though I'd recently discovered the emperor wasn't my true father, and despite years of animosity and exile, I couldn't deny that his death rattled me.
“Dead?” The single word felt alien on my tongue.
He nodded gravely, his eyes filled with unease and confusion. “They discovered his body this morning. No one knows exactly how or why, and the palace is in turmoil. Rumors are flying, but nothing solid yet.”
I slowly inhaled and absorbed the implications. “No signs of foul play?”
“They’re investigating,” Uncle Bai cautiously replied. “There’s talk of poison, perhaps illness. But my brother was healthy, so nothing is certain. Thorne arrived soon after the discovery and quickly stabilized the court. He declared himself emperor, and there was little resistance. No one knows what to think or whom to trust.”
My jaw tightened at Thorne's swift assumption of power, though it was a move I should've expected. Still, I had no desire for the throne. Power had never interested me, least of all ruling an empire filled with secrets, deceit, and endless complications. Yet, the emperor’s mysterious death tugged at something within me—a need for answers.
“I see,” I murmured, processing it slowly. “And Thorne?”
“He’s secure in his position for now,” Uncle Bai carefully admitted. “But he seems as bewildered as anyone by the emperor’s sudden death—or at least, he appears to be.”
I frowned and paced a slow circle around the cavern, deep in thought. The circumstances were odd, suspicious even, but no clear suspects or motives immediately surfaced.
“Do you suspect Thorne?” Uncle Bai asked, clearly reading my troubled expression.
I shook my head slightly, uncertain. “He stood to gain the most, obviously. But he’s already Crown Prince and was next in line for the throne. Why would he need to kill his own father? I don’t know… I don’t want to leap to conclusions. The court has no shortage of enemies, and the emperor had even fewer friends. Anyone could be responsible.”
Uncle Bai watched me, his shrewd eyes filled with curiosity and concern. “Will you look into it?”
I sighed and stared into the flickering torchlight as shadows danced across the volcanic stone. “I don’t particularly mourn him, given all that’s transpired between us. But he deserves more than an unresolved death. And if someone was boldenough to assassinate him, that person poses a threat to more than just the throne.”
Uncle Bai nodded slowly, understanding. “Then we tread carefully. Whoever did this is cunning and powerful. The court will be more dangerous now than ever.”
