When Alexis reached the king’s chamber and saw his father lying under heavy blankets, motionless and pale, the sight stole the last words from his mouth.
The old man looked smaller than the way he had ever known him to be,
flattened by sickness into a shape that breathed but did not live. Alexis couldn’t bear to even stare at this, he glanced back at his mouth in fury.
"What did you do to him?" Alexis demanded as he turned, and Queen Sephora stepped forward as if to answer.
"Alexis, I gave you life," she cried out, the words spilling out in a rush.
"Why do you hate so much? The least you could do is show respect. I did all things I did for the betternt of the realm. It’s been years since I last saw my son and the first thing you do is hurt your brother?"
Alexis turned his glare on her. The fury in his eyes made her step back.
"Mother, are you trying to get mad?" he said, and swallowed hard.
Sephora forced a calm tone that did not reach her voice. "Son, do not let rage blind you. I have not acted without reason. It pains to show this side to you, but I do what is necessary for the realm."
"Enough, Mother!" Alexis snapped.
She reached for him. "Alexis," she pleaded, but he cut her off.
"You speak of betternt for the realm," he barked out.. "Still you hurt your last son so badly. He has not woken from his coma. You have struck him in his heart with not just your strike but your choices."
He paced toward her, each step holding every anger he had. "Do not think I do not rember," he said, standing over her like a thundercloud.
Sephora shook her head and tried to soften him. "The one child you favored was always Adam," he stated.
"You began to despise the mont I fell ill," Alexis whispered, "Alexis..." she called weakly and when she reached to touch his cheek he slapped her hand away.
She had long ago learned that showing affection for Adam mattered more than anything. Old alliances had hardened in her heart. She would have sacrificed her own child to secure what she believed was right.
Alexis drew back and looked at his father again. "What happened to Father?" he asked, again reminding them he hadn’t forgotten.
Sephora swallowed and answered in fragnts. "I lost consciousness and also regained consciousness not quite long... so I can’t tell since I got woken when the warning bell rang through the realm."
Alexis rembered that sound. It had been the thing that woke him also. The sound terrified him so much that he needed to make every effort he had just to rise from that tombstone.
He expected to find family at his bedside when he ca to, but instead he had been alone in where his father had hidden his body .
"We discovered that an incense your father used for years was stopped. Ashen’s wife Lumina interfered with it. That break in the ritual caused his breakdown."
"Incense? Ashen’s wife?" Alexis repeated, eyes narrowing. The na was new and familiar in his mouth. Sephora’s face lit with a dangerous triumph when she noticed how pissed Alexis was getting now at the ntion of Lumina.
She saw this as a way she could cause rift between not just two brothers but could make Alexis hate Lumina She smiled, certain Alexis would not hesitate to act.
"Of course," she said. "She claims power over such things. She warned that if I did not strike certain deals with her that she would end because a soul bead is in and she will find every possible way to end ." Sephora revealed to him
Alexis turned his head toward Adam who had co forward, listening. "Is that true?" Alexis asked.
Sephora t his eyes and nodded.
"When I sought to punish her handmaiden, she threatened and spoke of a sacred binding. I had to let go of her." Adam explained further.
"Who is she that could cause this? And where the heck is she now?" Alexis snarled and Sephora breathed in relief. This was exactly the story she needed to tell so Alexis would be the one to hurt Lumina.
"Adam," she urged, "take him there." She gestured toward the dungeon where Lumina sat.
Alexis, who wanted answers regarding his father, followed Adam until they reached the dungeon.
Where Lumina sat composed as stone, blindfolded, her face turned to the wall in a posture of calm. She lifted her head as they approached.
"You are back," Lumina said with the quiet confidence of soone used to surprises.
Her voice made Alexis falter for a mont, and for a weird reason wonder how his brother married this lady.
Stella surged forward behind Lumina, protective as ever. She watched the newcors, fear and fierce loyalty battling in her features.
She could not afford to underestimate Alexis, she had seen enough to know power when it wore a peaceful face.
Alexis stared Lumina and then glanced at Adam with the chill of challenge. "So you are the one they all speak of," he said. "The famous woman causing ripples across realms."
"Prince Alexis," Lumina said, not rising to flattery. "You have awakened."
Before more could be said a flash of heat cut the air. An attack of fire burst toward Lumina’s chest. Stella gasped as the force slamd her lady against the wall.
Alexis had acted without hesitation, throwing fla at Lumina in a reflex that stung with intent.
"Why did you hurt my lady?" Stella cried, voice breaking as she rushed towards her lady.
Alexis turned, expression hard, and for a mont the wordless promise of revenge hovered. He moved as if to strike, but Stella’s words found him.
"Your lord will not take this lightly when he finds out," Stella said, breathless. "Which Lord are you talking about?" he asked and Stella snarled at him as she responded.
"Prince Ashen will not be pleased."
Alexis paused, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face at the ntion of Ashen. Stella seized the beat. "He will not take it lightly."
"How dare you low life speak to my brother that way!" Adam yelled and instantly blasted another fire at her but Lumina pushed Stella away with a soft strength.
Blood bubbled at her lips. She spat out blood from her lips, her body trembling and her knees weak.
"Adam, don’t you dare hurt my girl againz" Lumina rasped, pain and command mixing. "Do not forget I can end your mother."
Alexis tightened, jaw set, and seed ready to deliver another blow at Lumian, but Adam caught his arm.
"You cannot," Adam said roughly.
Lumina’s knees gave up as she collapsed and fell unconscious to the cold floor. Her body lay limp as breath still fought its way in and out in shallow, shallow pulls.
Stella looked up at Alexis, voice strangled. "Please save her. She cannot die. If she dies you lose the queen as well."
"What?" Adam barked, anger snapping. "What do you..." his words were interrupted as a guard rushed inside.
"My lord," He cried out, panic in every syllable, "the queen has collapsed. News is reaching us now."
Adam’s eyes snapped back toward the corridor, the weight of everything landing in his chest. The realization hit him at once.
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