KING DARIAN.

I watch from above as the leaves settle revealing Rhysand, he looks better than I thought he would.

I didn’t really think the girl would be able to break him out, only the wretched woman could undo the spell holding him captive in the library, or so we all believed.

I had learned the former the hard way; after sending my most trusted commander with instructions she had practically gloated one night during a drinking binge, hers, I was just a forced participant.

In hindsight, I should have known better than to think she would make such a slip-up, drunk or not.

Ricarrd walked into the trap and was obliterated, in the following days, his entire family down to pets and slaves were found dead in the most horrifying ways.

Needless to say, I had not tried to free my friend and brother again. I had also taken explicit measures to ensure no one ever tried again.

Who knew a spit-fire little girl would do, I’m not one to have futile hope but I prayed her family is safe from the subsequent curse.

I watch as Khalil and Rhys reunite, even Keon, the unfeeling bastard looked emotional, I should have been part of that reunion but my actions had caused all this.

They were right to hate me, I wince remembering the anger and hate shining in Keon’s eyes when he came for the girl.

It makes me hate her and myself more, would I ever be free?

Now even my 'daughter' was dead, though it had only been a matter of time, she had threatened them after all, as punishment after I forced the girl to enter the trials hoping it would keep her safe.

Unable to help it I wing a little closer to the group just as Eliane joins them, my heart breaking all over again. She had been Meagan’s best friend.

This would have been my family if everything hadn’t gone to shit all those years ago.

As if sensing me, Khalil suddenly looks up searching, his sudden movement causes the rest to follow staring up quizzically, they couldn’t see me, I was incorporeal, there was no way they would see me, or so I thought.

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I stare at her aghast, the girl, Mahina was staring straight at me, I was about to sift out when I notice her gaze was quizzical, curious, I waited to see if she’d alert the rest but she didn’t.

She looks so much like her, especially with her head tilted and that expression on her face.

It was painful when I first saw her, that lasted until she opened her mouth.

Meagan was a stickler for decorum, she wouldn’t be caught dead speaking like the girl did, especially in public.

This is not the time for this Darian, you brought this on yourself, yeah pep talk has ceased to impact me in any way.

Mahina must see the change in my expression because her own softens, and then with a nod, she turns back to the rest before they notice her attention elsewhere.

I should head back home, the distraction I had left for my sons, so they could make it to faery wouldn’t hold long.

Those hot-headed boys, I was going to explain everything to them, but with everything that happened, they’d be in no mood to listen.

It had pained me to see them bond with their ‘sister’, I tried to keep her from them several times, but that only cemented their protective nature.

I was the villain and she was the victim, if only they knew.

Now she was dead, one less problem to deal with.

I opt to fly back instead of sifting, even though I know it won’t trigger the wards. Despite all I did, they hadn’t made sure my signature wouldn’t be allowed back.

They hated me, but maybe not beyond hope, the guilt doubled almost crippling me.

I didn’t deserve them, at all, but at least I had sort of helped them.

I should go back and face the consequences waiting for me in Bright, from her, from my sons, and that damn council.

I force my thoughts to settle and focused on enjoying the breeze in my wings, and my hair.

I make it back to Bright faster than I wanted; though true, the thought adds to my guilt.

I shouldn’t be thinking like that, I had made this my home for my sons, and to keep her away from everyone else, but it had grown, I had citizens now, and I had responsibilities.

I land next to the library where I see my sons helping some of the knights injured during the scuffle with Keon.

Dain sees me first, but before he could say anything, Cain sees me too.

Face red with anger or exertion, I wasn’t sure but knowing him, definitely the former, he strides purposefully to where I am hands fisted.

Would he do it?

I brace myself for the punch from my son but it never comes.

“This is what makes me angrier," he snarls, "this, your willingness to accept punishment, you’ve accepted our anger though justified with no repercussions which is crazy enough, what the hell father? What is going on?”

Before I could answer him, Jain speaks up, “where have you been, you all but disappeared earlier and then Dolly went all grim reaper on everyone.”

Grim reaper? I told her no casualties, she must have been madder than I thought, they did hurt her dragon though, so they kind of had it coming, no one touches that stupid green dragon, especially when Dolly is around.

“I followed them hoping to catch them before they made it back, you were holding me back.”

“so, did you?” asks Dain.

“no, they had already entered the wards when I caught up.”

Silence as Cain scans me again.

“Why aren’t you sad, I know you didn’t love her that much, but she was yours, and she got killed, you don’t look torn up about it,”

Everything almost comes out when I stare at my Cain, for once he’s just curious not condemning or angry, just really curious, but telling them anything was fatal.

I had hot-headed sons, and they would definitely do something stupid.

I go to answer something that will rile him up, when Garian butts in, where did he even come from?

“Careful there your highness, we don’t want to make things worse.”

His expression tells me that’s exactly what he really wants.

His words capture the attention of my sons who stare quizzically, I had to do something.

Walking closer to him, I strike out fast, hitting him behind the knees and yanking his hair back as he falls to his knees.

“Gary, Gary, what did we say about knowing one’s place?” I ask feigning disappointment.

Before he can answer, Dolly lands next to us, not her Eiffel tower self but a downsized version.

She huffs blowing smoke towards us, and my sons the smart boys move away.

The idiot I was holding however, doesn’t know how to read a situation and he opens his big mouth.

“What, you think your overgrown lizard scares me, she cannot do shit, she’s on the same lea…arghhh!”

His words die in a scream as Dolly fries his hair.

“you stupid shit, you ruined my…”

Oh, the idiot,

Dolly opens her mouth to do more damage undoubtedly but sadly enough I cannot let that happen.

I’m already in deep shit with his master, as much as his corpse would please me, the consequences would be a pain in the ass.

“Don’t waste your energy here Dolly, let’s go make the councilmen pee their pants.”

Placated, she disappears in a whoosh and I watch her tattoo slide down my arm resting with teeth bared, she had the cutest smile, my Dolly.

I turn to leave before my sons think to take apart whatever Garian just blurted.

“wait what do we do with him?”

“whatever you want, just make sure he’s still alive.”

The responding smirk on Cain’s face and the resulting grimaces on his brothers almost make me feel bad for the boy, almost.