Avenged

♔ Chapter 4a

⚔ ══════ ∘◦ Crown Prince Adonis Blaze ◦∘ ══════ ⚔

Despite its importance, I’m unable to concentrate on this meeting. My mind keeps wandering to Lady Devendale. There’s just something about her and I can’t put my finger on it. The way she moves, the way she talks, everything about her feels like she’s made for me, like I know her. Like we were truly guided by fate’s hand. It’s almost like she reminds me of someone….

I’ve never felt this way about a woman. It’s quite frightening, really, to think that a woman could hold this much power over the future King. A woman that I literally just met. Thankfully, she doesn’t seem to realize the hold she has over me. Not yet, at least.

“What do you think, Adonis?” Duke Elijah asks.

“Those are all great options. We need to take a little more time to consider the all possible consequences of each plan before I can throw my support behind anything specific,” I replied immediately. I’d learn to bullshit at a young age and from the best.

Elijah discretely smirked. I guess someone realized my focus was elsewhere. No one else seemed to have noticed, though. Thank the stars.

“Let’s adjourn for now, then. My superb wife invited your better halves for lunch,” my father announced, dusting off his hands like he’d done actual work instead of just sitting at a table talking in circles for the last few hours. I resisted the snort of derision that almost escaped. This adjournment has nothing to do with the waiting duchesses, and more to do with the fact that that man does not miss meals for anything. As evidenced by his now rounded physique.

The room emptied quickly, but unfortunately before I could escape too, my father snatched my wrist.

“Where are you today, Adonis? I need your focus here. You are the only person I truly trust at these blasted things. Don’t let me down!”

“Apologies if I seemed distant, father. The Bright Brigade has been steadily growing in the last few years. We need an option that doesn’t drive more people to their cause. I’m concerned that coming off too strong will do just that. I’m making sure I give all our options adequate consideration in order to choose the most effective course of action.”

“You will be king one day and you are considering… what? Holding hands and singing songs with those traitors! We need a firm message to let them know that rebel rousing will not be tolerated. Get on board with that. I don’t need a weak heir,” my father sneered. That was his favorite dig when he was annoyed with me or when my opinion differed from his. I was weak, according to him.

“Yes, father.” Tipping my head in a slight bow of acknowledgement, I took my leave. There’s no sense arguing with him when he’s got something in his head like this. He is a stubborn old bastard. He tends to get what he wants because he’ll do anything to win. You can’t argue with someone who values power over logic.

Not in the mood to dine with him or all the other happy couples, I stop by the kitchens to order food sent to my room.

While waiting for lunch, I tossed myself on my bed and closed my eyes. I wonder if Thorndon has arrived yet? Is Ella back here in the castle? Probably not. I asked to be informed of her arrival. I could go check.…

“Hey big brother,” my sister's voice called from the door. No knocking. She never does.

“Hello, Marissa, what can I do for you?” I said as I pulled myself out of bed and gave her a hug. She acts tough, but she’s not.

“You can cheer up,” she replied, patting my back and pulling back from the hug. “Dad told mom your behavior this morning was a disappointment. He told her to have a motherly chat with you. So, naturally, she instructed me to do it.”

“Of course she did,” I replied flatly. I remember the last time that woman had a ‘motherly’ talk with me. It was the night I refused to murder my best friend and my father beat the crap out of me and threatened everyone else I love until I cooperated. It took me a week to heal from that. He had to delay his plans until I was strong enough to carry them out. All my mother said, as I laid there a bleeding broken mess, was to ‘obey my father’. She applied the healing balms without any other words, then supervised my recovery from a distance.

“You need to stop feeling guilty about what we did.” My sister climbed up on my bed, kicked her sandals off, and made herself comfortable.

“You have no idea what I’m thinking about,” I grumbled.

She snorted, “your face creases and you get this far away look whenever you think about her, them.” She acted nonchalant, but I know she hurt over it too.

“It’s not that easy. I betrayed my best friends,” I answered, flopping back down on the bed beside her. This is something we’ve done since we were kids.

When she was tiny, she was afraid of lightning. It was always me she’d come to for comfort. It was my bed she’d climb into during big storms at night. Even when we were small, mother was never the maternal type. Now, though we are both full-grown adults, this little slice of private time together feels safe and comfortable. Like snuggling up for a chat is our way of reminding ourselves that we are real, normal, people. This is our no-judgment bubble. It’s almost like wearing the spelled mask at the ball. I’m no longer a powerful prince. Here and now I’m just a normal man and a loving brother.

“So did I, and I don’t feel guilty at all,” Marissa said with false confidence. I saw through her, though. I remembered all the times she got drunk and cried her eyes out about losing Liana and Tiberius. Especially Liana. Marissa can be… grating. Liana always accepted everything about her, flaws and all. Now Marissa only has me. I am the only one that sees through her bravado charade, the only one she has a real connection with. Our parents have always ignored her cries for help. Only I ever saw the vulnerable side of her.