MADDOX
The grand hall felt like a tomb, cold and oppressive, its stone walls echoing with the hollow sound of my boots as I entered. The air smelled of damp earth and aged wood—a scent that clung to the halls of this castle as much as the legacy of my rule. Raiden trailed behind me, silent, his presence grating on my nerves like the sharp edge of a blade.
I had done my best to ignore his existence for most of his life, but today, he was impossible to overlook. The moment Kade left, I had been simmering, my rage building to a slow, unstoppable boil. My son—the failure—had once again proven that he was unworthy of the blood in his veins.
Raiden.
The name tasted bitter even in my thoughts.
I stopped abruptly, turning to face him. He stood a few feet away, his head bowed, a picture of c
