Darshan laughed coldly. “Really?”
That single word, softly echoing with the threat of eternal pain, lifted every hair Hamish possessed. He had always thought his mother to be the epitome of haughtiness, but Darshan’s expression swept his mother’s into the realm of a petulant child.
His lover took a few steps closer to Hamish’s family, his movements like liquid. “Had I been the countess you had expected, I rather doubt that you would give a whit of care as to whether or not I had used magic. You fight against me winning only because I am a man.”
His mother stood there in furious silence. If Hamish didn’t know better, he would’ve sworn she was going to kill Darshan where he stood. It was a wonder she hadn’t called the guard.
“Fiona,” his father rumbled, tearing his mother’s attention from Darshan. “If you think so poorly of Udyneans, then why did you accept the treaty?”
“I only accepted because it was made clear to me that refusing would mean war nae matter what they professed. I wished to spare all of you that.” She whirled on Darshan. “Then you came along and stole me son’s life.”
Rage blazed across Darshan’s face. “I—”
“Mum, really?” Nora snapped.
“You dinnae understand how these people think, dear,” their mother ranted. “If I let him stay, if I accept this ridiculous claim and make him a recognised prince of Tirglas, then the next thing happening is you all winding up dead and Udynea has two thrones to plonk their greedy arses on.”
“If we really wanted Tirglas,” Darshan snarled, “we would have taken it. Or do you honestly think your defences would mean anything to our army? My father offered you peace.”
“Of course you say that now,” his mother roared. “What better way to see us lower our defences than act like the thought hadnae crossed your wee mind? Why else would your people send the Crown Prince of Udynea here?”
Hamish gaped at her. She knew? This whole time? Or had she only become aware of what his title meant after Nora told her?
The laughter that escaped Darshan’s lips definitely had to be one of shock, or perhaps disbelief in what he had heard. “You dare to presume my actions? I am not the one here who refuses to accept Hamish exactly as he was born.”
“This?” She gestured to Hamish, indicating all of him with a wave of her hand. “This is nae a circumstance of birth.” The disgust in her voice twisted her features as she continued, growing monstrous. “It is a disease. You all see him rotting at the core and do nae a thing but aid the cause. Me own family… plotting against me, allowing their minds to grow sick with this poison.”
“I cannae believe you still dinnae get it,” Gordon muttered, shaking his head.
“ ‘Mish has found someone he loves,” Nora added, her voice barely audible. “At least have the decency to concede that.”
His mother turned from them to address Darshan. “Tell your father nae to bother sending another ambassador. I abolish any and all trade agreements. Your kind are nae welcome here. If your people set foot on these lands and—”
“Mum!” Gordon snapped.
Hamish gaped wordlessly, his breath stolen. He staggered forwards. She couldn’t be suggesting what he thought.
“And… what?” Darshan’s voice had grown cold. The whisper of danger hung in the air like an encroaching storm. He folded his arms, appraising her as one would a rabid boarhound. “You would truly rescind our offer of a peaceful alliance? Over your son’s happiness?”
Slighting the Mhanek by slapping aside the empire’s gesture of goodwill invited retaliation. Which would cause the clans to respond in kind. Which would see the forests burn and Tirglas swallowed whole. His home… His family… All of it would be ashes in the wind.
Unless Darshan was able to convince his father to ignore the insult.
“Please,” Nora begged, clasping her mother’s arm as if she were a child of five again. “Think of your granddaughter, think of me wee lads. If you actually care about our safety as much as you profess, then dinnae do this.”
“I am thinking of them. This is me final decision. I will nae stand aside and let Udynea wheedle its way to our throne. Now go, all of you.” She shrugged off her daughter and, without a single look Hamish’s way, headed for the smaller hall entrance. “I must mourn me son’s demise.”
“Mourn me?” Hamish roared, outrage giving him voice. “When did I fecking die?”
The room fell silent, every eye on him.
His heart raced, thumping at his temples. “I cannae believe it. Even when everyone is telling you the same thing and you still willnae listen. You never listen. Nae when I first confided in you and nae now. You just keep insisting you’re right. You were aware I didnae want this competition, that I’d chosen me path, and you still went through with it.”
His mother lifted her head, jutting her chin at them. Every inch the queen. “Have you quite finished?”
Experience told him he should shut his face, but after decades of being forced to corral who he was, to pretend…
The years crowded his tongue, desperate to finally be heard. “If you had just listened to me, understood me, for even a heartbeat, you’d see that I ken what I want and that’s him.” He glanced over his shoulder, a small smile tweaking his lips as he realised Darshan stood right at his side. Adoration shone through those eyes that seemed to gleam every colour at once. “I love him.”
On the edge of his vision, he spied his father rocking back, surprise wrinkling his brow. He twitched his head towards his other children, seeking confirmation from them, who gave it with a minute upward
