My mind goes to my brother, the one person who while not an absolute angel has always been nice in comparison to how many of the other royals treat me.
There has to be a misunderstanding.
Yet I know that Kofu’s words are not a lie, because I’ve seen the darkness that hangs in those eyes.
Still… “I will speak with him.”
Kofu’s head snaps around, “No, Aphaedra-”
“He can’t expect to just beat you like that and get away with it,” I snap and I feel the tingles under my skin that were rising as Kofu was speaking, spark fully to life. Because while I may not be the highest in power, I am certainly not weak.
“Aphaedra-” Kofu’s voice is only a whisper in the wind as I bound out of our room in search of my brother.
No, I’m not weak, not even close and my brother will not get away with what he has done.
Chapter Eight
I can feel Magnus and Gerald at my heels as I storm through the castle but I don’t care. I’m looking for my brother and I’ll be damned if anyone gets between me and him.
I can feel the familiar tingle under my skin and the crack of my powers begging to be freed. With every step, my anger starts to build.
I head straight for the throne room and when I come up empty, I head for my brother’s chambers instead.
When I see the group of guards standing outside his door, I know I’ve found him.
“Your highness, the prince does not want any visitor-” the guard speaking is cut off as I flick a hand at him and a burst of wind knocks him out of the way. The other guards pull their swords and I turn toward them as the storm beneath my skin begs to be released.
For the first time in a long time without being in the dome, I let it free.
Thunder sounds through the castle as lightning strikes the remaining guards. I kick in the door to my brother’s chamber and hear a yelp as Lainey’s eyes widen at the sight of me. She’s sitting in the bed- no, on my brother I realize, as she pulls a sheet up over her naked body and reveals my brother. He looks at me in shock but he doesn’t have as much fear in his gaze as I expect.
He pushes his wife off of him as he stands, not giving a damn about his naked body.
“What did you do to my husband?” I bark at him.
He only tilts his head to the side as he picks up a pair of pants off the floor and pulls them on.
“What did you do?” I repeat as lightning strikes next to him. It doesn’t hit him directly but it's enough for a slight bit of concern to appear in his gaze.
“I’ve done nothing but send him a warning,” he says, his words cold and harsh as he takes a step toward me. He’s not going to even try to deny what he has done. He raises his own hand and I feel a gust of wind, but it does nothing but piss me off.
My powers are stronger than his, always have been.
“What is going on here?” Lainey questions as she stomps over toward me, apparently done whimpering in the corner.
When her red lips turn down in a sneer at me, I do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.
I punch her.
She falls to the ground and I step over her as I make my way to my brother who holds his ground though I don’t miss the sheen of sweat on his forehead.
“You hurt Kofu and that’s where you made your mistake,” I say lowly as we stand toe to toe.
His cold eyes look down at me and I wonder if the small bits of affection he’s shown me were all fake. “Your husband was in my business and he paid the price, but apparently it wasn’t enough of a warning. It looks like I should have been firmer.”
His words only make me angrier and without thought, I raise my hand prepared to bring hell down on him. Only something hard is clamped around my wrist and I feel the energy crackling under my skin fizzle out.
My brother only smirks at me as I look at the steel cuff that a retreating guard has slapped on my wrist. “It seems you also need to be taught a lesson, sister.” It's the last words I remember before there’s a sharp prick in my neck and I’m knocked unconscious.
Chapter Nine
When I come to, my heart is pounding fast and there’s a sinking feeling in my gut. A part of me knows that something bad has happened.
I sit up and realize that I’m not in my room. No, I’m in one of the beds in the infirmary and my hand is cuffed to the bed. I yank at it, but the chain is connected to the steel cuff on my wrist and it refuses to budge.
“Let me go!” I shout but there’s no one else in the room. “Let me out of here!” I yell as my heart rate picks up.
I need to see Kofu.
The feeling is overwhelming and I curse as I search for the storm that usually lies right under the surface.
There’s nothing.
Tears of frustration stream down my face as I continue to try to break free.
I need to see my husband.
The sound of the door creaking meets my ears and I look up to find Diana walking into the room. Her crown sits perfectly upon her red waves and there’s not a wrinkle in her elegant dress, but the lines in her
