Lucan’s smile widened, and the evil, sadistic look returned in his eyes. A sickening feeling settled in my stomach and I clenched Kiran’s hand afraid of where Lucan was taking this speech. The rest of the kingdom seemed stunned by his boldness and honesty.
“So, my beloved kingdom,” Lucan snarled, continuing his monologue, “you can come back to me. For I will not leave you, not like your precious Amory Saint, not like the wicked rebellion I watch you turn to. I am your leader. I am your king. I am your future. And I will carry us into eternity.” He waited for applause, but not a sound was made in the entire square. “Eden, Kiran, please join me up here,” Lucan demanded when he didn’t receive the reverence he hoped for.
I sat still for a moment longer, unable to find the courage to move my feet. Kiran urged me gently, with a tug on my hand and supported me discretely as he moved us to join his father on the platform.
As we stood on stage, next to Lucan, I couldn’t remember how to take a full breath, how to focus my vision and panic started to pulsate violently through my blood with my magic that was now on full alarm. Kiran encouraged me to be brave by pulling me next to him and kissing me on the cheek. I barely felt his lips through my fear.
“Consider this an early wedding present, my dear Eden,” Lucan gestured to one of his Guards, and they moved to fulfill some unspoken order. “I know how fickle your heart can be, and I want nothing more than your honest devotion. You belong to my son now, but more importantly to me. And I want you to never forget that,” Lucan’s hatred for me radiated from his body in pulses of threatening magic. I felt the suffocating effects of his danger as the other Titans fell into place beside a line of Immortals exiting the prisons.
I watched helplessly as the people I loved most in life, the people I trusted most with the future of this kingdom marched solemnly to stand with me on stage. Jericho was first in line and my heart failed to beat while he moved slowly up the stairs, bound with magical handcuffs and poked and prodded by a Titan following Lucan’s orders. The line continued to move on the platform and my gaze continued down the line, my heart breaking further with each recognizable face, Titus, Gabriel, Silas, Xavier, Xander, Ebanks, Roxie, Fiona, Ryder, the India team, the Morocco team, Rosalind and Allister. And the most shocking, unexpected of all, Talbott and Lilly. Somehow, Lucan had found out about their romance and assumed correctly the worst of Talbott. The line moved along with new faces, Solomon and Zaphira Camera, Deven Joel and Jonathon and Kate Summer. And with the crashing hopelessness that weighed on my shoulders and ripped my heart in two, utter sorrow consumed me.
“Did you not think I knew? Did you not think I wouldn’t find them?” Lucan scoffed at me, truly entertained by my distress. “How dare you believe you could out smart me, little girl. You are my prisoner, my subject and I will rule this kingdom however I want. I am the king!” His voice rose to a shout.
Avalon watched in tormented pain, inside my head, still miles from the city. He picked up his pace and I held on to the only hope I had that he would know what to do once he got here. This was too much to lose, too many people to watch suffer at the hands of evil.
A tear slipped from eye, as I stood helpless beside Kiran. “They have done nothing wrong, except fight for the freedom you have stolen from them, from all of us!” I shouted back, unable to stay silent when my friends stood at his mercy.
“I give you freedom, the freedom to live your life as you please,” Lucan challenged, tilting his chin with pride and sincerity. “I ask nothing of you, except for your loyalty. I am the king, it is the least of what I deserve,” Lucan turned to address the kingdom, his argument ringing through the air.
“Then why is it only your bloodline that is allowed immortality?” I argued, taking a step forward. “Why do the rest of our people suffer from the separation of races? Why are the Shape-shifters exiled by penalty of death? What have they done? What is their crime? Are you afraid to share true immortality? Are you so scared of a people that realize they don’t need a king?” I turned to face the crowd too, hoping to empower them with my words.
“Silence!” Lucan yelled, sending me back several steps with a wave of angry magic. I clung to Kiran, taking a moment to gather myself. “You know how full my prisons are, Eden. You know what’s at stake if you open your mouth again. This gift I offer you is one to remember your place in my world. You may take this experience with you so that in all of your infinite days ahead, you will remember to never cross me again. This blood oath belongs to my lineage, and I will be damned before I let you take what is mine,” he growled his words, and for a moment, at the mention of the blood oath his eyes flooded with panic before settling back into the narrowed slits of hateful determination. “These people die at your hands, and at the hands of your murdered grandfather. Now my people will know who their true king is, and what happens to those that question this truth. Eden, you will know the lengths in which I will go to ensure that you are faithful to my son, and my crown.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but Kiran squeezed my hand to stop me. My thoughts flickered to the hundreds of innocent people filling the prisons. All of the men and women on stage had given their life a long time ago, had believed in the sacrifice that would come with joining this righteous cause. They were prepared to die. I couldn’t let my unwillingness to bend at Lucan’s hand, cause the death of true victims.
Lucan’s scheming became a clear picture in front of me now. He had filled the prisons, knowing this day would come, knowing he would always be able to manipulate my obedience with the threat of a few innocent lives. But now, as my conscience encouraged my silence, I would have to watch my dearest friends and closest confidants as they are murdered in front of my eyes.