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.

I looked across the group of faces and more tears fell from my eyes. These were not helpless victims. These were brave soldiers, fighting for justice in a world where none existed. They looked out into the crowd, confident of their cause and ready to die. No one faltered; no one doubted their place on this stage. I swelled with pride, with justification that even if these loved ones would die today, it would not be in vain, it would not be for a worthless cause and it would be out of true self-sacrifice and love.

Still, I couldn’t help but drown in sorrow that so many would die today. There were more numbers, more in the rebellion en route for our planned attack on Monday. But these were the warriors that fought the longest, that believed in this cause long before it had mobilized into the strength and force we were today.

“Guards,” Lucan gestured and as many Guards as there were prisoners joined us on stage, and drew out their swords. The crowd gasped in unison, most lowering their eyes against the gruesome event about to take place. Lucan quieted them and demanded their attention again, “Let us not mourn the deaths of these hideous traitors! This is the day we celebrate the crushing of a rebellion trying to take away everything you hold dear! These men and women are trying to ruin your lives, and take away everything we have worked so hard for! These filthy Immortals die, so that balance can be restored again, so that you can remember your king with gratitude!” He turned toward his Guards and just as he was about to signal for the plunge of the sword, a mumbling that started in the very back of the crowd grew to a deafening volume.

My attention turned back to the crowd, and as a path split down the middle of the square, two figures emerged.

Delia and Justice walked toward the stage, holding hands, both dressed in their traveler’s clothes and looking tired but at peace. My heart sank at the realization of why they were here. A crushing sorrow weighed down on my shoulders, resonating the truth that what was about to happen could not be stopped by me.

Silas’s prophecy infiltrated my thoughts, and I remembered his warning that Lucan would get to my parents before this war ended. My mouth dried out, and my heart stopped beating, at the fulfillment of his heart-wrenching premonition. What was worse than watching my parents walk to their death though, was the question Silas posed to be months ago. It was now time for me to decide who I fought for, my family, or my people.

In the back of my mind, I felt Avalon’s simultaneous realization, and his frustration that he was close, but not close enough to help. Lucan turned around at the noise, without giving the kill order and when his eyes fell on Delia, they turned into a vengeful insanity that reminded me of a demon.

“Ah, my sweet Delia, you have come back to me at last,” Lucan whispered in a tortured, raspy voice that was fringed with hysteria.

Chapter Forty-One

“Hello, Lucan,” Delia replied calmly. Justice stood next to her, her pillar of strength, her protector from evil like Lucan. But they were on this journey together. They chose this moment to save others and my resolve weakened watching it all unfold before me as I stood stupidly and helplessly by. “I have come back to you, but on one condition. Let these others go. We have returned willingly, and offer ourselves to your mercy in their place. But only if you let them go first, dearest.”

“Ah, there is always a catch with you, isn’t there?” Lucan eyed my mother with hungry interest, his body tensed in her direction and I wondered if I was the only one who noticed the tight restraint with which Lucan reined in his desire. “Let them go,” he didn’t take his eyes off my mother, but the command was clearly directed at his Guards.

The Guards didn’t hesitate, but methodically uncuffed the prisoners who filed off the stage. Everyone moved in a dazed, confused way. All eyes stayed either on Delia or Lucan, and no one in the entire crowd seemed to be able to accept the reality of the situation.

The longing to save my parents grew like wildfire under my skin and I took a tentative step forward to intervene. Lucan looked down at Delia like a wolf, licking his hungry chops, but she stared back with unwavering resolve. Kiran gripped my arm in warning, and even in my head I could hear Avalon’s advice to stay put as he entered the now unguarded front gate. He walked with stealthy caution toward the crowded, stunned plaza.

I felt connected to Lucan for a moment as we both fought against every instinct to run to my parents. Only, my heart beat to save them and Lucan stayed his hand from destroying them.

“What are you waiting for?” Lucan’s cruel growl demanded. “They are gone, come take their place!”

My parents moved in unison, their love and devotion so palpable in their desire for each other, I knew they were driving Lucan mad. I felt his magic press against me, a warning to stand aside. His magic grew in a tightening stronghold that kept the idea of stepping into save them far from coming to fruition. But it wouldn’t have mattered. When I watched them courageously walk toward the stage, their fates already sealed in their eyes, I knew my only choice was to save my people. I could not protect my family, but I could offer my people the future they would not get.

They made their way to the stage, never wavering once. Their steps were strong and confident. Somewhere in the stillness, a Guard handed his sword over to Lucan and he swung it around in his hand idly.