<i>Lycannar </i>
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I ce the royal seal on thest report and watch as Baron, my cousin, takes <b>it </b>away from me.
He studies it for a while and gently nods.
“We are done for today and…” He was still speaking when his gaze fell on the report I had refused to approve.
Quietly, he picked it up and came to spread it right before me, thinking I had forgotten it, not knowing I had neglected it on purpose.
“Your Majesty. This one too.”
My gaze fell on the report again, and then I looked into his eyes. Strangely, I couldn’t see anything. I could see when he would die, but not his sadness, longing, desperation, or agony the way I used to.
“Read it out,” I ordered quietly, and I saw him swallow.
He pulled back, ncing at the elders in panic, then at his father, my uncle Dareth, as though for help.
“Uh… Your Majesty, it’s just…” my uncle Dareth began, but I held up a palm to silence him, my eyes fixed on Baron.
“Read it out,” I repeated, this time firmly, and Baron obeyed.
“Issued on the fortnight before the next full moon. This report, once approved by the royal seal of His Majesty, King of all Lycans, Lycannar Blood… the maids and guards‘ wages and sries will be received at half the normal amount, from now on, to support the King in his endeavors<b>.</b><b>” </b>
When he finished, he lowered the report and looked at me. I stared back, unblinking.
“On what endeavors will I reap off my people’s earnings?”
He swallowed, and this time my uncle Dareth stepped forward to defend the report.
“We are doing this for you, Your Majesty. The kingdom needs to know who the king is. It’s like your father’s reign. He paid the maids and guards meagerly, but once you ascended the throne, you gave them too much. Now they are getting guts, and before they can rebel, we
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must…”
“Let them.” My voice came soft, almostzy. “Let them rebel, Uncle Dareth. My father prepared me for that.”
I sighed gently, getting up to rub my temple. I wasn’t feeling well today, and I already knew why.
“I won’t speak much. My people should not be cheated. Pay them the normal amount.” I pause and ask. “Isn’t it time for their paycheck?”
“It… It is.” Baron stuttered.
“Give me Blue’s Paycheck. I will delivered it to her personally.”
With that, I walked to the exit, passing the guards at the doors and the maids waiting for orders. I didn’t look at them, but I felt their gazes. Gratitude red from them, though I didn’t need it. I was only doing my duty as King.
Lately, my uncle Dareth and Baron had been getting ahead of themselves. I would need to stop <i>that</i>. <fne33f> Discover more novels at Find?Novel</fne33f>
I arrived at the dining hall, heading toward my bedchamber, but there he stood as though waiting. My brother Hades.
I stopped when he looked at me and smiled.
“You are here. Little brother, let’s talk about our sister.”
***
It waste afternoon. Cloudy, the skies darkened. It felt as if the gods themselves hated the fact that the healer born with the sacred gift was sad.
I had thought long on it, and after talking with Hades, we reached a decision. This was Mearez. She had never once been wayward. She obeyed, she listened, she had seeded in keeping herself pure despite our father’s filthy deeds. She was a survivor of trauma too. She deserved to be happy.
Together, Hades and I went to the princesses‘ quarters. When we arrived at Mearez’s door, the maid opened it for us.
Stepping in, I saw my sister lying on her bed, her back turned to us. She felt our presence and turned gently. The moment she saw both of us, she sat up in silence, curiosity in her eyes.
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She had been crying. Her eyes told it, her body showed it. I leaned against the wall while Hades sat beside her on the bed, reaching to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
She shivered in fear briefly, then looked at him in hope, then at me in wonder.
“You love him?” Hades asked gently. His question carried more beneath it, and she could see it.
Mearez took her time, her eyes wide with dread and hope.
“You won’t… kill him, right?” she asked. And before either of us could answer, she pulled back, sniffed her tears, and said, “I… I get it. I won’t get married anymore. I won’t speak to him. Forget I said anythingst night. Please just let him live.”
She was giving up, resigning to fate, because she thought we would kill him. We’d done such things before, and she knew it.
Hades studied her quietly, then turned to me. I gave him a small nod. Permission.
He turned back to Mearez and sighed.
“Apex will go to Ash Pack tonight. He has to speak with his woman and smooth things over anyway. He will speak to this man you im to want and set arrangements. You will not be given to him without proper rituals and agreement. You understand?”
Mearez immediately stiffened. Her face drained of color. Slowly, she turned to me as if to ask if she had heard right, and I nodded.
“Anything for you, big sister,” I said with a small smile. “You need a man, truly. Take a burden off my shoulders atst.”
She chuckled at that, then grinned at Hades, tears welling in her eyes. But now, tears of sorrow turned to joy. She hugged my brother tight, then pulled back, crying softly.
“Thank you,” she whispered before kissing his lips and hugging him again.
Watching them made me swallow a lump in my throat. Hades was a demon, with no blood bond to Mearez or Serena. They had another father altogether, yet still carried the names Blood and Abyss.
Our love knew no boundaries of blood. We loved one another as siblings, no matter the halves that divided us. And in that moment, I prayed with everything I was that our bond would never weaken, never be destroyed by any third party.