Series: Lords of Rathe Series by Meagan Brandy
Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 95227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
He waits for the news to settle before continuing.
“Now, we know there is distress in our streets. As your new leaders, we want to rule with transparency. That said, the rumors you may have heard are true. There is a murderer among Rathe.”
A murmur ripples through the room, and it only grows louder when he continues.
“We have our best men on its trail and expect we are closing in.” I watch the color leave their faces, feel the panic roll. “When we catch them, there will be no theater of trial—only punishment. Followed by the worst nightmare a gifted can face. Beings stripped of their powers and sent to exile.”
Haide scoffs a laugh and all our heads yank toward her.
She just shrugs, rolling her wrist as if telling my dear brother to continue.
Little fucking brat.
“With that said, we have come to a decision, and that is, as of this day, Rathe University will reopen once more.”
The voices sharpen and rise, men jump to their feet and woman rage from their seats.
The courtyard echoes as people push toward the barriers and against our warriors, who manage to hold them back.
I can understand their response, and this reaction is exactly what we expected.
Our people are still unsettled, and understandably so.
Their King was murdered in corruption brought by their own Queen, and more. In a matter of months, the kingdom in which they trust has been gutted and shaped anew, my brothers and I now at its helm.
They are right to throw a fit…but also, they need to fall in fucking line.
We make the rules now.
Knight kicks my foot and jerks his chin toward the crowd.
Oh, right.
This is where my gifts come in.
Leaning forward in my chair, I look out, mentally locking onto the fear, anger, uncertainty—and yes, even the hope. I breathe it in, pulling the emotions into my body and letting the shadows around my soul reshape them. I twist their emotions, bend and restructure them, creating a calm across our people. They will listen and believe that they are open to every word spoken by one of their kings.
Later, they can sort through how they really feel. But right now, Creed needs silence.
I push their manipulated emotions into their bodies, but just as I brush against their psyche, a sharp pain presses against my chest.
My brows snap together, but Creed has already begun to speak again.
“Do not fear for your young,” Creed demands. “Your kings will be among them.”
Sinner scoffs under his breath while Knight tilts his head in a calculating fashion.
“All Stygian and Argent-born over the age of eighteen are to report to the Ministry for departure. The portal will open at nightfall. Anyone attempting to remain behind” —he lets the pause stretch, a cold glint in his eye—“will be dragon food. And not the poetic kind.”
Creed steps back, signaling the end of his speech. But we’re not done yet.
I step forward.
“One more thing,” I say casually, dragging every eye to me.
Creed’s shoulders go taut. “Legend—”
“Relax,” I mutter. “Just a quick note. For the people.”
I walk slowly to the edge of the dais, turning my back to the brothers as I face the crowd.
“We’ve all lost things,” I say, voice deep and calm, like I’m reading bedtime stories to a pack of wolves. “Family. Power. Maybe even a toe or two, depending on where you were standing when my brother’s mate found out someone touched what belonged to her.”
Sinner chuckles. Knight doesn’t move.
“But I’m pleased to announce I’ve found something.”
I gesture lazily toward Haide. “This absolute menace to sanity? She’s mine.”
Another chorus of murmurs explodes across the room.
“She’s a gift from the gods, a threat to all structure and peace, and a constant pain in my royal ass. And I couldn’t be more thrilled to introduce her. Straight from Exile Island, I give you your future Queen. Well, one of them, anyway.”
The crowd erupts. Their emotions serve like a whip to my mind, making me grin. They hate her. They love her. They fear her.
And she hasn’t even said a word.
And then a voice cuts through the chaos. Loud. Sharp.
Fucking stupid.
“She’s…she’s unfit for the throne—an exile? From the island? What was her crime? How did she get there? How did she get back? No one is supposed to leave those lands! You can’t possibly—”
His words cut off with a wet, gurgling snap.
Haide doesn’t even flinch. One moment she’s standing there, the next she’s sliding a blade back into the sheath on her thigh, blood misting the air like perfume.
“Hey, don’t look at me. He said disrespect and die.” She shrugs. “I felt disrespected so…yeah.”
Sinner wheezes and doubles over with laughter. Creed covers his face with one hand. Knight says nothing—just closes his eyes and leans his head back like he’s praying for death.
I beam. “As I was saying…”
Blood continues to drip on the wall Haide leans against, her expression returning to one of boredom.