A Kingdom of Bloodshed (A Crimson Court Series)

*¬*Chapter Twenty*¬*

       Hurt. That's the first thing I feel when I wake up. Hurt that she would choose to suffer in silence than confide in me. I heard her, slipping out of bed late in the night to find privacy in the bathroom. I heard her falling apart and shattering on the floor. I heard her and just laid there, like a foolish idiot. Why didn't I get up to help her?

Why didn't I throw the covers back and hold her as she crumbled like the urges were telling me to do? Because I wouldn't have wanted her to see me at my weakest. I would have wanted a moment to myself too.

So I waited. I held her close when she came back to bed and told her she's not alone. But that doesn't make it better.

It doesn't make it right. Long before Thea even begins to stir, I slip from the room and walk quietly to my office on the second floor.

I send out a message to my friends, advisors and the captain of my armies. I send them a message asking to meet as soon as possible to discuss what to do about my brother.

It's the only way I can make things right between Thea and I. The only way I can undo some of the hurt my brother has caused her and hopefully repair her faith in me and in this Kingdom. I take a seat in a lounge chair by the empty fire and wait.

I'm still staring at the coals when there's a knock at the door.

⤗

           "Thank you for coming on such short notice." I say to Raven, Ryder, Fin and Fawn after letting them into my office.

"Well your letter made it sound urgent, which didn't leave much room for question." Raven, a tall, lithe figured, lavender hair coloured woman states. She's one of my best spies and I trust her more than anyone.

"Of course, Kaz, you ask and I come. I'm here for you my friend." Ryder, my captain and leader of the Bloodshed Kingdom army crosses a hand over his chest and bows to me.

Finally, my two advisors, Fin and Fawn- twins born from a lower class Fae but still noble and strong, bow as well. They're people of few words but loyal to a fault.

"Thank you all, again. I summoned you here because I have important matters to discuss with you." We each take a seat at the small table in the far right corner of the room. It sits beneath the large arched window so that I have a full vantage point of the yard.

Ryder tilts his head to the side, his long blonde hair falling in straight locks past his shoulders and his caramel eyes flash inquisitively in the early sunlight. "Is this about your brother?"

My spine locks as I meet his gaze. "How did you know?" Ryder simply smiles, "I'm offended Kaz.. I'm the leader of your army and you assume that I know so little?" He clicks his tongue at me.

"I did not mean to offend, Ryder. I simply was surprised to hear that you knew. Although I shouldn't be... considering my brother's actions have probably made it all throughout the realm by now."

The others nod their heads. "Yes, I heard through my spies that he's taken refuge at Mount Voiceless in the ruins of Nefaris." Fin states his sharp pale green eyes slicing into the room as he meets each of our gazes. He and his sister are identical. They both have pale green eyes, dark golden skin and short charcoal blue hair.

Nodding, I grip my fingers together in a fist on the table and snarl, "Yes, he's gotten into the habit of stealing Althea from me and now he wishes to waken our ancestor Xavier to use against each of the Kingdoms."

Ryder is the first to break the silence, "He's doing what?" I sigh, "My sibling is power hungry, greedy, and terribly selfish. He wants to rule the world and have each of us bow before him. I cannot let him do that."