Domain of Power-The Dreamer (Book 3)

Chapter 35: Runaway

Father sat on his golden throne at the head of the pool, turning our atrium into a place of judgment. My brothers stood on either side of him like statues. Their searing gazes could burn holes through me if it were possible. I blinked away their hatred as I took my place on the opposite side of the cold pool that stood between us.

"Troy." The sound of my name from his mouth sounded like a hollow echo.

My fingers twisted together. I knew it was my turn to speak, but everything I rehearsed would only condemn me further.

"Tell me, Troy," Father began in a low, calm voice. "How do you think I felt when I found my keys missing and my son gone with them?"

"You must have been worried," I murmured.

He nodded, his gaze steady. He observed me like a tutor observes a problem that must be solved. "Tell me how I must have felt when I found out my son was writing letters to that 'boy' behind my back, only to have snuck off with a 'friend' who was blacklisted. Then, to find out they were in fact on their way to break into the prison, pretending to be guards so they could free a prisoner without my consent."

I looked down. "I suppose you were mad."

I could see his face tighten, drawing lines to his brow. "Mad," he mused, repeating the word. "You were very close to being killed! All I had to do was give them my blessing." He exchanged a nod with the new, younger guard standing to the left of the pool.

I sighed. "Sorry for the trouble that I caused. I suppose that is why you took everything away from me."

Father leaned in from his throne before rising to his feet. "How do you feel when others take things from you?"

"Mad."

"Good. Stay mad. You are fortunate I restrained myself. But then again, I am afraid that is why we are standing here today. Even after so many warnings, you still chose to keep company with that scoundrel!" He stopped to collect his breath before his calm mask slipped. "But," he added. "We made certain that it will never happen again!"

My heart was pounding frantically. "What did you do to him?"

"The court found him guilty of treason and murder. He left the court no choice but a sentence of death. And like Cornelius, who works with our enemies, traitors die on the stake!"

What? Cornelius...working for Gaius? But he was my bodyguard. We trusted him. Did he help bring the poison? Was he the one who tried to sneak Gaius out of the prison... My head was spinning at the revelations Father was throwing at me.

My heart sank to my stomach at the thought of Romeus being placed on the same level as the man equally responsible for my grandfather's murder. But Romeus never meant to kill anyone. The guard grabbed him first. I remembered it faintly. A memory blurred by sheer panic was coming back to me. And now, Romeus would never see his family again because I ran, and he didn't.

"I warned you," Father droned on, "but you refused to listen."

My voice cracked. "That 'boy' was my friend. He was far from perfect, but he was a good friend to me."

Father got up from his seat to pace around the pool. Each step was a countdown until he stopped just close enough that he could grab me. "And that boy broke the law for his thief of a father."

I opened my mouth to interject. "You have no proof—"

"You know nothing, Troy!" he snapped. He took a deep breath to compose himself, but his mask already slipped. "In our last raid, we found a gold bar worth 10,000 acros buried outside their home. They claimed they never knew where it came from, but it was all the proof I needed. So please do not question me again, because my patience has just about run out for you."