To the Shadowsinger | Azriel

Chapter 38: I'm a monster

Caius had sat at the head of the dining table and contemplated leaving to find his wife or staying with the Lords. Raisa's reaction to the gift he spent months trying to get had struck a nerve in him. She was so unappreciative sometimes. He didn't have to get her the Prince's head but at least now people would stop talking about her affair with him.

That was another thing Caius thought about. Raisa's affair. He didn't love her, of course not, but the thought of her with another made his vision turn red. He remembered the first time he found out about one of her affairs. They had gone months without seeing each other but one night he decided to surprise her by showing up to her bedroom. He found her humming to herself in her bathtub, he had smiled as he quietly slipped out of his clothes and into the water behind her. Her eyes had gone wide as she turned around and saw him.

He ran a sponge over her body. She was so tense. It wasn't until he slid his hand over her stomach did he feel a small bump. A blind rage had filled him. He couldn't control the horrible things he did to her after he found out but every time he thought back to that night he was filled with guilt and rage. It had to be done, he told himself, no bastard of hers is taking my throne.

That night happened over a hundred years ago but he still thought back to it all the time. He thought about it as the Lords talked among themselves over a roasted pig.

"My wife had a slip of the tongue the other night and mentioned another rumor about the Queen," Lord Daksh laughed. "Something about Lord Thadion and the Queen spending some time alone together."

Caius' eyes shot up to Lord Thadion, he watched the Lord choke on a laugh.

"The only reason I would be alone in a room with her would be to tell her to reduce her spending habits," Lord Thadion gave Caius a smirk. "I mean, I understand she likes her dresses and silks but the amount of money she spends is ridiculous."

Caius huffed a laugh at that. She spent more money each month than he did for his army. He found himself not caring though and looking back to the Lord. Caius had known Thadion for centuries, he was his most trusted Lord and he would even call him a friend. He knew and trusted Thadion.

The main reason Caius believed Thadion wasn't the one Raisa had an affair with was because the male scent Raisa had carried on her the morning she had returned. It was an unusual scent, certainly not high fae, and it was somewhat bitter to his nose. It wasn't Thadion, he would have recognized the scent.

Caius had memorized that male scent on Raisa and saved it for the day he would smell it again. He would instantly recognize the male and would not hesitate to slaughter him where he stood. That would be another head Caius would give Raisa in a nice box.

The King was smiling to himself when unease filled his insides. His ears perked up and he demanded the Lords to be silent. They watched him as he slowly stood up from the table and listened.

Thadion stood up as well, "What is it, my-"

Caius shushed him. His heart was speeding up. Something was horribly wrong.

"Get down!" Thadion yelled the same moment a large presence was suddenly behind Caius. Caius didn't even have time to move before he was lifted off his feet and thrown against the wall. His head crashed into the brick and a cracking sound filled his ears.

He put a hand up to his head, feeling the warmth of blood at his temple.

"Protect the King!"

"What is that!"

"Get out of here!"

Shouting filled the room but Caius just kept looking at his bloody hand. His vision was spotting. He finally registered the chaos when someone tripped over him. Caius looked over at the Lord who was now beside him, viciously clawing at his own face off.