“Yes,” I agreed. “In truth, I’ve been spending what time I can with him helping him to strengthen his magical abilities. He was already given the same lessons in politics and ruling that I had as a child, and he is a better man than I am anyway.”
Gabriel nodded. “I can see that future as a possibility. The kingdom run by the other Heirs and your younger brother. But it is one of many futures open to us at the moment and the way to almost all of them are paved in death. The most likely path right now is that your father will wipe all of us out given time and his brutal reign will continue.”
“It won’t,” I snarled furiously. “If there is one thing I am determined to achieve before my death then it is to see that bastard’s head torn from his traitorous body.”
Gabriel opened his mouth to respond but he fell deadly still instead, his eyes darting back and forth as he saw something which was beyond my comprehension and the stars fed him some vision.
“We have to go,” he gasped as he came to again and the fear in his voice made my heart race.
“What is it? Has he found us? Are we under attack?” I demanded.
“Not here. Not us. He’s claiming that the Pegasus herd your brother was a part of are linked to the rebels and has ordered a cull-”
“A what?” I barked, fire flaring through my limbs as my Dragon reared its head in anticipation of a fight.
“You need to find your brother. You and Xavier alone. If you leave now, you have a chance to beat him to the academy - but Darius, every second you waste could mean another life lost. You must hurry.”
“Where is he?” I asked, knowing I had to trust him on this or face the cost in blood which he had already foreseen.
“He’s with your mom and Hamish outside the kitchens. It’s hard for me to see much of what will happen at the academy, but I know that if you can save the Pegasus herd and get Lance’s dark magic equipment our future looks brighter.”
“Got it,” I said, shoving past him, his final words chasing after me as I broke into a sprint.
“Run, Darius! Fate is shifting with every passing second!”
C haos was breaking out in The Burrows over the death of another rebel and my heart galloped like thundering hooves as I hurried through the masses looking for my family. My mom came into view, her form hidden by a perfect concealment spell which made her look like a plain woman, her dark hair pulled into a ponytail, but her eyes were just the same deep brown colour as always.
She stood at Hamish’s side as he directed the rebels back to their rooms, a glimmer of panic in his eyes that unsettled me. There were no leads on the murderer, and now they’d struck again, I was starting to fear who would be next.
I made it to my mom and she clasped my hand, pulling me close and her familiar scent coiled around me as I embraced her. I was taller than her these days and she melded against me easily, resting her head against my shoulder.
“Are you alright?” she whispered with worry coating her words.
“I’m fine, what about Darius?”
“He’s okay,” she swore, gripping me tighter for a moment before releasing me, looking up at me like she wanted to draw me away somewhere to safety. But I wasn’t a baby anymore, and I’d spent too many years locked up and unable to fight my own battles. If there was a threat in this place, I’d damn well be facing it alongside the people I loved.
I let out a soft whinny as Hamish clapped a hand to my back and leaned closer.
“Not to worry your Wendy about it, my boy,” he promised, giving me something of a fatherly look – or as close to one as I could imagine anyway. My father had certainly never looked at me like that.
“I just don’t understand how there can be a killer down here,” I said, stamping my foot in anger. “We have some of the most powerful Fae in Solaria in these tunnels hunting for them, why hasn’t Gabriel seen anything? Why aren’t the Cyclopses able to give us answers?”
Hamish shook his head in dismay and I could see the pressure he was under as he ran a hand across his bald head and down over his mutton chops. “It’s quite the carp of a conundrum, dear Xavier. But rest assured, we will find the wicked willy who lurks down here and see that they face the wrath of the stars.”
I nodded, though my gut was still in knots as I stepped back, wishing there was more I could do to help.
“Xavier!” Darius’s booming voice carried over the frantic chatter of the rebels and I spotted him muscling through the crowd to get to us. Mom pulled him into a hug, checking him over as Hamish blocked the crowd’s view to us with his large body, giving them a moment of privacy.