s. The knife cuts were deep but clean. Nothing vita

rso. "A few inches to the left and that blade would have pierced

vius answered from the doorway. "Leave

stay, but Octavius shook his head. "You

randfa

e. Tru

r behind her. The room fell silent exce

at down. For a long moment, he just looked at

I wanted you to tell me yourself. So I'm asking directly. Are

. But he was tired of lying. Tired of

us said qui

lready knew. "The river. The timing. Your age. Your tal

ew my f

s... unusual. Powerful beyond measure, yet he chose to live as a mortal king. I never und

e. His mother pushing him into the river. The golden light that

pting. When Marcus finished, the

cus said. "That's why I need to get str

n? After you take back the throne? What will you do wit

dn't have

er person to die," Octavius said. "It will consume you

do you

academy in Silvermere? I used to be a Sky King warrior in the Celestial Domain. I had

idened. He'd ne

y. A minor lord who'd ordered the assassination over a political dispute. I kill

d i

dn't heal my wounds. It just created new ones." Octavius turned back to Marcus. "That's when I came

ould forgive Cassian

coming. Right now, you're growing strong for the wrong reas

gh. How he'd only succeeded when he stopped thinking abo

I do then?"

ssian is a tyrant. He's probably hurting many people right now. Your kingdom suffers under his rule. That'

to let go of the hatred that ha

said. "But I can'

ed slightly. "Now, about the assa

a trap. Cassian will have as

ill. But you st

rprised. "Why? I

trength, he'll send armies to destroy this academy and everyone in it. But if you go to t

bol of

ian's rule isn't as stable as it looks. Many nobles remember your father fondly. Many people

. He'd been so focused on personal reve

years old. Who wou

power of symbols, Marcus." Octavius stood. "Rest now. We have six months to prepare. I'll train you properly. Not just in c

man's words had shaken something inside him. Maybe reveng

tly. Lydia slipped i

. "You're really a prince? And all

ilt washing over him. "I

is bed. "I care that you were suffering alone. That you c

u help? This

my brother, Marcus. Not by blood, but by choice. Whateve

hing warm in his chest. Not the burning fire of r

you,

er tears. "Now rest.

three years, he didn't dream of revenge. He dreamed of a fu

change, but i

hed and listened. He'd heard everything. The prince's true id

ould make him rich

t the assassin from earlier was watching him from a