Dark One Rising(74)
He heard footsteps approaching from behind him and turned to see Fallon standing just inside the doorway, sneering at him.He returned his stare, but Fallon said nothing.
Kevaan spoke. “Is there something you require or are you simply using up the air that was a moment before fresh?”
Fallon’s sneer turned to a glare. “It amazes me how outwardly insulting you are to me. With all the power I hold over your father’s head, I would think you’d be careful on what you say.”
“You don’t scare me, Fallon, and neither does your puppet. This is my father’s realm, and in retrospect, mine as well, and I won’t let him just hand it over to you on a platter. I live my life to serve the people of this realm, not you.”
“Brave and worthy sentiments, but soon there won’t be a realm to rule over. I’ve already enlisted more men into my army than you and your father could ever hope to have, and I will crush your walls with forces you couldn’t possibly fathom.”
“Everything you own you have obtained by my father’s generosity, but you’ll eventually lose it all.”
He changed the subject, switching to one that he knew would rile him. “Have you heard from your dear sister yet?”
“Wherever she might be, she’s safe from you.”
“For now, but in time Jaron will flush her out, and I will have her.”
“If you touch a hair on her head you’ll have me to deal with, puppet or no puppet.”
“It doesn’t matter. Half of this kingdom already belongs to me. You’ll be hard pressed to win allegiance back from your own people.”
“Don’t think for a moment that we won’t stand against you. You may have the commoners wrapped around your finger out of fear, but we’ll eventually destroy everything that you have worked to obtain.”
“Your faith in your alliances will be your weakness.”
“And your overconfidence in your powers will be yours.”
Kevaan walked away from Fallon, leaving him to fume. Getting Kevaan to turn away from his duty to his province was proving most difficult. His strength was considerable, and he was not easily swayed by threats. He wondered how much he could resist if he chose to use his real powers against him, like he had already used on his father.
The old man was weak and wanted nothing more than to turn over his rule to his son, to allow himself rest in his final years. The toll of years ruling the realm, having had to take over at an extremely young age after his father died in battle, was making him weak in body and more so in soul. He saw Fallon as a shrewd businessman who could manage the daily holdings of a profitable duchy and be able to take on other endeavors as well. Handing over the account for the river tolls was just one weight off his shoulders. The burdens should be passed on to Kevaan, but Fallon’s influence on his mind kept him from seeing the truth.
He never expected it to be this easy, even trusting the guidance from the Dark One, and he smiled to himself at just how far he’d come in such a short time.
Melenthia was an obstacle that he hadn’t planned on. He knew that she was strong willed and often expressed her opinion against things, but he underestimated her resiliency and ability to take care of herself.
He wanted her, not only because she was the Chosen One, the one brought into the world to destroy him. That in itself amused him. A woman, chosen to be the savior of the kingdom. How preposterous. Women were for one use only and that was to bring pleasure to a man. Of course, a child from her and him would make his power unstoppable. A son from her would seal the pact with the Dark One.
The thought of taking her by force excited him. Her fiery red hair and smooth creamy skin would bring him immense pleasure, and having her for himself before she was spoiled by another excited him even more. She would never let him, he knew, but that would hardly tamper down his urges, in fact it made them stronger.
He looked back on the night of her birthday, when he revealed his wanting of her. He should’ve had her then, then all of this could’ve been avoided. He knew that she was ripe for the taking, and he should’ve never allowed Kevaan to step into his affairs. That was a mistake, and now they would all suffer for it. Melenthia running from him angered him at first, but he knew she could not evade him forever. Jaron was out there searching, using his mind probing power to seek the answer to his question. Soon, Fallon himself would have that power too, then he would be able to answer the question that was evading him, where was she? Kevaan was clever, he’d give him that, putting her somewhere he could not easily find, but with patience, he would figure it out.
He turned from the window now. He hated waiting. His rising urge to lay with her had been building up for some time now, and he didn’t know how long he could resist. Maybe a ride into town and a visit with a common harlot would at least satisfy him for a while longer, until he could take Melenthia for his own.