Cyrus smiles. He brings his free hand up and brushes his thumb over my cheek. “Yes,” he says. “But it is not my story to tell.”
I want to beg him—for him to tell me the answer I’ve wondered after for these past six months. But his words ring true, and I cannot betray Rath by begging his dark, unknown story from another.
“You are lucky to have him,” Cyrus does offer instead. “His loyalty is an uncommon gem.”
But as Cyrus says it, the look on Rath’s face when he offered the drinks comes back to mind. He didn’t look happy. And he hasn’t seemed happy with me for a while.
“I am,” I agree, even as my stomach sinks.
I cannot please everyone.
I cannot make all the right moves with it comes to every single person in my life.
“Come,” Cyrus says. “Let us rejoin your party.”
He leads me by the hand and we walk back into the ballroom. “Would you like to make any kind of a speech?” he asks into my ear.
I swallow hard and look around at all these people. There are so many of them. They’re so old, so much more experienced at this than I am.
“Yes,” I lie. “I’d like to say a few words.”
Cyrus grabs another glass and taps a knife from the buffet table against it. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he says loudly, instantly commanding attention. Every eye turns expectantly in our direction. “Our Regent and Lady, Alivia Conrath would like to share a few words.”
Synchronized, every eye slides from Cyrus to me. And I pride myself that I do not step back under their gaze; I don’t break out into a sweat. I roll my shoulders back and lift my chin just a little higher.
“Thank you all so much for being here,” I say, my voice strong and loud. “There’s been quite a lot of change happening in our region the last few months, and I’m sure most of you have heard about some rocky circumstances.”
As I look around the room, many nod their heads. The look in their eyes confirms that they have indeed heard of the mess that has been going on in our part of the country.
I think momentarily of the girl I was just a few months ago. Of the child that I was, terrified of an enemy. Enough so that I ran away from my home. I hid. I let another fill my head with one side of the story.
And now, here I stand before a mansion filled with immortal killers.
“But I am here to assure you that things will never be like that again,” I say, my voice increasing in volume. “Silent Bend will be controlled. There will be order. I will make sure of it. Our secret will be kept safe under my leadership.”
“And our secret is a show of our great strength,” Cyrus says, shifting attention once again to him. “For thousands of years now, we have built an empire. Bred a new species. There are thousands upon thousands of our kind. Yet, the world knows nothing.”
The air around us is deadly silent. No one takes a breath. They lean toward us, hanging on the King’s every word. I feel their excitement growing, pride at what we are and what has been accomplished.
“Power lies not in those who flaunt it,” Cyrus says, his voice dropping an octave. “For once you lay it out for all to see, it sits there for any to take it. Power lies in those who have built their empire in the shadows without a word being breathed. Power lies in having your masses built, so when the glamorous show falls, the empire rises, already in place.”
The King’s words chill me. While he has not said he plans to take over the world someday, he will be there should the world crumble and fall.
“You stand here because you have kept our secret,” Cyrus says, raising his glass to all before him. “And you all are a part of that power. I salute you.”
As if many of them have heard this speech before, they raise their glasses, as well. “I salute you,” they repeat with pride.
The music picks back up. Cyrus hands his glass off to a random man and takes my hand once again in his. “Would you do me the honor of a dance?”
“It would be my pleasure,” I agree, a smile pulling on my lips. I take a step forward, and suddenly my ankle twists, and I fall into Cyrus’ arms.
“Now, our kind generally isn’t the clumsiest,” he laughs as he helps right me.
My brows furrow. “I caught my heel on something,” I say, looking back where I just stood.
We stand in the middle of the ballroom, on top of the Conrath raven crest. My eyes scan the floor, and finally, I see it. There, where the Raven’s eye should be, is a chip in the floor.
Great. Cyrus throws a party and my father’s house is being damaged.
“How about that dance?”
My attention turns to Cyrus once more, and he looks at me with a smile and eagerness. Returning it, I place one hand on his shoulder, resting my other in his hand.