shivered over the fate of the man before him.
“Thank you, Your Highness. I have orders to bring the imposter to the ship. Would you mind accompanying me?”
As politely as the soldier had worded the question, Vohne still knew he wouldn’t leave without him.
“Of course,” Vohne complied. He didn’t want to make it difficult for the men. They weren’t the ones in charge of the orders to shoot Vohne from the sky. However, if anything hurt Kres, or if he died before he made it to the planet, all bets were off.
The soldiers formed an honour guard around Vohne, now acting as his protection instead of his captors.
“Don’t forget to bring the captain aboard,” Vohne reminded. He didn’t know if the shuttle was still space-worthy and he didn’t want the captain to be forgotten in their rush to take Vohne aboard the larger vessel.
“Of course, Your Highness,” another guard replied.
Vohne yearned to immediately seek out Kres, but he still didn’t know if it was safe.
Through several winding hallways he marched alongside the soldiers until finally he was brought to a large, luxurious chamber covered in thick carpet, with a strong handsome man sitting behind a desk.
Looking straight into those familiar gold eyes, Vohne gave a wide smile. “Greetings, brother.”
Bleine, Vohne’s younger brother, stood up, walked over to Vohne, then with brutal strength, punched him in the face.
Vohne’s head snapped back, his hand coming up to cup his injured cheek. “What the hell did you do that for?”
“For waiting so fucking long to come back! I had to go through an entire war without you. Where the hell have you been?”
Vohne looked into his brother’s eyes and knew the past hundred years had been hard on him. Without tragedy, a Thresl could live for centuries, even though only kings went through reincarnation.
“I don’t know! Why did you shoot at me?”
“Because Jallryne said a false king would be coming.”
“Who’s Jallryne?” Vohne asked. The name didn’t sound familiar.
“My human. She’s a seer.” His brother paled at the realisation—he had been manipulated.
“What happened to Klia?” Vohne had liked his brother’s last partner. She’d been a tiny caramel-haired woman with an easy laugh.
“She died in the purging. Jallryne was my second attempt. We bonded, but now I’m wondering if I chose incorrectly.” A frown marred Bleine’s smooth face.
“You think she likes being queen too much?” Vohne asked. Jallryne wouldn’t be the first person to go mad with power.
“Maybe. There have been whispered rumours, but I thought it was just court jealousy. The castle is a different place without you, brother. I never took the official title of king. It didn’t feel right since I wasn’t a true one.” Bleine gripped Vohne’s shoulder, shaking him slightly. “I always knew you would return, even as others doubted.”
Fear churned Vohne’s stomach. He didn’t want there to be a civil war over his return. “How will my reception be?”
“It had better be welcoming.” Bleine’s cold tone indicated nothing less would be acceptable to him. “However, it is a tumultuous time. A struggle for power is underway. There are others who would love to wrest the throne from me and call themselves king. Your long absence has brought out many contenders who would never dare to challenge the throne if you were there.”
“We’ll put them back in their place and discover who’s been working against us,” Vohne declared.
In his heart, he knew his brother was beside him.
“Where’s your mate?” Bleine looked behind him.
“You tried to blow up my shuttle. Where do you think he is?” Vohne growled. He still hadn’t forgiven his brother for that.
“Y-you sent him down below without protection?” Bleine’s panicked expression sent a shard of fear through Vohne.
“Since when does a mate need protection from my people?” he asked.
“Since there are those who would love to
“Thank you, Your Highness. I have orders to bring the imposter to the ship. Would you mind accompanying me?”
As politely as the soldier had worded the question, Vohne still knew he wouldn’t leave without him.
“Of course,” Vohne complied. He didn’t want to make it difficult for the men. They weren’t the ones in charge of the orders to shoot Vohne from the sky. However, if anything hurt Kres, or if he died before he made it to the planet, all bets were off.
The soldiers formed an honour guard around Vohne, now acting as his protection instead of his captors.
“Don’t forget to bring the captain aboard,” Vohne reminded. He didn’t know if the shuttle was still space-worthy and he didn’t want the captain to be forgotten in their rush to take Vohne aboard the larger vessel.
“Of course, Your Highness,” another guard replied.
Vohne yearned to immediately seek out Kres, but he still didn’t know if it was safe.
Through several winding hallways he marched alongside the soldiers until finally he was brought to a large, luxurious chamber covered in thick carpet, with a strong handsome man sitting behind a desk.
Looking straight into those familiar gold eyes, Vohne gave a wide smile. “Greetings, brother.”
Bleine, Vohne’s younger brother, stood up, walked over to Vohne, then with brutal strength, punched him in the face.
Vohne’s head snapped back, his hand coming up to cup his injured cheek. “What the hell did you do that for?”
“For waiting so fucking long to come back! I had to go through an entire war without you. Where the hell have you been?”
Vohne looked into his brother’s eyes and knew the past hundred years had been hard on him. Without tragedy, a Thresl could live for centuries, even though only kings went through reincarnation.
“I don’t know! Why did you shoot at me?”
“Because Jallryne said a false king would be coming.”
“Who’s Jallryne?” Vohne asked. The name didn’t sound familiar.
“My human. She’s a seer.” His brother paled at the realisation—he had been manipulated.
“What happened to Klia?” Vohne had liked his brother’s last partner. She’d been a tiny caramel-haired woman with an easy laugh.
“She died in the purging. Jallryne was my second attempt. We bonded, but now I’m wondering if I chose incorrectly.” A frown marred Bleine’s smooth face.
“You think she likes being queen too much?” Vohne asked. Jallryne wouldn’t be the first person to go mad with power.
“Maybe. There have been whispered rumours, but I thought it was just court jealousy. The castle is a different place without you, brother. I never took the official title of king. It didn’t feel right since I wasn’t a true one.” Bleine gripped Vohne’s shoulder, shaking him slightly. “I always knew you would return, even as others doubted.”
Fear churned Vohne’s stomach. He didn’t want there to be a civil war over his return. “How will my reception be?”
“It had better be welcoming.” Bleine’s cold tone indicated nothing less would be acceptable to him. “However, it is a tumultuous time. A struggle for power is underway. There are others who would love to wrest the throne from me and call themselves king. Your long absence has brought out many contenders who would never dare to challenge the throne if you were there.”
“We’ll put them back in their place and discover who’s been working against us,” Vohne declared.
In his heart, he knew his brother was beside him.
“Where’s your mate?” Bleine looked behind him.
“You tried to blow up my shuttle. Where do you think he is?” Vohne growled. He still hadn’t forgiven his brother for that.
“Y-you sent him down below without protection?” Bleine’s panicked expression sent a shard of fear through Vohne.
“Since when does a mate need protection from my people?” he asked.
“Since there are those who would love to
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