Hugo

Prince William was had barely seen ten summers, but he was lucky to be alive.

And he had Onyx Aldarius to thank for it. A girl two summers younger than him.

A girl with more magic than he had thought possible. Add that to her impressive sword skills…

A noise outside his door made him jump up and reach for his lance.

He cursed, but he didn’t release his weapon.

With so many dead, and so much tumult after the assassination attempt, eyes once again turned to Prince William for guidance and leadership.

The boy had seen ten summers, but he already handled it well. He would be a good king. If they gave him time to grow up.

Gave him to heal after almost losing his life to an assassin’s blade.

Hugo thought of his daughter, of the price she had nearly paid to save the prince.

He would do what he had to do for the boy.

Whatever the political cost.

 

Hugo sat beside his daughter as she again couldn’t sleep.

“I killed them, Father. I…”

He held her close and stroked her hair as he waited for the sobs to pass. He wouldn’t tell her again that she had done what she had to do. That she and Prince William were alive because of it.

He also wouldn’t tell her how many others had died that night from magic rather than assassins’ blades.

Most thought they had been one and the same when the assassins had tried to kill Prince William.

Only he knew differently, and he would die with that secret.

 

Hugo Aldarius still didn’t understand all that had happened that night.

All that his daughter had done.

She didn’t understand.

Her magic was wild. Untrained. And so very powerful.

Too powerful.

She knew better than to call on it as she had, but she’d been willing to trade her life for the prince’s.

He loved her as only a father could.

If she cast that same spell again, would it destroy him, too?

 

Duke Aldarius stared across the council table at the regent.

The assassination attempt had failed, but the regent yet lived when so many others had died.

His daughter’s magic-laced words echoed in the duke’s head.

Those who wished Prince William harm.