Chapter 56


    To punish them, she would curse her child to be with them. It makes no sense, and I have so many


    questions racing through my mind, so many things I can’t fathom or understand.


    “What about Sloth?” I ask, and Regan sighs.


    “We all are. We all just stood back and watched her die, we let my father do the dirty work, but we are


    just as guilty. He may have killed her, but we let him.”


    “Why did your father want her dead, though, and to kill her so brutally?”


    “She was a witch. Back then that is how witches were killed. Only it was her death that brought on the


    curse. Her dying sealed it.” Regan exins.


    “If you knew she cursed you, why kill her?” I ask.


    “We didn’t know until she burned, and we burned along with her. The markings appeared first. They


    glowed brightly, showing our shame, and we tried to cover them. A few dayster, the curse was


    revealed on the walls of her cell. All curses need some sort of sacrifice to be made or some gift or


    offering.”


    “She sacrificed herself; she made a fail-safe in case she died,” I whisper, and Regan nods.


    “Yes, and a good one too. Not only did she curse us, but she cloaked her daughter. We can’t identify


    her and her us.”


    “What do you mean?”


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    “We aren’t sure. My father in a rage, burned the cells, erasing the curse from the walls before we could


    finish deciphering them,” he exins, and my eyebrows raise.


    “I don’t get how I fit into any of this. Why would your father force your hand just because he is dying?


    He’d have to know it wouldn''t work.” I mutter.


    “That is what we are trying to find out, too. He has another agenda we just aren’t sure what is yet.”


    So in all this, I am just a pawn to King Theron; it makes no sense. Why would he go to such extremes


    and pit them against each other if he wants them to get along and rule together?


    Regan falls quiet like he, too is thinking the same thing when what Shelley told me takes up the


    forefront of my mind. If I don’t choose between his sons and none prove worthy, he’s handing the


    throne to his half-brother Mchi. My thoughts are working overtime as I try to mesh what Shelley told


    me and what Regan believes, trying to form some logical answer.


    If I chose one, what would he gain? Because Regan believes I have no choice, it was never mine. That


    all his father is doing is trying to force them together to rule. But he would have to know he’s setting his


    sons up for failure. Or maybe that’s the point; if they can’t work together, none of them get the throne,


    but I doubt Mchi will stand against his sons. So he can’t give him the throne either unless they’re all


    dead.


    It makes no sense why he would risk his sons. There has to be more, something he is hiding if what


    Regan ims are true. Because from what I do know is that no woman survives them. So he would


    have to know they would kill me! That makes my mood plummet further; he has not only set his sons


    up for failure but signed my death sentence.


    “The curse on you, you share it with your brothers, right?” Regan stops his pacing and looks at me.


    “Yes, though each of us was cursed for different reasons, we all yed our part in Litha’s death,”


    Regan tells me.


    “What do you mean?” I ask, and he sighs.


    “Zeke…” A knock sounds on the door, and we both freeze, staring at it when it suddenly opens, and


    Zeke walks in.


    “How did you–” Zeke holds up a key, and Regan growls, shaking his head.


    “You should be more careful where you leave your keys, brother. Anyone could havee in.” he


    states with a taunting smile. His eyes move to me, and I clutch what’s left of my top closed.


    “I see you’ve been having fun with your little toy, Regan. I hope you’re not growing attached to her, you


    know she won’t live and I don’t want to be the reason your heart gets broken, father is up to something


    and I will y no part in it, and if you were smart neither would you.”


    “Then leave, Zeke!” Regan snarls.


    “Me? I think not, brother. Do you truly believe I don’t know you and Lyon are working against me, you


    always have, and I am done with this false truce, this facade we all y? Now hand her over.”


    “Zeke!” Regan growls.


    “Hand her over, Regan,” Zeke speaks slowly, and I can hear effortlessly the threat behind his words.


    “You kill her, and father will strip you of your throne!”


    “So you keep reminding me, I have no intention of killing her, you know I don’t like getting my hands


    dirty, but idents happen. Father knows this.”


    “He set forth the rules.” Regan snaps.


    “I am well aware of the rules, Regan. But one thing I have learned is rules are sometimes supposed to


    be broken. Sometimes the consequences are worth it, don’t you think?” Zeke speaks in riddles I don’t


    understand, but by the look on Regan’s face, he knows exactly what Zeke speaks of.


    “So worried about your precious throne Regan. You are more than the seat in which you sit. We have


    bigger issues, and this is merely his way of distracting us from what he is truly hiding!”


    “And what is that?” Regan asks him, and Zekeughs.


    “I have no fucking clue, but I will find out. But I won’t be forced to marry a human to do so!”


    “Good luck with that; I would never choose you!” I sneer at him. Zeke clicks his tongue and shakes his


    head.


    “Oh dear, she really believes she has a choice. Tell me brother, did you spill all our secrets to her?


    Does she know to take one she must ept us all?”


    “I will never ept you!” I snap.


    “And right there lies the problem. I don’t know what game my father is ying, but he should know


    better than to pit us against each other. It is almost like he is trying to kill us!” Zeke growls. He purses


    his lips, a line creasing between his eyes.


    “Is that why you tried to kill him?” Regan asks, and Zeke looks at him. He tilts his head to the side.


    “Why would you think that?” Zeke snarls.


    “Funny how you lied to us about when you arrived, and our father started getting sick the moment you


    showed up here!” Regan snarls.


    “What reason would I have to kill the old fool? I don’t want his throne; I could care less for people here!


    I was here investigating why he was sick. I thought it was you!” Zeke yells pointing an using finger


    at Regan.


    “Why would I go after our father?”


    “His throne, you were angry when he refused it to you!” Regan scoffs.


    “I’m the firstborn. It should be mine!” Regan snarls. “But that doesn’t mean I would fucking try to kill


    him.”


    “Well he certainly doesn''t care if we kill each other!” Zeke snarls back, his face twisting, and his words


    cut off abruptly.


    “Maybe that is his intention?” Zeke mutters to himself. Regan scoffs.


    “Don’t think too hard, Zeke. You’ll let your paranoia get the best of you.”


    “Well, do you have another guess? Because he knows we are a package deal, what could he possibly


    gain by threatening our thrones!” Zeke snarls, then he stops, his eyes move to me, and he watches me


    for a second. “Her… It’s her.” Zeke uses me of something, shaking his finger at me.


    “It''s a test!” he whispers, and his face scrunches up.


    “Testing what? How much we hate each other?” Reganughs.


    “No…no…think, Regan. Why would he test us with her? Think about it. She''s human. He knows we’d


    kill her?”


    “Father already told us he can’t choose between us!” Lyon says from the doorway, making us all look at


    him.


    “You seriously believe he is allowing her to choose?” Zeke snaps at him, but Lyon only shrugs.


    “I don’t know, but why would he make us part of the trials, force our hands?” Lyon questions, and Zeke


    tosses his arms up in the air.


    “Do you not listen? I just said the same damn thing only I worded it differently.” Zeke snaps at him and


    Lyon rolls his eyes.


    “He said he wants to see who has humanity left! We both know Regan is the rightful heir to the throne;


    he’s the oldest. But with this curse hanging over our damn heads, we all need to be in one ce, if


    something happens to one of us it affects all of us, therefore affecting the ruling King!”


    “Unless we find a way to break the blood tie?” Regan offers


    They both nod.


    “Maybe he did?” Zeke mumbles, and we all look at him.


    “What if he did find a way to break the blood tie?” Zeke questions.


    “You think he found a witch?” Lyon scoffs, thenughs.


    “But if he did, why all this?” I ask. They seem to think for a second, but it’s Regan who answers.


    “Because he has to choose,” he whispers, and they all look at me. I stare at them, wondering what on


    earth is going on.


    “And that’s where shees in!” Lyon exhales, folding his arms across his chest, and he presses his


    lips in a line.