Chapter 95

CHARLES

I thought I would barely sleep that night, but I slept like a baby. My dreams were filled with blood and dragonfire, a heavy reminder of the day to come. But for some reason, the images of violence did not make me concerned, rather, I was even more excited for the day ahead.

I woke to the sound of trumpets–a call from our army, signaling us to wake. When I rolled over, I was reminded of another presence in my bed.

Lady Isabella, curled into a small ball on the opposite side of the bed, nude from the night before but tastefully covered in sheets. Her hair fanned across the pillow, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. Evidence of my teeth the night before could be seen in marks down the side of her neck.

She was a welcome distraction, I had to admit. An incredibly loyal woman, a woman willing to do whatever I wanted in bed, who would go to the ends of the earth to take down Felix. She was exactly what I needed.

But as the trumpet sounded, I felt another urge stirring in my blood: the urge to go to war.

There was a strange feeling in my heart. I had hated Felix for years, felt a grudge against him since we were boys. I had never been anything more than second best, everyone’s least favorite brother and least favorite prince. Today, however, those feelings were boiling over in a new and unexpected way.

My parents were far away–likely in Fresia, hiding out in their stupid castle. They would never allow themselves to get involved in such a messy affair as a battle. It was no surprise to me that they would send others to do their dirty work for them.

As I stared at Isabella’s limp, vulnerable body, I thought about our future. Her, the perfect, dainty, queen. Mila was an American, and a worker at that–Isabella would rather die than actually get her hands dirty, and that was something I respected about her. She was a woman who knew her place.

I quickly got dressed and gathered my things–sword, dagger, an extra knife smuggled into my boot, just in case. I would not want to be caught off-guard. I wore the traditional armor of the Dragon Knights, but blotted out my family’s seal on the arm.

There was a small sound behind me, and I turned to see Isabella, wrapped in a sheet, looking at me with what could only be described as despair in her eyes.

“Are you worried?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I snorted disdainfully. “Worried about what?”

“You’re invading your own home country today,” Isabella said softly. “I imagine that you have some difficult feelings surrounding that. Not to mention you’re going to meet your brother in battle, if not today, at some point in the very near future. It’s all… so overwhelming.”

“I’m crushing an enemy today,” I retorted. “Fresonia is not my home country, not anymore. And it’s not yours either. Don’t forget that. If you’re so worried about me being overwhelmed, you should make yourself scarce today. I don’t need to see you until tonight.”

Isabella shrank back as if she’d been slapped.

“Of course,” she responded. Ever the obedient servant.

“I am paving the way for a better future,” I reminded her. “Fresonia will be better for my rule.”

Isabella merely nodded.

“Good girl,” I said, staring her down. “Now bathe yourself and get back in bed. I’ll want to enjoy the spoils of victory tonight.”

She pulled that giant sweater of hers over her head and scampered from the tent. I waited to feel a tinge of remorse for snapping at her, but it never arrived. She was a smart girl, a survivor. She could take care of herself today.

And so would I.

I gave my armor one more once-over before heading out of the tent myself.

The encampment was buzzing–the whole army was preparing for the invasion to come. The dragons could sense the excitement of the soldiers, and were fluttering their wings in anticipation. Hades, my beast, was pacing back and forth, clearly eager to take flight.

Rico approached me, his classic shit-eating grin plastered across his face.

“Today’s the day,” he said by way of greeting.

I clapped a hand on his shoulder.

“Everything we dreamed about,” I said, in a voice that felt both grand and confident, “is about to come true. Fresonia will burn.”

“And we will dance in its ashes,” Rico finished.

“Are the men ready?” I asked. I did not bother myself with the day-to-day troubles of my army. I was more concerned with how much destruction they could collectively cause.

“Seems like it,” Rico said, glancing around. “We’re all set to move at 7, if that is still what you’re thinking.”

I nodded. “It’s perfect.”

“There is one thing,” Rico said. “The villagers of Barlow. I imagine they are asleep in their beds. Would you like us to first ask for their surrender, or just shoot first, ask questions later?”

I studied him for a moment. “Let the villagers of Barlow be made into an example.”

Rico hesitated for a moment before saying, “It is my understanding that the Dragon Knights of Abernathy intend to take advantage of the Barlow women. Are you…?”

I waved my hand dismissively. “It is a small price to pay for the support of their army. Come now, Rico. We need to lead the men.”

The plan was simple. We would storm into Fresonia, leaving a path of destruction in our wake. I would lead the army on Hades, flying just high enough to see whatever was coming to meet us. Eventually, we would encounter Felix and whatever scraggly army he had managed to piece together. With any luck, I would be able to strike my brother down today.

Felix was many things, but above all else, he considered himself to be a hero. He would gladly give his own life to save another. That may have been an admirable quality in a king, but was nothing more than a death sentence on the battlefield. Of course, even without the war, Felix’s days were numbered. I smiled to myself as I recalled that lovely little piece of information on his curse I had gathered only days prior.

Rico and the other Dragon Knights took the skies alongside me, while the shapeshifters and other nobles marched dutifully beneath us. We were only a few miles from the border, and we would make our crossing in less than an hour.

Hades tugged at his reins, clearly itching to fly higher, faster, but I restrained him. There was no use in spending his energy now. I needed him at full strength once the clash began.

Something on the horizon caught my eye, and I squinted. I could see the bridge leading into Barlow below, the tiny houses that made up the trading village dotting the landscape. Beyond that, the fields and forests of Fresonia stretched on for miles.

I smiled as Hades took one more flap of his wings, pushing us clearly into Fresonian airspace.

It was a perfect morning for an invasion.