Page 58 of Blood of Dragons

That only seemed to anger him more. “You worthless bastard?—”

“Father.” Silas was the one to interrupt the heated exchange. “I know you’re scared. Shit, we’re all scared. But Talon sending Vivian away is not an acceptance of defeat. It doesn’t mean the war is lost. All he wanted to do was protect his pregnant wife, a woman who can barely walk right now, and I don’t fault him for that. He didn’t take the ship with her. He came back here to win with us—or die with us. In the event of your death, I refuse the crown because Talon is a better ruler than I could ever be.”

My heart tugged at his words.

“If it were me,” Silas continued. “I would have done the same. This may be the last time we’re all living, so let’s put this behindus and move forward. What’s done is done—and we have a war to win.”

Every able soldier was armed and prepared for battle. The castle was situated high on the cliffs, while the city was down below. We were at the coast, so it closed off one front from an attack, unless they attacked by ship.

Our military was always prepared, but it’d been hundreds of years since the last battle had taken place. That reigning peace had weakened our bones, put us in a state of perpetual calm. I was afraid we wouldn’t be able to handle this war, especially against beings we didn’t understand.

I stood at the edge of the royal grounds, at the top of the cliff, the warm breeze moving through my hair, darkness all around us. Every torch we had was lit all around the kingdom, providing a distinct glow so we could see our surroundings. Some of the hills and fields were illuminated so we could anticipate an attack, but until our foes approached the immediate vicinity, we wouldn’t know. Instead of having scouts stationed ahead, we thought having every able man behind the gate was our best chance for success.

Silas stood beside me, staring at the same sight.

We said nothing, just stood in silence.

I glanced at him beside me. “I appreciate what you said back there.” My brother and I didn’t have a lot of serious one-on-one moments. It was usually jokes and taunts, the only way we knew how to show affection.

He continued to stare ahead. “I meant it.”

I looked ahead again.

“I’ve never seen Father scared before. He’s always optimistic about everything.”

“He’s never faced war. His father didn’t face it. Nor did his father’s father.”

“He thinks we’re going to lose, and it scares him that other people think it too.”

I watched the torches dance in the sea breeze. “We shouldn’t assume defeat when we don’t know our enemy.”

“If we went to war with the dragons, we would lose. So if these creatures can defeat the dragons, then they can defeat us. You were right to put Vivian on a ship. At least our bloodline will continue…even if no one remembers us.”

I wanted to admonish him for his pessimism, but in my heart, I knew he was right.

“Roooaaaaarrrrrrr.” The forceful call exploded through the air like a bolt of lightning. At first, it sounded like an echo, coming from different directions as it bounced off the mountains, but then I realized that wasn’t the case.

There were dozens. “They’ve coerced the dragons into an attack.”

Silas hadn’t moved, hadn’t reacted, as if he’d been expecting this.

I moved away, ready to command the soldiers at the top of the cliff.

But Silas didn’t move. He continued to stare into the darkness.

“Silas.” I came back to him, staring at the side of his face.

He turned to me, dead in the eyes. “I want you to know I’ve always looked up to you. When we were young, you used to complain about standing in father’s shadow, until one day you began to appreciate it. I was born in your shadow, a shadow so big that I’ve never seen the sun. But I’ve loved every moment of the shade.” He extended his hand to me. “If we don’t see each other again…just know that you’ve been a great brother.”

I let his hand hover between us. “Silas.” I moved into him and embraced him with a hard hug.

He gripped me tightly, clapping me on the back.

“You’re the best brother I ever could have asked for.”

He held on to me, his grip remaining tight like he was hanging over the edge of a cliff. “I know.”

I chuckled, feeling the tears sting my eyes. “I love you, asshole.”