Page 68 of Tethered Thrones

The emperor turned, terror written across his face as he looked from one to the other of my harem and then eventually, settled his pathetic gaze upon me.

“Sun,” he said, his voice shaking. “Please...”

The sound of his begging,oh, it was like music to my ears.

I stepped toward him, coming closer.

“Please what, Gaulu?” I asked slowly. “Please show mercy? Please spare you? Please give you the same empathy that you showed our people for all these years?”

His eyes widened as he realized what I said, sweat beading on his forehead as he began to cower as I reached him.

Satisfaction rumbled in my chest. This was it. This was the end.

Finally.

“I will give you less than you deserve,” I whispered and slid the dagger into his chest.

He made the familiar telltale sound of someone's last breath. The last moment that air left lungs. The whole while as he sank to the ground, his eyes were fixed on me. I, Batu Sun, his greatest pawn had found the truth and served justice.

And with that, we were free.

I stood there, looking down at the former emperor's body as it slowly began to cool. As all the warmth of the living left him, my wrath cooled.

His blood soaked the lush carpet, wetting my boots, and still, I could not move.

After a while, a hand touched mine, waking me from the strange moment.

I looked at Clem.

He was watching me with those beautiful, soulful eyes of his.

“I am so proud of you Sun,” he whispered, and I nearly broke down.

It was unexpected, catching me completely off guard. A wave of emotion too strong to suppress even though I tried.

I took a shuddering breath and tears stung my eyes and suddenly, they were all around me. Kiar wrapped around me comfortingly, Bracken stroked my hair and Hadi lowered before me, pressing his forehead to mine.

“What now?” I asked when I could talk, and my hands instinctively clung to the fur on Clem's hip on one side and onto Kiar's arm on the other because they were who I could reach. I wished I had an extra two hands to make sure that Hadi and Bracken weren't going anywhere either. Luckily, they showed no signs of moving away.

“The nocs who were being controlled are free now,” Clem said gently. “The humans now have the truth to accept. We all must find a way to live in peace with one another.”

“How?” I asked.

“Together,” Hadi whispered, and I looked up at him, glad someone had finally said it.

“All five of us,” I said, needing more confirmation than that.

“Of course,” Kiar said matter-of-factly.

“We aren't going anywhere,” Bracken agreed.

Clem smiled against my neck.

“The goddess meant it when she said we are one, Sun. No matter what happens, we do it together. Always.”

Relief filled me.

Everything was about to change. The entire world would be turned on its head. I was glad for it, but I couldn't do it all alone.