Page 6 of Heartless Enemy

“If the white boots start moving across the Bridge of Life, I want to know about it before they have even crossed it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. The rest of you already have your orders.”

The mass of dark mages lowered their chins again.

“Before you leave, go see Shinji, Tyler, or Chris.” Raising my arm, I motioned at the three men standing to the right of my throne. “You know the weaknesses of your former territories better than anyone. Tell them about it so that we can shore those up before the invasion happens.”

And so that I could make sure that no other House tried to rise from the ashes to challenge me again. But I refrained from saying that out loud.

When no one moved, I jerked my chin. “Get to it.”

Clothes rustled as they all bowed to me before striding away to do as I had ordered. I watched as several people who used to be high-ranking mages in the other Houses walked up to speak with my three top people about the weaknesses in their former territories. Once they were done, they all filed out the doors. Most of my original members remained, as ordered.

I was just about to stand up from my throne and start down the steps when Anna, one of my runners, appeared in the open doorway and jogged towards me.

Her brown hair was windswept and her green eyes sparkled with life as she skidded to a halt at the bottom of the steps.

“Sir,” she called up to me. “There’s a group of civilians on its way here. They said they want to make a request.”

I frowned slightly. I wasn’t receiving petitioners today, and with everything going on, I didn’t really have time for it either. But on the other hand, the civilians who had hidden my people were the reason why I had managed to keep so many of them safe when White had come here to slaughter them all.

“Alright,” I answered. “Tell the guards to let them through.”

Anna bobbed her head before darting back towards the street. I remained seated on my throne as I waited for this group she had mentioned to appear. On the floor below, the rest of my people lingered as well. As if they also wanted to find out what this was about.

Sunlight spilled in through the open doors and created a pool of light on the gray metal floor. But since there were no windows in here, the rest of the massive room was bathed in its customary foreboding gloom. Only firelight from the torches and oil lamps that were always burning illuminated the high-ceilinged space.

All the dark mages inside the room turned to glance at the doors as a group of people at last appeared on the threshold. I kept my eyes on them as well. They hesitated for a second before carefully stepping across the threshold and moving into the throne room. Some of them were wringing their hands. Others cast nervous glances at my battle mages.

The moment they came into view, I knew exactly who they were.

A heavy weight settled in my stomach.

These people were the family members of the men and women who had died by Christian White’s hand when he was trying to force me to hand over Gemma. Or at least some of them. Once things had calmed down, I had planned to acknowledge their sacrifice and compensate the civilian families that they left behind, but I simply hadn’t had the time. I had barely even had time to breathe lately.

They came to a halt a short distance from the metal steps up to my throne. Then a woman at the front drew in a bracing breath.

“Mr. Arden,” she began, her voice surprisingly steady. “We are—”

“I know who you are, Mrs. Fern,” I said.

She jerked back a little and blinked at me in shock.

“I know who all of you are,” I continued, sweeping my gaze over the equally surprised group. “And I’m sorry for your loss.”

Mrs. Fern just stared back at me, stunned that I knew her name. But the man next to her, Thomas Grayson, recovered faster. Pain, and a hint of anger, pulsed in his eyes as he met my gaze.

“With all due respect, we don’t want your condolences,” he said. “We want revenge.”

Mrs. Fern quickly shook herself out of her stupor and grabbed his arm. Shaking her head, she cut him a sharp look before flicking her gaze back to me.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted out, apologizing on Grayson’s behalf. “It’s just… emotions are raw right now.”

“I understand,” I simply replied.

Relief blew across her features. After swallowing, she drew in another bracing breath and then pressed on. “This Christian White killed our sons. Our daughters. Our husbands. Wives. Siblings. And based on what we have heard, he was able to just return to his home in the north.”