He officially severed all loyalty to me. I was the one who saved his life. He wouldn’t even be here right now if it weren’t for me. But he seemed to have forgotten that. He seemed to have forgotten the night I got jumped trying to get enough money to get him to the doctor when he was sick. “You’re weak.”

“And you’re deranged.”

“Step aside, Magnus. I mean it.” The threat was unmistakable. It was a showdown—and I would come out the victor.

“Or what?” he challenged. “You’re going to kill me?” He echoed the same question I’d asked of him, calling my bluff publicly, saying it loudly so everyone could hear. He put me on the spot, pushed me to the brink.

My anger increased tenfold. I’d never wanted to kill someone I loved, but now I actually wanted to. I wanted to bury him in the graveyard where our family rested in eternal peace. He betrayed me—so he was dead to me anyway.

“The only way you’re gonna stop me is by killing me. So, I suggest you pull out your knife and do it.”

The line was drawn in the sand.

He left me no choice.

I had to do it.

All eyes were on me.

It was so quiet that the torches sounded like an inferno.

To do nothing would permanently humiliate me. It would damage my power. It would ruin everything I’d built.

But all I did was stare.

He knew I couldn’t do it. He fucking knew it. “We can do this another way. I promise you.”

My eyes remained focused with hatred.

He stepped closer to me, lowering his voice. “Don’t be like Father. Be like Mother.”

The mention of her was a wound that no one could see. Because, of everyone I’d lost, I missed her the most. Croissants on Christmas morning. The sight of her in the first row at my symphony concerts. Listening to her sing as she drove us to school in the morning. She was the most innocent person who’d ever lived—and she was murdered.

Magnus must have known he’d hit me hard because he pressed harder. “Let’s stop disappointing her more than we already have. Come on, Fender.”

I refused to be swayed. I refused to give up my hatred. My vengeance was all I had left. “We’ve already talked about this. It’s too late.”

He shook his head. “It’s never too late. Stop this.”

The silence lasted forever. I didn’t pull out my weapon or order the guards to continue the slaughter. I didn’t move against him either. I didn’t kill him where he stood. With a defeated voice, I spoke. “You win, Magnus.”

Magnus couldn’t control his reaction. Relief rippled across his face like a pond once a stone had been thrown into it. Affection came soon afterward.