His steps carried him toward the courtroom, a place he rarely entered. He was neither old enough to participate in court proceedings nor important enough for his presence to matter. He was not the first prince, nor the second, but the third, a position that placed him firmly on the fringes of power.
Perhaps he might earn a shred of approval today.
But the king had never cared for him.
Cassian was the product of an affair with a courtesan who had later been elevated to the status of mistress. That stain followed him through every corridor of the palace. He had grown up in the shadows of the queen's children and those born of royal concubines, watching from the edges as they were acknowledged, trained, and prepared for futures he would never share.
He had learned to live with that.
~~~
Only three people occupied the courtroom.
His father, King Austine, sat upon the elevated throne, his expression unreadable. At his right stood Head Minister Gerald, hands clasped behind his back, eyes sharp and observant. Beside him was Sir Leon, the formidable leader of the royal army, his posture rigid with discipline.
"Greetings to the king," Cassian said, offering a deep bow.
The two men beside the throne acknowledged him with brief nods.
"You asked for me?" he continued.
The king inclined his head slightly.
"Yes, Cassian. We have been having discussions regarding your future."
The words settled uneasily in Cassian's chest.
"I wish for all my children's futures to be secured," King Austine continued. "Edgar will one day replace me. Samuel will assume control of court affairs. As for you…" He paused, as though weighing his words. "The most suitable path would be for you to join military training."
The sentence struck him like cold water poured over bare skin.
Cassian's face remained impassive, but something inside him tightened.
He was not ignorant of what awaited those who entered the military grounds. He had seen enough to know. The training was brutal, unforgiving, designed to break men before rebuilding them into weapons. Most of those sent there were slaves, which was precisely why mercy was never extended.
Cassian doubted he would be treated any differently.
If anything, he suspected his father intended this to break him.
At his age, survival was uncertain. Perhaps that was the point.
And perhaps, Cassian thought grimly, the king was right.
The chances of him enduring the military grounds were slim at best.
If he had been given a choice, Cassian would have refused the military training without hesitation.
But choice had never been afforded to him.
All his life, he had learned to agree to whatever was demanded, to accept every decision made over his head without protest. Today was no different. The weight of it pressed heavily against his chest as he offered another bow, deeper than before.
"As you wish, Father," Cassian said quietly. "If this path is what you believe best for me, then I will walk it and serve the kingdom to the best of my ability."
The words tasted hollow on his tongue.
At his response, King Austine's lips curved into a proud smile.
"I know that you will do great," the king said. His gaze shifted toward Sir Leon. "Isn't that right, Leon?"
The leader of the royal army inclined his head. "With his young age, he will adapt quickly."
"You should have the maids arrange your belongings for travel tomorrow," the king continued. "The sooner, the better."
Cassian did not hesitate. At the king's dismissal, he turned and stepped out of the courtroom, his expression carefully schooled into calm.
But he did not move far.
Standing just beyond the doors, half-hidden by stone and shadow, he heard his father's voice again—lower now, muffled, yet unmistakable.
"I need you to make sure the boy learns," King Austine said. "And if you are given the chance… kill him."
Sir Leon answered quietly, his voice unreadable.
Cassian's blank expression did not change. Since he began to turn things into flames, his hearing ability had also heightened and at times, he hated that he could eavesdrop on people's conversations without even trying.
Without a change in expression, he resumed walking, his steps measured and steady as he made his way back toward his chambers. Only once did his pace falter.
In the garden ahead, he saw her.
His mother stood among the flowering hedges, her long, silken black hair loose around her shoulders, a single white lily cradled delicately in her hands. The sight of her struck something fragile within him.
She was the only reason Cassian still struggled to endure this place.
The only reason he had not already given in to the fire growing inside him.
"What did the king want from you?" his mother asked as she turned to face him.
Lady Rosille's voice was gentle, but concern lingered beneath it. Being a vampire came with its own peculiar mercies, one of them being time's reluctance to leave its mark. Despite having a teenage son, she still looked young. Very beautiful, even. Cassian had inherited her features, a truth that had never gone unnoticed within the palace.
"He wants me to join the royal army," Cassian replied, his gaze fixed on the ground.
"No."
The word broke from her lips as she reached for his hands, holding them tightly before releasing them again. "He cannot do that. That place is not meant for just anyone, Cassian. Certainly not a child."
"I will be fine, Mother," he said, forcing himself to look at her. He wished he could erase the fear in her eyes. Speaking to the king would be pointless, and after what he had overheard, he doubted reason would reach his father at all.
"Father has instructed Sir Leon to ensure my safety. I will also be allowed to visit once every month. Nothing will happen to me."
The reassurance was almost a lie.
His father did not want him safe. He wanted him gone.
"But Cassian," Lady Rosille whispered, her voice trembling, "you do not know how terrible that place is._"
"I promise you," he said softly. "The training will only last a few months. Before you know it, I will be back."
She studied him for a long moment, searching his face as if hoping to find certainty there. When she did not, she nodded anyway.
"I will be leaving tomorrow," Cassian added quietly. "Will you help me pack?"
Lady Rosille nodded once more.
Together, they left the garden and made their way toward his chambers, neither of them speaking of the fear that followed them both.