Dawn of Cobalt Shadows (Burning Empire Book 2) by Emma Hamm (free novels to read TXT) 📗

first time she’d been here, she hadn’t tried to fit in either. She insisted on wearing clothing from her own people, never bowing to Bymerian traditions.

Nadir had always thought it arrogance or a level of homesickness he couldn’t understand. Now, he realized she wore her nationality with a badge of pride. It didn’t matter where she went, she would not bow to another country trying to change her.

It took bravery to do that when everyone around her said there was something wrong with what she was doing. He wished he had that kind of bravery inside him.

The four of them strode into the great hall. The pools of water on either end were still perfectly still. Cerulean glass with large koi fish splashing sunset colors in smudges as they moved. The red curtains hanging from the ceiling dipped into the water as if nothing had changed. But it had.

The advisors all sat in their respective seats, arguing with each other until they saw the four people enter.

He stared at each face as he strode toward them. Nadir's clothing was understated, still the same garments which had been given to him in Falldell. White shirt, simple brown pants that billowed around his legs, and wrapped boots that stretched up to his ankles.

They wouldn’t mistake him for someone else. That would be far too foolish for anyone to do.

Each person was more familiar to him now than his own family’s faces. They’d guided him through life in the wrong direction, and perhaps they now knew he was going to seek retribution for what they had done to him.

Abdul sat at the forefront with Saafiya at his side. His first wife was supposed to remain in her prison, the rooms which he’d given her filled with everything she’d ever need and enough lady’s maids to keep her busy.

And yet, here she sat. Freed even though he’d never given anyone permission to release her.

He pointed directly at her and calmly asked, “Brother, did you release this woman from her imprisonment?”

“I believe she released herself, Sultan.”

“That’s a problem then.”

“I agree.” Solomon crossed his arms over his chest. “But I’m not sure what you’re going to do with her.”

“What I should have done a long time ago.”

Abdul stood from his chair, shaking with rage. “What is the meaning of this? Which one of you is… Explain yourselves!”

“I have no intention of doing so,” Nadir replied. “Sit back down, advisor.”

“I will not. It appears as though you have deceived the entire country with your antics, and I for one will not stand by while you play foolish games. Enough with this, Nadir. You are not fit to be sultan and this clearly proves it.”

Nadir stepped forward. It didn’t escape his notice that he now stood where his own people had stood for years begging him to help them. He had sat in that empty throne, staring down at them and never once tried to see what it looked like through their eyes.

Abdul was so far above him. He looked like an angered god staring down in judgement. This wasn’t the way his people should feel when they were asking their sultan for help. They shouldn’t fear he was going to smite them, or that he would leap from the throne and tear out their throats.

The empty throne stared back at him. This was his place, and his father’s place before him. He should have done something great in his life already. Should have filled the history books with all the things his bloodline was capable of, but he hadn’t. Instead, all he’d done was wallow in grandeur while his people begged for help. Staring up at him like he was a god.

And he’d promised to become one.

The thought hardened in his mind. He’d promised the Alqatara he would be a god to end all gods. His people would follow him, because he was a terrifying creature who would defend them or destroy them.

Now was the time to take that step forward. To avenge the soul of his mother and father, of his brother who had died, of the woman who had birthed them.

To give all the souls who had died under his name a reason for their death.

Nadir stared up at Abdul and Saafiya, their eyes casting judgement they had no right to give. He looked at his oldest advisor, the man who had trained him as a child, and quietly asked, “Were you ever going to set me free?”

“Free?” Abdul repeated. “What are you talking about? You were Sultan of Bymere. No one had captured you, or forced you to do anything you didn’t want.”

They had, but he’d let the words remain. “Were you ever going to release your hold on me?”

“What hold?”

Nadir shook his head. “Enough lies, Abdul. You whispered in my ears all the things you knew would force me to become a weapon of your own making. You used me. Changed me into someone that relied on you and you alone. So I will ask you one more time. Were you ever going to free me from your chains? To allow me to think for myself and become the sultan I should have been?”

Abdul floundered for a few moments. His jaw dropped open in surprise and his eyes widened in fear before he managed to clamp down on the emotions. He strengthened his stance, hands curled into fists at his side, and replied, “No.”

“You have nothing else to say?”

“There’s nothing else to tell you. You’ve already figured it out, haven’t you? The boy king who needed someone to guide him. I did what any good man would have done for the country. I took you under my wing. I helped you see the world as it truly is. Can you blame me for that?”

“I can.”

Again, Abdul’s jaw opened. He worked at words, moving his lips until they finally came out. “Then you need to see reason again. This country has become better for our help. You casting us aside will only send Bymere