"Do you want the opportunity to become a king?"
Lucian burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
Sylas narrowed his eyes.
He stared at him, confused. What the hell was so funny? he wondered. Nothing about what he said even sounded like a joke.
He loomed above him, voice low and calm. "I'm being serious."
After telling the kids to go play with each other, Lucian rose to his feet. He was taller than Sylas. His expression sharpened. The smile he'd worn was gone.
He looked down at Sylas. Their eyes locked—cold, focused, like two predators sizing each other up over the same prey.
"You heard me. I'm the black sheep of the family."
The words came out heavy. Slow.
"I'll ask you again. Do you want the opportunity to become a king?"
Lucian looked down. His shoulders slumped, like just standing up was too much.
For a moment, Sylas saw something slip through—a part of him he'd been trying to bury.
