I'll play the game; any

[magnus]

you and I both know that the house is haunted
and you and I both know that the ghost is me

He had known that she would be nervous about the idea of Heaven being attacked, and he had debated whether or not he should bring it up (it wasn’t exactly a stellar recruiting plan), but Magnus had always done his best to be honest—and he wouldn't have felt good about leading her blind into the situation. So his face remains serious, his gold-flecked eyes burning and the familiar sear of rage scorching along the underside of his belly at the thought of what the Chamber had done to Heaven. The injustice of it.

“There are always cruel people in the world,” he finally says softly, “and those who choose to target those who wish for peace simply because they can. Because they think it makes them stronger.” He rolls a scarred shoulder, looking away to the border for a second, his mouth tightening in thought. It took everything within him to not march to the Chamber and raise holy hell for what they had done to heaven.

He had to assume his father was involved and the thought made his stomach churn.

“They burned what was good because they thought it would tamper it. They took our Queen as a display of power.” He shook his handsome head, hating himself for not being there to fight back. “But we are rebuilding, and we won’t be caught unaware again.” He hesitates and then nudges her neck gently, looking at her in the eyes. “Should you choose Heaven as your home, I promise that I will do everything that I can to keep you safe. I will protect you.” A foolish promise, but one he made again and again. It seemed as if he was never capable of keeping those around him safe, their lives running like sand through his fingers, but that wouldn’t keep him from trying. It wouldn’t keep him from picking up the sword each and every day.

MAGNUS

once general. once lord. once king.