CHAPTER 1: Heart of Darkness

The destruction was unmistakable, the war between my brothers had taken its toll on our home. The watering hole we used to splash around in as cubs was dried up, and there was no scent of prey in the air. I glanced across the bone dry ground, spatters of blood could be seen for miles. How many had fallen while I was away?

I narrow my eyes as I make my way towards Pride Rock. I spot a single figure standing at the peak, as if he was waiting for someone. I recognized that pale blue fur and white mane anywhere. Giza. I swallow the fear threatening to pull me under and release an ear splitting roar to announce my presence. I begin to ascend the slope of pride rock, only to meet my brother standing before the entrance. He's been blinded in my absence, one eye now a milky blue, the other still shines with the ambition he had carried since he was a cub. He's blocking my mate from me. It's only when I spot something tiny moving between her paws that I understand why. I glance between the two of them, fearing the worst. Inari is cowering, her eyes are wild as she pulls the tiny white cub closer to her. She's afraid. But of me? No. It couldn't be. What had he done to her?

"Giza" I growl.

"Come to kill my heir brother?" he replies as his claws dig into the earth.

"How could you think such a thing?" I demand.

"Faraji's killed two of our cubs" he answers. "Every chance he gets, any time the cubs wander from us he goes after them."

I can't imagine the scene. I can't imagine how much pain Inari must be in. I freeze for a moment.

"Our cubs?" I question. I glare over at her and then back at him. "How could you do this to me?"

"You ran away Akida!" he snaps. "What did you expect? Father had already announced her as queen when you ran off."

"She may have had your cubs, but that does not make her your mate!" I snap. In this moment I feel the worst kind of betrayal imaginable. But the question burning in my mind is if Inari had a choice in the matter.

"Do you love him?" I question as I look over at her.

"You left…"

I bare my teeth. "That doesn't answer my question!"

"You need to leave" Giza snaps as he steps towards me. "If you aren't here to kill Faraji then you're not welcome here."

"Kill Faraji?" I question. "Brother how could you even think like that?"

He snarls and jumps at me. I jump back just before his claws can reach me. "Are you deaf?" he hisses. "That murderer killed my cubs!" I glance back at Inari. Her eyes are burning with tears, she's cowering now. And I can't help feel it's because of Giza.

"I'm not leaving without her" I say as I look over at Inari.

"Akida…" she murmurs.

"Silence!" Giza roars as he snaps his head towards her. She flinches and the white cub begins to cry. I had done this to her. This was my fault. She was suffering at the paws of my brother and I knew deep down there was no way I could beat him.

"Giza please" I beg. "This isn't you."

"You know nothing about me!" he replies.

"I know that if you and Faraji don't give up this feud, rain will never again fall on the pridelands. The great kings are angry…"

He leaps at me, pinning me beneath him, his good eye flashing and his teeth bared. Even in his weaker state he's stronger than me. I can feel it.

"The kings aren't real Akida!" he shouts. "They abandoned us, they let Faraji kill my cubs, they don't care what happens to us!"

"Your feuding with Faraji has to stop, only then will they bless these lands again."

"How?" he questions. "There is no reasoning with him."

I can feel my heart hammering in my chest. I know how much he will despise for my answer. I dread what I am about to say myself, but the pain and bloodshed had to stop.

"I have to take my place as king."