Prologue
Ren stood staring straight ahead, face a stony mask as he listened to the click click click of golden rings against the throne. He fought the urge to turn and glare at his brother. Now was not the time for that confrontation. First, he had to figure out what was going on with his soon-to-be father-in-law. Anger pooled within him and Ren straightened. This was unjust. This was wrong. Ren broke the silence, struggling to remain calm and trying desperately to keep his voice steady. Keep the hurt and betrayal from coming through. He couldn't show weakness. He wouldn't.
"Why have you - my soon-to-be-father - treated me with such... inhospitality" Ren struggled with the last word. Letting his confusion and anger show just a little. He quickly forced the emotions back and raised his head a little higher. He would stand proud, no matter what came his way.
Lokesh smiled at him, and Ren's blood went cold. There was something off with that smile. Something he hadn't seen before, this was not right. "My dear prince" Lokesh said softly "you have something I desire". Confusion swept through Ren. Something he desired? He was to marry the man's daughter anything he wanted he could ask for. He voiced as much saying "Nothing you could want can justify this. Are our kingdoms not to be joined?" Disgust crept into his voice as Ren felt again the renewed hurts of his beating from Lokesh's men. "Everything I have has been at your disposal. you needed only to ask. Why have you done this?".
"Plans change" Lokesh's soft reply reached Ren and almost made him stagger back. Lokesh continued to speak but Ren couldn't concentrate fully. Plans change, plans change? What does he even mean? Ren dared a glance toward his brother and betrothed. Yesubai was looking down, her cheeks flushed and her head bowed submissively. His brother on the other hand was staring intently at her. Concern etched in his face. The situation clicked for Ren who suddenly understood. Lokesh was using Kishan, using his love for Yesubai as leverage.
Horrified, Ren took several steps forward and confronted his would-be father-in-law. "You have fooled us all. You are like a coiled cobra that has been hiding in his basket, waiting for the moment to strike." He continued talking, trying to appeal to his brother and fiancé. "Don't you see your actions have freed the viper, and we are bitten? His poison now runs through our blood, destroying everything." He was cut off by a laughing Lokesh as he finally demanded his price. The Damon Amulet? No. Anything but that. He could have given him anything but that.
Ren swallowed painfully and tried to distract Lokesh from the impossible. "To live? I thought we were bartering for my bride"
"I'm afraid your rights as betrothed husband have been usurped. Perhaps I haven't been clear. your brother will have Yesubai." That made Ren pause. Time to threaten maybe? "My father's armies would destroy you if you killed me"
Another laugh from Lokesh and Ren knew it was hopeless. Lokesh was right. If Kishan was married to Yesubai there was no way that his parents would invade and take over the girl's family and territory. It wasn't their way. Then Lokesh said something that drove the final nail into the coffin. "Of course, you understand, that even should I allow you to live., I will rule both kingdoms. If you defy me I will forcibly remove your piece of the amulet." Ren felt dread creep up inside him. There would be no winning this battle. He would die and his family would be destroyed and brought to nothing. Or he would live and his family would be destroyed and brought to nothing. The only difference would be how much power Lokesh had. The Damon amulet could not be forcibly removed, even in death unless it was by a blood relative. Obviously, Lokesh did not know of this. Ren drew in a deep breath. He knew what he had to. He caught Kishan's eye as he ended a heated exchange with Lokesh and was relieved to see that his brother and come to the same conclusion. There was no winning for them here today.
Ren realized that Lokesh was waiting for something, a decision. He fixed Lokesh with an even stare and kept my emotions in check. The brothers would bring grief to their parents, that they were sure of. No one would be sure what happened to the two princes. This in mind the young prince sent up a brief prayer for his family as Lokesh jumped to his feet. "So be it!" He snapped. Pulling out a shiny knife with a jeweled hilt, Lokesh brought it to the flesh of Rens's arm. As blood from the cut dripped onto a wooden amulet. Pain exploded within Ren. He cried out dropping to the floor. He was dimly aware of Yesubai falling and his brother yelling in pain as well before everything went black.