Scott Drummond entered the Royal Guard headquarters and headed for his desk. He grumbled when he saw the stack of paperwork waiting for him.

"Where's Marcus when I need him?" Scott laughed. "He's better at this," Scott thought as he pulled the top paper off the stack. He sat down with such force he almost slid out of his chair. After situating himself better, he began filling out forms and writing reports. Then his phone rang. "Drummond," he said as he answered it.

"Honey?" Scott's wife Diana asked.

"Hey babe, is everything okay?"

"I don't know. Britney called me but seemed spooked."

"She's always spooked. Let me guess, she had another vision?"

"Not this time. She's worried about what's going on in the tower. She says the king has been acting strangely lately," Diana said, making Scott laugh. Diana's friend Britney worked in the king's tower as a secretary. She always heard the juicy gossip and usually passed it on to Diana. "I'm serious. She thinks something bad is about to happen," Diana said when she heard Scott's laughter.

"He's always acting strangely," Scott said with another chuckle.

"Don't say things like that!" Diana said.

"Relax. He hasn't bugged my phone. What does Britney think is going to happen?" Scott asked as he started writing his report again.

"She doesn't know, but she thinks it might be dangerous. Maybe we should take a vacation like you talked about last week. We could go to Lake Bristol and stay at the cabin."

"Okay. I'll talk to Quinn. Maybe he'll let me use my vacation days," Scott said. "I'll call you back later. Love you." Once he hung up, Scott abandoned his reports and headed for Quinn's office. Scott knocked, and Quinn invited him inside.

"What can I do for you, Drummond?" Quinn asked, looking more tired than usual. He reclined in his chair and folded his hands across his ample belly.

"Diana wants to get away for the weekend. A friend of hers in the tower seems kind of scared. Diana has it in her head we're in danger," Scott said, waving his hand like he didn't believe it.

"It's the pregnancy talking," Quinn laughed. "But you have earned a little time off. You'll need some rest before the baby arrives. Go ahead. Things seem slow around here. I don't think we're in any danger. Just make sure you file all your reports before you leave," Quinn said, making Scott groan.

"Thank you, sir," Scott said, but Quinn waved him off. When Scott returned to his desk, he didn't focus on the stack of documents. Instead, Scott called Marcus.

"What's up, Scotty?" Marcus asked.

"Diana and I will head to Lake Bristol for the weekend. She seems worried because a friend in the tower thinks danger is coming."

"What kind of danger?"

"I don't know. She just thinks the king is acting weird lately."

"You sound like you might be worried too."

"Diana's call put an odd feeling in my gut. I can't explain it. Her friend has been right before. She works closely with the king in the tower. Maybe you should get away too. We could all use a vacation. You're welcome to join us."

"I can't. Training is still going on," Marcus said.

"Fine, but come up there if you get the opening."

"Okay. I'll keep that in mind. You take care of yourself and Diana."

"I will. Talk to you later," Scott said. After ending the call, he stared at the phone. Scott didn't lie. Diana's words made him feel anxious. What kind of danger could be coming?

***

Renault moved through the hallways of the tower with a determined walk. Everyone gave him a wide berth because they knew to avoid him when he got in these moods. Gregor searched for Darian and found him with his stylist, Tyrell. The sight that greeted Renault gave him pause. Tyrell was shaving Darian's lower neck with a straight razor. He raised his eyebrows when he saw this, making Darian laugh.

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"Relax, Gregor. I like a close shave. Electric razors chafe my neck," Darian said, sensing Gregor's worry. "Tyrell doesn't have magical abilities. He poses no threat. I trust him."

"Fair enough, but I didn't come to discuss shaving techniques," Renault said. "Hester Lane told me about your plans."

"Leave us be," Darian said, and Tyrell left with a bow. Once he was gone, Darian sat up and wiped off the rest of the shaving cream. "You are safe, Gregor. I won't harm you."

"But what about the rest of the mages?" Renault asked. "May I speak frankly, Your Highness?"

"Of course."

"I understand your fears, but this is a drastic action!"

"Do you think I'm insane, as Hester does?"

"No."

"All Hester has to do is give me the name of the Red Sparrow by midnight, and I won't kill anyone but the Sparrow."

"That's only a few hours away! Why tonight?"

"Time is running out. The new season dawns next week. If I wait any longer, I risk an assassination."

"But Hester can't force visions. They will come if fate wills it."

"Then it's time to bend fate to my will!" Darian yelled. His calm demeanor finally broke, and a cold fury replaced it.

"Can't we arrest the mages instead?" Renault asked.

"We don't have the prison space for that."

"Send them to Golhana!"

"I can't risk leaving them alive. If the Red Sparrow escapes..."

"No one has ever escaped Golhana."

"And no one has ever prophesied my death until recently, but here we are," Darian said, spreading his hands wide. "No, killing them is the only way to assure my safety. As I said, only one person will die if Hester gives me a name."

"The people will turn on you if you do this."

"No, they won't because they won't know I did it."

"How?"

"We still have captured Varidian planes and uniforms."

"You're going to frame the Varidians for this!?"

"If the people believe Varidia did this, the senate will back my invasion," Darian said calmly, sending a shiver down Renault's spine. Darian noticed and said, "We have done far worse before. It won't be the first time we killed in mass to protect our people."

"No, and the last time still weighs on my soul, Darian," Renault said. "Plus, you're about to start a war with your actions."

"War was always on the table. I'm tired of waiting," Darian said and turned to look out the window. He stood there silently for a minute before speaking. "I cannot become another statistic in my family's history," Darian said quietly.

"What do you mean?"

"Some people say my family is cursed. My father died from a freak virus he caught in the Baranos Islands. Then, Varidian invaders killed my wife and left me with no queen and no heir. I have to break the cycle."

"You will, but not this way."

"The only way to be sure is to purge the current Mage Society and rebuild it from the ground up."

"We will be short-handed until your experiments produce results."

"I understand. The soldiers will fill in for now, and non-magical citizens will do the other jobs. They will be thankful for the work," Darian said with a light laugh, but it died quickly. "I want those Varidian plans gassed up and ready to fly by midnight. We need to be ready," he added. Something in his stare prevented Renault from protesting.

"Do you plan to bomb the academy and the Mage Quarter?" Renault asked.

"That would be the quickest method."

"What about the stragglers?"

"We can get them on foot and hunt the rest."

"You won't be able to get them all."

"No, but the rest will be scared. If we don't get the Red Sparrow in the first round, we might flush them out and give Hester more time to identify them. We must discourage the Red Sparrow."

"Or you'll give them a reason to want to kill you. Don't make this a self-fulfilling prophecy, Darian."

"What else can I do? Do I sit around and wait to die?" Darian asked. He saw the look in Renault's eyes. It worried Darian. "Do you plan to stop me?"

"No. If you believe this is the only way, I will obey."

"Good. Now, go get the planes ready and await my command."

"Yes, Your Highness," Renault said and left with a bow.

***

As the clock ticked to midnight, Darian became a thorn in Hester's side. He hovered around Hester, making him nervous.

"How do you expect me to meditate like this, Your Highness?" Hester asked.

Darian didn't respond. He only glanced at his watch and glared at Hester as the meditation continued. Sweat rolled down Hester's forehead and into his eyes. He tried to ignore it. The visions didn't come, which escalated Hester's anxiety. He dared not look at the clock but heard it ticking. When the time reached 11:59, Darian spoke.

"Anything?" he asked.

"No, Your Highness. I'm sorry."

"Time is up. I have no choice but to move forward with my plan," Darian said, leaving. When he reached the door, Hester's hand grasped his arm.

"Stop! I have friends and family in the society!" Hester cried.

"Give me a name for the Red Sparrow!" Darian growled.

"I can't!" Hester said. Darian attempted to exit again, but Hester held firm. "Does what you're about to do not bother you!?"

"It bothers me deeply, but I do what I must. The blood will be on the Red Sparrow's hands."

"You can't do this!"

"Yes, I can. I'm the king. Are you going to stop me?"

"I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't try."

"You won't be able to live at all," Darian said in a low voice.

"What?" Hester asked, but he barely finished the word. Darian's eyes glowed red, and he snapped Hester's neck quickly. Hester slumped to the floor at Darian's feet.

"I'm sorry, old friend. You shouldn't have gotten in my way," Darian whispered.

The door opened, and Renault entered the room. His eyes grew wide when he saw the scene before him. "What happened?" Renault asked.

"He defied me," Darian said without looking away from Hester's body.

"Did he give you a name first?"

"No, the plan moves forward. Are the planes ready?"

"Yes."

"Then do it."

"Your Highness..."

"Are you going to defy me too?"

"No, but perhaps we should..."

"Enough excuses! Time is up! Burn the society to the ground!"

"Yes, Your Highness."