Lucien began drawing plans for war.
Aurelia disagreed.
"We cannot raise Elian among swords," she said.
"He was born to rule them," Lucien snapped.
Their voices echoed through the throne room.
Soraya and the guards turned away, pretending not to listen.
The royal couple stood on opposite ends of a line drawn by fate.
And their son, asleep in the nursery, stirred in his cradle his hands glowing faintly gold.