Unwanted Show

Clara

When the three of us finished breakfast, we headed out of my room onto the veranda overlooking the entirety of the city of Khordon. Khordon was built on several sloping hills, and the Quarters lay on one of those hills.

Piper pointed out several buildings to me. “That’s my home,” she said, as she picked out a yellow brick building with several pavilions and gardens to the west. “It’s the House of Yultis. My father lives there.”

She pointed to an intimidating castle surrounded by other square buildings. Black banners covered the battlements, and I could pick out the silver emblem of the Dark Shade: claws ripping through the fabric. “That’s the Seat of the Alpha, where Dean is supposed to live. But he likes living in the Quarters more.”

“He’s not supposed to live there yet,” Felix said. “Even though everyone knows that he’s the chosen Emperor, Dean still has to pay lip service to Prince Bruess.”

I remembered how Prince Legiere had spoken of his half-brother as living in a gilded c