"No!" Lumina cried, clutching Ashen's trembling hand. His body shuddered as a faint light drained from his skin, pulled into the air like smoke.
His power, his birthright was being torn away slowly from him.
"Father, stop!" Aurelia cried, finally horrified, for the first time she was regreeting telling against her brother's wife.
"Father, stop!" Aurelia cried again. But King Aden's face was stone. "He must learn that no one stands above the throne. Not even my own son."
"Please!" Lumina's voice broke, tears streaking her cheeks. "He spoke in anger, please he didn't mean it please, Your Highness, stop!"
Ashen's eyes flickered open, his voice faint. "Don't… kneel… to him."
"Quiet," she whispered, holding him tightly. "Please, just breathe."
The golden smoke coiled around his body, his veins burning. He gasped, his power screaming to stay within him, but King Aden's command was absolute.
