LORD HERWERDE KNEW WHAT it was the moment he saw it. It was magic, as dark as it could be, evil and chaotic and deadly. Connor had only been the King for a week and the power was already getting to his head.

"I don't think this is wise," he told the young King. "Dark magic takes twice as much as it gives."

"I hope it does," said Connor. "I want it to take and take until my people have no choice but to depend on me. And then I will help them, I will give them food and money and tools and because of me, they will thrive."

The Lord swallowed. Connor's obsession with being beloved was not a new thing. He became a stale, plain shell of a man, hoping that maybe one day, he'd be the King and his people would see how benevolent he was, that he would do anything for his kingdom.

Kit ruined that for him. It revealed his true colors, and now he needed something else to gain their favor. Herwerde didn't know why he couldn't just feed them and clothe them and help them, he didn't know why he had to take the long way. That's how he knew something was very, very wrong.

The King held up the vial, filled with steaming black liquid that burned Herwerde's senses like a heavy liquor. He was getting in too deep. Connor was going to make him do this, and if he fought it, Connor would get rid of him.

"You only need a drop," he told him. "Only one drop, and the Knights of the Round Table will be unstoppable. Would you like to do the honor of going first, my Lord?"

Herwerde gulped, cringing when Connor pushed the vial closer.

"It's yours," he said. "You were the mastermind behind it. It just wouldn't be right if I went first. This is a special moment, Connor, I think the honor should be yours."

Connor considered it for a moment, then stepped away with a manic smile. "You're right, my Lord. You're very right. Then it is decided. I will take the first drop, and then you. And then the rest of the Knights will see our power and they will join us."

The Lord watched in horror as Connor placed a drop on his tongue, closing his eyes to take it in. He was still for a moment, then he stumbled forward, catching himself on the table. He placed the vial there and stepped away again.

"I can feel it," he croaked, falling to his knees. "The power... God, it hurts."

Herwerde stepped back. Connor fell into a fit of coughs, and he didn't stop until his throat was rough. He saw his skin go pale, all the color left his face. When he opened his eyes, they were as black as ink. His veins darkened, and Connor let out a cry while the magic took its course.

He cried and he screamed and he begged for mercy, but he didn't try to stop it. His fingertips blackened, his bones sharpened, and Herwerde could feel the power radiating from him. He almost didn't think Connor could take it, but then the young King stilled.

"Finally," he groaned, chest heaving. His limbs shook when he stood, but he kept his balance. Herwerde's heart thundered in his chest, and he stepped back until his back hit the wall.

Connor was terrifying.

"You fear me, my Lord," he said. His voice was the same, but it felt darker. It sent a chill down his spine.

The King took the vial and approached the trembling Lord, placing a thumb on his bearded chin. He pried his jaw open, and Herwerde squeezed his eyes shut.

It tasted bitter on his tongue and burned the back of his throat. He could feel the evil seeping through him, but he tried to fight it.

"Fear not, Lord Herwerde," Connor whispered and stepped away. Herwerde's knees hit the stone floor. "For you will be powerful, too. You will be just like me."

* * *

Kit looked at his brother's face in horror. He could feel the magic pouring from his colorless skin, dark and wicked and deadly. This was not magic of life. This magic came from death, and death was what it craved.

"You are no King of mine," Kit told him. He was terrified, but he wouldn't dare let it show.

Connor laughed. No one else was amused. He slid from his steed and stepped towards Kit, whose grip was firm on Excalibur. He knew it wouldn't hurt him, but at the very least he could use it to avoid any hits Connor tried to throw his way.

"That can change," his brother said. "I can let you back into the kingdom, you can be citizens and you can be happy. I could be your King."

Kit steadied his feet. "What the hell makes you think we would want that?"

"Oh, I never thought for a second that you would," he said, drawing his sword. "I did think you preferred to live, though. My people get to stay alive, but outlaws... criminals... they must be executed."

Kit expected chaos to erupt then, but Connor held up a hand to stop the knights.

"Then kill us already," Kit challenged. "If we're to be executed, why are you sitting here chatting with me?"

The King chuckled, patting Kit's cheek with a gloved hand. He shoved his arm away and stepped back, fixing him with a fiery glare.

"I want something from you," he replied. "I will be happy to execute you once I have what I want."

Kit clutched Excalibur tighter. "You're not getting the sword."

"Oh, that old thing?" He scoffed. "I'll get it later. What I really need is... hmm... that."

His finger pointed to something behind him, and Kit turned to see Eurion, clutching the papers from Cian to her chest.

"It's just pages from a book," Kit said. "There's nothing you need there."

"Oh, but there is." Connor sauntered closer to Eurion, and Kit turned to watch him. "See, the pages are filled with clues on how to find that special little Grail of yours. And I want it."

"How do you know that?" Kit growled.

Connor turned to wink at him. "Brother, I have eyes everywhere."

Kit's stomach churned. His furious glare turned to Morgana. "Did you tell him?" He pointed his sword to the faery. "I knew I couldn't trust you."

"Kit, I--"

"As much as I'd love to watch you two tear each other apart, I'm afraid it wasn't Morgana," Connor said. "I have allies more powerful than any of you could hope to be, even with your precious Unseelie Queen. And now that your strongest asset is dead and gone, you are useless."

"Don't you dare," Eurion hissed. "You can have these pages over my dead body."

"That can be arranged."

The world slowed as Kit watched her toss the pages onto the hot embers. They lit up in an instant, engulfed in flames. Connor cried out, rushing towards the fire and stomping it out. It was no use, the pages were destroyed beyond use.

"Kill them," Connor ordered, and that's when the chaos began.

The knights came forward in a powerful wave. Kit blocked a swing of Connor's sword with the edge of Excalibur, but it was the most he could do. He was all defense, ducking and dodging and blocking and trying his best to escape. Connor knew he had the upper hand, and he wouldn't let Kit get away.

He caught a moment to watch his friends. Morgana used the swing of a sword to break his chains and he kicked the man back against two others. Despite his illness, he was quick on his feet and held his own against the knights.

Selene fought well, too, taking on three at once. Giselle was at her side, using her small stature to her advantage, and Astyr used what magic she could in this desperate fight. Eurion was as quick as ever, keeping the knights at bay. Lionel stood in the middle. There was nothing he could do, and the knights knew not to attack him.

Connor was back on him in a second, and Kit narrowly dodged an attack. In a single movement, he managed to pull a knife from his brother's belt and lodge it into his wrist. The King cried out and dropped his sword. Kit slid Excalibur into his belt and picked up Connor's weapon.

There was a kick to it. He felt a shock run down his arm when he picked it up and it stunned him for a moment. The sword was cursed, but it wasn't like Excalibur. It would work against Connor, he could see it in his fearful black eyes.

He tossed the dagger to Morgana, and swung the sword. Connor was fast and efficient, dodging and juking just as Kit was moments ago. But he was faster than Kit, and better with a sword. Four more years of training made a difference, and he had no doubt whatever dark magic he was using did, too.

The others were getting exhausted, but the knights stayed vigilant. He could see this ending badly. Connor wouldn't give up until they were dead or he was, and Kit knew which outcome he preferred.

King Wylan was cruel, but he was old and weak and stubborn. Fighting him was never a challenge. But Connor was young and healthy and he had no trouble changing plans to get what he wanted. Kit knew his boring personality was all an act. He was waiting for Wylan to die, same as everyone, and it was no mystery why.

Kit never thought Connor would be a powerful enemy. But it was clear now, he would go to whatever means necessary to get what he wanted, even if that meant dark magic.

A rock caught him off guard in his pursuit, and he stumbled, crashing forward against a tree. The sword was knocked from his hand despite his best efforts, and Connor swiped it up from the ground. Kit was back to dodging, using the tree as a shield.

The knights were too strong. Even Selene was struggling, and Eurion was getting clumsy. Kit didn't realize how long the fight had been going on, but it must have been at least an hour of relentless attacks from the powerful men.

"Give up, Kristofer," Connor said, swinging the sword. It missed and hit the tree.

"Never."

"It's useless and you know it," he continued. "My men have been gifted with the power of Gods. That power follows us wherever we go. There is nothing strong enough to defeat us."

Kit dodged another series of hits, backing up until he was near the river. "I don't care what you are," he growled. "You should have killed me at the castle when you had the chance, but you're a coward. You may be stronger now, but you will never stop being afraid."

"Enough!" The King cried out, sending a powerful strike his way. Right on time, Kit drew Excalibur and blocked the hit. The impact shoved him back until he was standing on damp ground.

It was useless to attack with Excalibur, but it was the only weapon he had and he would not go down without a fight.

"That water will kill you if you touch it," Connor told him. "You cannot run. You cannot escape. There is no clever solution. You will die by my blade, brother. You have brought violence and unrest to our kingdom."

"I brought them hope," he said. "Your father brought the violence, and you carried on that legacy."

"You will not speak ill of His Majesty," he spat.

Kit grinned. "What are you going to do about it? Execute me?"

Connor stilled. His veins blackened, and Kit could feel his power grow. "That is the plan, brother. Say goodbye."

He swung, but Kit ducked. And then, by instinct, he shot Excalibur forward.

It went right through Connor's abdomen.

The King froze, looking down at the sword in his belly. Kit was just as shocked. It shouldn't have worked, but it did.

He yanked the blade free, sending Connor careening back, stumbling against a tree.

"Stand down!" he ordered his men. His blood was black as it spilled over his stomach and smeared over the tree when he slid down to the ground.

The knights stopped at his comment, returning to their horses without a word.

"You won this round, brother," Connor groaned. "But I will have my day."

Kit blinked and he was gone, nothing but the streak of black blood on the bark left of him there. The dark clouds dispersed, revealing the sun high in the blue sky.

The others stood there, battered and bruised and panting, eyes widened in shock.

"What the hell?" Selene asked, looking to Kit. "What did you do?"

"It worked on him," he told her, raising up the bloodied sword in his hand. There was a glow to it, and he could feel the power pulsing through his palm. "Excalibur worked on him."