Aristoph collapsed with a mix of swearing and wails. I was pretty sure he’d just shot himself in the foot.
Smirking, I turned back to Emmeline. Her smile unfolded like a rare flower in starlight, and I knew that no hunting trophy could compare to what I’d just been given.
Chapter 22
Valen
“Are your people really going to conquer Earth?”
I rolled over in bed. It was nearly daytime, but we had just lain down. The hunt hadn’t been called off until nearly three in the morning, the stag given up as lost.
Emmeline was staring up at the ceiling, darkness obscuring her features. It was the first time she’d spoken to me while we were lying in bed. She usually pulled the covers over her head and pretended I didn’t exist until morning.
“The queen won’t allow it,” I said.
She turned her head toward me, revealing a face I hadn’t seen since I’d swooped down on her in the forest. I hadn’t noticed her change shape.
“Aristoph seemed pretty sure it was going to happen.”
“Aristoph has pudding for brains.”
Her smirk didn’t remain on her face for long. “Yes, but he wasn’t the only one talking about how much richer they’d be when they rule Earth.”
I sat up to face her better. “They’re called the expansionist faction—the people who want to invade Earth. There were a lot of them at the hunt.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “There are a lot of them in the city. Princess Regula leads the movement. She’s always making big speeches to stir them all up.”
She sat up, too. “So you’re not one of them?”
“Absolutely not. Regula is playing their egos and ignorance like a harp. If she gets her way…” My chest clenched. “She and her cronies will profit, safe in the palace. The knights, the guards, common people conscripted as soldiers—we’ll be the ones sent off to fight and die. And wewilldie.”
I didn’t fear dying. I didn’t fear killing, either. I’d killed often enough, and it was dirty work, but at least it was for a cause. Queen Verena wasn’t perfect, but she cared for her people and put them before herself. That was rare in a ruler and worth fighting for.
But if Regula seized the throne and ordered an invasion of Earth, I would kill for her misguided lust for power. As a knight, I would lead soldiers into battle—leading them to their deaths because of the expansionist faction’s greed and stupidity.
Emmeline pulled her knees closer to herself. “You think so? With all the magic you have, I figured you’d slaughter us.”
“Other kingdoms on Earth have magic. That’s what Regula doesn’t understand. Humans are so numerous. Earth has hundreds of countries. Our kingdom—we have a single city, and chunks of it sit abandoned because each generation has fewer births. We simply don’t have the numbers to conquer Earth. We’ll win some initial battles, but we could never maintain our rule over the entire world.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “And that’s not even considering whether we have the right to conquer another people. It’s a terrible plan both ethically and strategically, and Queen Verena knows it. She’s been reforming education and sponsoring tours of Earth. Most of our people have no interest in a bloody invasion. The expansionist faction just makes a lot of noise. And ourbelovedPrincess Regula is the loudest.”
Sometimes I thought Regula didn’t even care about conquering Earth. She’d just found a group of people who could help her overthrow her sister and was using them.
“So what happens when we steal the jewel from her?” Emmeline asked.
I tried not to wince. Of course Emmeline would make the connection. I had to be extremely careful about what I said next.
Part of me wanted to tell her the truth, that I wasn’t a greedy villain who wanted the jewel for myself. But my work for the queen was a state secret, not mine to tell.
Besides, I didn’t think it wise to risk telling her. I cared for her, yes, but it was all so new. I hadn’t foreseen how Aurea would react to the truth about me, and I’d known her for so much longer. Emmeline might enjoy plotting heists together and kissing me, but she’d remember how cold-hearted I was eventually. Or she’d realize I was even worse than she’d thought. One way or another, she’d reject me just like Aurea had and return to Earth. Was it worth having this short-lived romance and risking more heartache?
“The Selenian Jewel is a historical treasure,” I said slowly, as if I were only now considering it. “And her role as its keeper is prestigious. If she loses it…” I paused. “The political embarrassment will probably ruin her. And I expect the expansionists will fall into disarray without her spearheading their movement.”
I was counting on it, and so was Queen Verena. Stealing the Selenian Jewel could prevent untold senseless bloodshed. Yes, I risked execution if I got caught, but I was more than willing to take that risk.
Emmeline’s gaze, sharp and unwavering, pinned me in place. Eventually, I leaned back against the pillow with a casual air. She was too intelligent not to suspect something, but at least she had no reason to believe I acted on the queen’s behalf.
“You should try to get some sleep,” I said. “We have another busy day ahead.”
She lay back down, and as my apprehension over her uncovering my secret faded, another feeling took its place. Lying in bed together had been an awkward chore to maintain our cover story, but now it felt different, more intimate, full of possibilities. That passionate episode in the forest had shifted things between us, and even if I wanted to return to our frosty relationship of before, I didn’t know if we could.
