“I heard the king survived,” I said, not sure why I felt the need to speak up, especially to comfort someone like Cedric, but the words tumbled out on their own. “With some rest, I’m sure he’ll recover soon.”
His shoulders shook.
Shocked, I could only stare at his back. Was he crying? Crazy how the man had been nothing but cruel to me, but I felt sympathy for him right then. We were family, after all. Even if he didn’t know it.
“Prince Cedric? It will… um, be okay. The court physician will take good care of the king and get him back on his feet in no time.”
A somewhat muted sound reached my ears. His body lightly shook again before that sound grew louder. However, it wasn’t a cry like I’d thought.
He was laughing.
“I have half a mind to slit your throat right here,” he said, still laughing. When he turned to look at me, a crazed look shone in his eyes. “You dare pity me? Trying to soothe me in my grieving hour? The mere sight of you makes me rage, now more than ever. Gods, how I want to take a blade and carve that ridiculous expression off your face.”
My sympathy for him blew away, like dust in a strong wind. A tiny speck remained behind though, drifting back down after the gust passed and landing on my sternum. Some people turned to anger to escape their sadness. Maddox sure did. Perhaps Cedric did too.
“I know the evidence against me is staggering, Your Highness,” I said, shuffling up higher on my knees. “But I didn’t poison the king. Someone did set me up. Spies from the Secret Order believe the mercenary—”
“Silence,” he interjected in a bitter tone. “You don’t need to convince me of your innocence, for I already know the truth. You were framed.”
“Wait.” Confusion slammed into me so hard my mind spun from it. “You believe me?”
“Yes.” Holding the goblet in one hand, he stepped toward me in that familiar predatory gait. “I’m the one who framed you.”
My brain stopped working. Nothing fired on the cylinders. The engine just sputtered and died, like an old pickup truck expelling the last of its exhaust and breaking down. Probably in the middle of a busy three-lane highway, cars blazing down the road on each side.
The feeling of being paralyzed but all too aware of the danger around you.
“Sir Keegan knows nothing of this, of course, which is why he couldn’t join our fun.” Cedric softly sighed and regarded me. “Do you intend to kneel before me all night? To your feet, pebble. Have some dignity while you still can.”
My knees trembled as I rose from the floor. “I-I don’t understand. You’re the one who framed me? Why? How?”
And what about the mercenary? Reign had detected him during the ball, along with several others just as powerful. Cedric’s involvement threw me for a loop.
“The how was easy,” he casually answered. “You had access to the king’s food. In an instance of poisoning, you’d be the most likely suspect, especially after you were seen by several witnesses pouring his drink.”
“That’s why you asked for me to bring your family coffee.” The realization caused prickles between my ribs. I’d fallen right into his trap. “It was all part of your plan.”
“Indeed.” He lifted his goblet in a cheers motion. “A plan that unfolded even better than I imagined, all thanks to you. I knew you’d have the vial in your pocket, but the dagger was a nice surprise. Helped drive the narrative even further.”
“Why did you do it?” I asked, reeling from the news.
“Be more specific.”
“Poison your father.”
“Why else?” Cedric cocked his head. “To be king.”
“That’s the reason?” There was a small catch in my voice. “So you could have the throne? But you were already first in line to rule.”
“My father still had many more years left in him. Years I didn’t wish to spend in his shadow, waiting for him to either step down or die.” He looked at me like I was a disgusting little stain on the floor. “Something filth like you will never understand.”
“But he’s your father! And he loves you.”
“No. He loves my brother.” Cedric gritted his teeth. “He’s always favored Sawyer over me. For a while, I even feared he’d denounce me as his successor and put that brat on the throne instead. Then, he saw the opportunity to ally with Voltas. That alone spared Sawyer from being poisoned tonight right along with him. I realized I could use his marriage to my advantage. Voltas is quite the powerful ally.”
“What the hell? You were going to kill your own brother?”
A cold smile touched his lips. “It wouldn’t be the first time I tried. Remember the story I told you once? How Sawyer fell down the stairs when we were younger and hit his head?”
