Understanding seeped into me. With it came a nauseous pit in my gut. “You pushed him.”
“I was curious what would happen.” His amusement grew. Something malicious lingered beneath it, spreading to his eyes. “Would his head crack open like a melon? How much blood would spill?”
“You’re diabolical.”
The dude went beyond psycho. He was evil incarnate.
“Perhaps.” His cold smile faded. “It will serve me well as king. Striking down anyone who challenges me or stands in my way.”
“King Eidolon lived. You aren’t king yet.”
“An unfortunate miscalculation,” he snapped, the sudden rage in his eyes making me shrink back. “The poison was intended to kill him. Not sure why it didn’t. Regardless, I’ll be king soon enough. His body lives, yet his mind is too far gone to be of any use.”
A light thud came from the balcony.
“Our guest has finally arrived.” Cedric stepped over and opened the set of doors. The sheer curtains gently ruffled in the evening breeze. “Took you long enough.”
“You said to wait for the knight to leave,” a man responded. His voice was strangely familiar. “I only did as you instructed. I also didn’t wish to interrupt your speech. You seemed to be enjoying yourself.”
“If you were anyone else, I’d have your tongue removed for speaking to me in such a way.” Cedric took another drink before motioning to me. “He’s in here. Let’s get on with this.”
When the man stepped through the open doors and into the room, a weight pressed down on my chest. Sharp prickles did too, as though the scars beneath my clothes recognized the one who’d cast the spell that brought them to life.
“We meet again,” the mercenary said with a slanted smile. Bronze skin, a head of dark hair, and gold eyes. Black markings wrapped around both biceps and down his arms, like tattoos.
Everything inside of me screamed for me to run, but I couldn’t move. Not that there was anywhere for me to run, even if I could. Guards were posted outside the door and would stop me as soon as I reached the hall, and we were too high up for me to make a break for the balcony and jump off.
“How lucky for me,” I managed to say past the tightness in my throat. “Our last meeting was so pleasant too. Truly memorable.”
Something about his raspy laugh rang of familiarity, just like his accent. “I reckon it was. Sorry about the scars. And for, you know, almost killing you. My mistake.”
What the hell was happening? Why was he here?
“Have you two been working together this whole time?” Looking between him and Cedric, I reached up to grab my necklace like I usually did when nervous… only to remember I no longer had it.
“No,” Cedric answered. “After the sleeping spell was lifted, curiosity drove me to visit him in his cell. I wanted to know why he tried to capture my brother. And what I discovered thrilled me to no end.” He extended his hand and poked the center of my forehead. “Turns out, he was after you.”
“M-Me? Why?” I asked, not wanting to let on that I already knew the reason. Playing dumb was a great defense.
“Ah, there’s that cleverly feigned ignorance once again, but it won’t fool me.” He nodded to the mercenary. “Once I administered a truth serum, he told me everything. Your little secret included.”
“My secret?” I sounded so small. Fitting. It’s exactly how I felt. Small and frustratingly helpless. Truth serums made it impossible to lie.
How much did Cedric know now?
“My suspicions were confirmed.” His jaw tightened. “You’re my father’s bastard son.”
Okay. He lost me.
“What?” No need to play dumb that time.
The mercenary regarded me with a mysterious glimmer in his eyes. Something secretive.
“Enough of the act.” Cedric dismissively flicked his hand. “I know everything. From the moment we first met, I noticed the striking resemblance to our family. My father saw it too. I believe it’s why he’s doted on you all these months.”
“Because I’m his… son?”
“Bastard son,” he spat. “Don’t think yourself special. You aren’t the first one I’ve encountered. My father has calmed in recent years, but he used to frequent brothels. As is a king’s right, taking what he wants when he wants it. You and the others before you are merely an unfortunate consequence of his actions.”
