“Glad to see you’re back to normal.” Alex wipes a few crumbs from the covers on the bed, his voice careful, like he’s afraid I might kick him out any second.
“Uncle.”
“You gave us all quite a scare, son.” The word slips out, echoing around the room, highlighting the loss.
“We will need to plan a memorial for Father,” I say quietly. “And for Dom.” I still haven’t come to terms with the loss of my sister. Iprepared for weeks to lose my father, was even prepared to take his life myself, and I was still a mess when it actually happened. I never expected my sister to be a casualty in all of this. I would have made many different decisions had I known.
“Already working on it. I know you’re going to be busy in the coming weeks.”
I shift the tray of food to the other side of the bed. “I won’t be too busy for this. I owe it to them. I owe it to her.”
“I know there is nothing I can say to ease the pain or assuage the guilt, but I know what it is like to lose a sister, Callum.” Alex’s throat catches on his tears. “What I can offer you is the reassurance that she would be proud, and so would James.” He crosses to the side of my bed, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Your mother would be proud too.”
Now is the moment when I should tell him the truth—that I’m not the actual candidate, I wasn’t the one to put the knife through Harold’s heart. But I can’t seem to make my mouth form the words. I can’t start this campaign with lies, even if it is what Cate claims she wants. But I allow myself this moment to bask in the false praise, imagine the looks of pride on the faces of my parents and my sister.
“Thank you for saying that.” I shift my weight, subtly causing Alex’s hand to fall from my shoulder. “I know that you had the best of intentions, joining the Uprising. I know who you are, and I know you would never do anything to hurt me or this family.”
“But it is going to take some time before you trust me again.”
I nod. “I’m sorry.”
“Do not apologize, Cal. I made my choices, and I stand by them. But I am not ignorant of their consequences.” He opens his mouth to say more, but hesitates.
“Please don’t hold back, Uncle. Now is not the time to keep secrets.”
“It’s Cate.”
I raise myself off the bed. “Is she hurt? Why didn’t you say something as soon as you came in? Where is she?”
Alex pushes my shoulder, keeping me in place. “She’s fine.” His eyes darken with what feels like foreboding.
I clench my fists in the blanket covering me. “Whatever you have to say, just say it.”
“We’ve been having some meetings, early strategy sessions,” Alex says.
“How long have I been out?” I ask sarcastically. I know it’s only been two days. I shouldn’t be surprised that was plenty of time for him to start scheming without my input.
Alex ignores me. “The bottom line, Cal, is that everyone agrees on one thing: Being with Cate is going to be a major hindrance in the election.”
A wall of hot anger crushes over me. “Because she’s a courtesan or because she’s Gifted?”
“I know how much she means to you, but it wouldn’t be wise for her to be by your side during your candidacy, Cal. It’s not her Gift that is troubling, but how she chooses to make her living. It’s the one thing a whole room of strategists can agree on.”
“I don’t care.” I cross my arms over my chest, not caring if I sound like a petulant child. “Cate isn’t going anywhere. I’m not doing this without her. Besides, things aren’t like they used to be. Aren’t we supposed to be building a more equitable world? Does that not include courtesans?”
“Of course it does.” Alex sighs wearily, the stress of the past few days clearly visible on his face. “There is another option.”
I eye him warily. “What is it?”
“You get married.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
The words don’t come from me, but from a voice in the doorway.
Cate.
Not exactly the way I would have chosen to propose.
