“It’s true.” Alienor’s bitter words shocked us both. Martainn gasped and the blade bit harder against my skin, a sharp sting that sent a spike of adrenaline through my veins.
“Mother? What did you do?”
“I made you a king.”
I clenched my fists, refused to flinch, even as his breath burned hot against my ear. Was this a charade? Were my cousins playing a sick and twisted game? Trying to convince me to spare Martainn’s life?
“You were supposed to be dead. Shade swore to me that you were dead.” Alienor sounded bored now. Slightly confused. “I paid Siren Legion double their usual fee, since you were an infant. They wanted to take you, sell you to the highest bidder. But I needed you dead.”
“Well, I’m not.” I squirmed and kicked, tried to break Martainn’s hold.
“Kill her, son. Kill her and the crown is yours.”
The blade shifted in Martainn’s hand so the cold, flat edge pressed to my skin. Shit. Was this asshole really going to kill me? Wouldn’t that be against the law? Would the Coalition intervene? I wasn’t sure. The only reason Commander Zeus and his warriors were here now was because these Insuri nobles had broken Interstellar law, too. Would they interfere if the current heir to the throne slit my throat? Was I going to die?
And then I saw him.
Addan.
He moved like a shadow through the chaos, silent and focused. His dark eyes were locked on Martainn with a lethal intensity that made my chest tighten. The crowd, the soldiers, the shouts—all of it faded away. All I could see was him.
He would save me. I knew he would. Perhaps because we were Resonants, but more likely because I loved him.
And he loved me.
He wouldn’t let what we shared die.
He quickly closed the distance between us, his movements deliberate, measured. I stayed perfectly still, barely breathing. Martainn was so worried about the Prillon warriors in front of him—who wouldn’t be?—that he didn’t notice Addan circling behind us.
Nor did he notice when Addan approached.
Addan struck in a blur of motion.
His hand clamped down on Martainn’s wrist, pushing it away from my throat, then twisting it sharply. The blade clattered to the floor, his grip on me broken. Before I could step back, Addan drove his elbow into Martainn’s ribs, the force of the blow sending him crashing to the floor.
I stumbled, gasping for air as Addan stepped in front of me, his broad shoulders blocking out everything else. He formed a wall between me and all danger.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, his voice low, fierce. His pale gaze raked over every inch of me.
I swallowed hard, my voice shaking as a group of Insuri soldiers I didn’t recognize swarmed Martainn and dragged him to his feet. “I’m fine.”
I didn’t look away from the Addan, not even as the Coalition warriors closed in. They dragged Queen Alienor off the throne. The Queen remained silent. Regal. Cold as fucking ice.
For the first time since I’d been at the castle, I saw the evil face of the woman capable of plotting murder.
“You’ll destroy everything. Make Insuri weak. Poor.” Queen Alienor’s voice was calm. Unperturbed. The voice of an unrepentant, murderous psychopath. “When you came back, I should have killed you, but I let you live–for my son. You were supposed to marry my son. Give him an heir. A future king! You’re nothing but a foolish, stupid girl?—”
Martainn interrupted, snarling, “Shut up, mother. You betrayed us all.”
“Enough,” I said, stepping forward, but Addan’s strong arm wrapped around my waist. Held me back. He was at my side.
Where I wanted him.
Where he belonged.
“Get him out of here.” Addan issued the order to his men and the soldiers complied at once. Martainn’s mouth snapped shut.Opened. He took a deep breath. “I never would have killed you, Princess.”
Addan punched him. Hard. He slumped in the guards’ arms, and I watched as they carried him from the room, his feet unable to support his weight as they dragged him out of sight. His mumbled protests faded into the distance, swallowed by the tense silence of the chamber. Even if he was found innocent in a trial, there would be no escape from the scorn and hatred of the citizens of Insuri.
