A muscle ticked in Samuel’s jaw. “I can’t explain what happened that night. No one can. But Sadia didn’t heal me. That’s absurd.”
A furrow appeared between the emperor’s brows. “What further proof do you have, Zacharias?”
“I didn’t have a suspect in mind that night,” Zacharias said, clearly relishing the fact that every eye was on him. Smug satisfaction shined in his eyes as he wove his explanation. “All I knew was that a powerful empath had infiltrated Esperance. I wrote to High Cleric Bartholomew—” He shot Lisbeth a pointed look. “—and asked for knights to be sent to the temple. I was going to leave the investigation in their hands, but then we were ambushed on the road.”
The emperor stiffened. “By the Rising?”
“No,” Jayveh said. “Hired mercenaries. They were coming to kill us at the temple.” She touched his arm, trying to comfort him. “We’re all right, Your Eminence.”
“Not all of us were,” Zacharias said. “Sadia was shot with an arrow. She was dying.” He looked right at Sadia, who was frighteningly pale. “Sheshouldhave died. But she healed herself.”
“She wasn’t healed,” Samuel ground out. “I held her as her wound was stitched. She’s been in pain every day since—”
“An empath’s trick,” Zacharias interjected. “I know she healed herself, because I saw her take another’s life force to do it.” He glanced at Amryn, and Carver’s muscles locked. “Sadia used—”
“Impossible,” Lisbeth stated firmly.
Zacharias’s nostrils flared. “Forgive me, High Cleric, but you weren’t there. One of Jayveh’s bodyguards removed the arrow, and he claimed it was a miracle she lived.And Carver—” Zacharias turned on him, bringing the attention of everyone in the room with him.
Amryn’s fingernails dug into Carver’s skin at the sudden scrutiny. Her tangible fear made his heart crack.
Zacharias had eyes only for Carver. “You saw it. You can attest to the fatal placement of that arrow.”
Carver fought to keep his expression impassive as he said, “I didn’t have a chance to study her wound. I was focused on fighting off the attackers.”
Zacharias’s face was thunderous. “But—”
“You misunderstood me, Zacharias,” Lisbeth interrupted. “What you say is impossible because no empath has the ability to heal itself—no matter how powerful they are.”
“Lisbeth is right,” the emperor murmured. “Empaths are immune to their own foul magic. They can only use it on others.”
Zacharias’s mouth opened, but no words came out. Clearly, the high cleric hadn’t known that. Or perhaps he’d merely forgotten in his desperation to be right.
Lisbeth exhaled slowly. “Zacharias . . .”
He gritted his teeth. “I’ve thought this through. Sadia has been unassuming the entire time we were in Esperance, as if she was able to make any negative thoughts about her slide from our minds. An empath’s unholy manipulation, I have no doubt. And then she managed to turn a radical like Samuel into a man so besotted, he abandoned all reason—and even his fanatical beliefs—to protect her from all sides. She’s pretty enough, but she doesn’t merit that level of devotion.”
Samuel growled. “Insult her again, Cleric, and I’ll—”
“Samuel!” Sadia hissed, gripping his wrist to keep him from advancing on Zacharias.
The prince of Wendahl’s entire frame vibrated with rage, but he stayed in place.
Zacharias made a disgusted noise, flicking a hand toward the couple. “Yousee? She has him utterly enthralled!”
A threatening growl escaped Ivan. He had proven to be protective of all the women since his wife’s murder, and that was clearly in evidence now. His words were filled with barely restrained violence as he said, “Iam under no such enthrallment, High Cleric.”
Zacharias flinched back from the large Sibeten. “You wouldn’t dare to—”
“Enough,” the emperor declared. “I appreciate your effort to uncover the empath, Zacharias, but your evidence is severely lacking.”
His face reddened. “Your Eminence, please, I—”
“I chose Esperance for a reason,” the emperor overrode him. “It was supposed to be a peaceful place for the Chosen to grow closer together. A place where new beginnings and hope could flourish.” He lifted an age-spotted hand. “This before me? It is not peace, Zacharias. If you do not foster unity here, in my very throne room with me as a witness, I fear you failed to do so at Esperance as well.”
Zacharias’s throat bobbed, panic entering his eyes. “Your Eminence, if there is any discord between me and the Chosen, it is the empath’s doing—”
“Silence,” Lisbeth snapped at him. “You’re embarrassing yourself.Andthe church.” Ignoring his fuming, she looked to Sadia, her eyes softening as she said, “My dear, I apologize for the high cleric’s unfounded accusations.”
