“It’s the third time this week, Kinlear,” the queen said. “The third time you’ve failed to act like a true Sacred prince. What do you have to say for yourself?”
Nothing good,Kinlear thought.
But...Arawnalwaysdid.
As nonchalantly as he could, Kinlear reached into his pocket, where he always kept his speaking stone. Like Soraya’s letters, it was like an anchor, a lifeline to holding onto sanity as the days in Touvre stretched on and on.
A second later, the stone warmed. Arawn’s voice filled his mind, heavy with the sound of a sigh.I’m in the middle of yet another meeting with Father, Kin--
What do I have to say for myself?Kinlear thought back, cutting him off as his mother tapped her toe. As she glared at him like he was a disgusting little bug she’d like to squish.
A breath, and Arawn’s voice slid into his mind. ...What?
Kinlear sighed.I paid penance again. Several times.
Why am I not surprised?Arawn answered.Not all patterns are good ones, Kinlear...
But the ladies are so fun to kiss,Kinlear said, and smiled inwardly when he could practically feel Arawn’s embarrassment through the stone’s magic. Arawn had never kissed anyone. Not even on Absolution, though most younglings were already well into experimenting during those blessed, freeing moments.Mother is asking me to explain myself, but I’ve developed a sudden lack of giving a damn,he thought back, as the queen stared and stared...and he swore he saw her eye twitch with rage.
Gods.
It was worse than he thought.
“Kinlear Laroux,” she demanded. “Do not keep mewaiting.”
He could practically feel Arawn’s sigh against his brain. This wasn’t the first time they’d had this conversation through the stone.Just...tell her the truth. Tell her that you forgot your place. That you will do your utmost not to slip again.
And if that’s a bit of a lie?Kinlear thought back.
Arawn sighed again.Don’t make it one. Please, Brother. For your own sake. If you love the gods at all...this time...try to mean it.
The stone went cold as Kinlear pulled his hand away and recited the words back to his mother as if they were his own. “I forgot my place. I will do my utmost not to slip again.”
The queen narrowed her gaze. She pursed her rouged lips. “Your brother’s words are thoughtful, as always, but utterlywastedon you.”
His face heated as she raised her pale brows knowingly. But to his surprise, she didn’t take his speaking stone. Probably because she hoped Arawn’s influence would help change his ways.
“Stand up, Kinlear.”
He sighed. His bad leg tried to buckle, but herefusedto let himself fall. He shook with the effort to be tall and strong. To be the son she’d always wanted him to be.
“Look at me.”
He gritted his teeth and looked.
He couldn’t stand the beauty of her face, or the way the strands of her pale hair sparkled in the delicate morning sunlight. She had eyes as blue as the river that ran through Touvre’s center, delicate and pure and true.
His very skincrawledbeneath them.
It was so much worse when he realized, more and more, that she looked just like Arawn.
Her perfect Crown Prince.
The child she always wanted.
Kinlear was just the spare. The shadow.
“You were never an easy child to raise,” the queen said, as she smoothed the fabric on her gown. Her hands shimmered in royal diamonds to match the ones around her slender throat. “From the day you were born...I knew you carried trouble like a curse.But you always had Arawn at your side. You always hadhimto ground you. To remind you of your true worth, as a servant of the Five.”
