“I killed him,” I speak plainly. No trace of guilt or remorse. I do not shrink away.
Conri stares at me, the words settling upon him. He blurts a noise of disbelief and shakes his head. He steps away, hands on his hips, and shakes his head again. Those who have gathered begin to whisper amongst themselves.
I’m forcing air in and out of my lungs. Breathe. Normally. How do I do that again? All I want to do is hold my breath, or let it quicken with the pace of my heart—a pace that I am also trying to keep slow.
He killed your mother. The thought sobers me and helps me keep calm despite my nerves. It sharpens my focus on the whetstone of revenge.
Conri turns to face me again. His eyes narrow slightly, as though he’s working to bring me into focus. “How?”
That question alone tells me Evander’s suspicions were right. Conri isn’t asking why I killed Bardulf. He doesn’t care one of his most loyal knights is dead. And my motive is secondary to finding outhowI overpowered the man—a knight that killed another witch without issue.
“You sent me to find spirits that I could call upon for your causes—to bring glory to your name. That is what I have done.”
“And how is killing Bardulf bringing glory to my name?” Conri cocks his head to the side. The air is still. As if this whole place is in tune with his every movement and the ebb and flow of his emotions.
“Forgive me for being the bearer of this news, my king, but Bardulf was not loyal to you,” I say, still holding my head high. “I had to do it, because I was not about to let him take what is yours.”
“What is mine?” he prompts me to continue. I can’t read his expression, though, and his tone is neutral.
“Bardulf came to us in the woods and he saw my command of a new and powerful spirit that I was bringing back for you. I believe he intended to use it to usurp you.”
Conri shakes his head. “Bardulf, no…no, he wouldn’t.”
“He followed me when I went to bathe. He attempted to seduce me and when that failed, he attempted to lay his hands upon me.” None of it is a lie, so as Conri continues to probe me with his stare, I can meet it evenly. “Throughout it all, he attempted to use what felt like magic on me to coerce me to his side. I can only imagine that he intended to convince me to use the power of the spirits against you.”
Aurora’s power, too, I leave unsaid. Though, judging from Conri’s expression, he hears it. This is the risk of the angle Evander and I have decided to put on our tale. There was nohiding the matter. Conri knew Bardulf was dead the moment that we entered Den. The best outcome would be to convince Conri that I was the one to kill him and that it was for a good reason.
But that reason is going to emphasize that Aurora’s power is split, and as long as it is, there might be others who will try and claim me to challenge Conri. His power isn’t secure until he marries me or, better, returns Aurora’s power to some kind of object he can easily keep in his clutches. Which will only hasten him doing the former or trying to kill me for the latter.
And there’s the other danger of this plan. He now sees me as someone who is capable of killing. Who not only has the means, but the will to wield them thusly. That might push him in a single direction:
Kill me.
Not that he wasn’t already leaning that way…but I’ve likely removed all doubt. Conri has spent his entire existence removing possible threats to his rule and now, in a way, I’ve become one.
Conri’s eyes shift to Evander. “Is this true?”
“Every word.” Evander doesn’t miss a beat. “I had been moving to protect her from Bardulf’s aggressions, but she acted before I could. Forgive me, my king, I had been asleep when it all started, or I would’ve been faster and Bardulf might have been able to face your judgment alive, as it should have been.” Evander’s tone ventures into disgust that I can feel directed at my back. We position ourselves at odds, and paint Evander as even more loyal in the process.
Conri stares at me for a long, tense minute. I think if he could end me here and now, he would. But he laughs, diffusing the tension, and claps his hands before opening them and motioning between the gathered lykin and me.
“Behold, your future queen! Is she not magnificent?” He crosses to me and wraps an arm around my waist. It reassures me that even though he no doubt sees me as a threat, he also sees me as a tool to continue having the other lykin fall in line. “Defending me and my crown from any who would dare act against us.” He looks to me. “I cannot wait to make you my wife.”
“Truly, you are not upset?” This is the only time I allow a trace of insecurity to sneak into my voice. I have made myself seem strong and dangerous enough. Now I want to reassure him that, even though I might be a threat, I am not a clever one. He doesn’t need to worry about me scheming; I’m too afraid of upsetting him for that. This was all simply an unfortunate set of circumstances…
“Upset? No. I am grateful to know that you would defend yourself and that, above all else, you are loyal to me and me alone.”
“There is no future for me but one by your side.” Disgusting.
“Do not forget it.” He hooks my chin and guides my face toward his, as though he is about to kiss me. But he doesn’t and instead smirks at my forced expression of yearning. “I am everything and you are nothing without me.”
I smile languidly. “Everything for you, my love.”
“Now, you must display this spirit that was mighty enough to kill one of my strongest knights.”
“It is a spirit of water, unfortunately. So I wouldn’t be able to without?—”
“The great lake of Calduwyn is at the edge of Den, not far. We will go there now.” Conri releases me and steps back.
