Avis glared at the prince, but he remained silent as he pushed past him and took his daughter from Will’s arms. Aya’s heart ached as he stared down at Helene with a brokenness she knew would haunt him.
Aidon looked to his king. ‘The two rebels have been disposed of, their bodies dumped in the sea. I request yourleave, Uncle, to meet with the Guard. We need to check all known rebel outposts. Tonight.’
Dominic nodded. ‘Perhaps our guests would like to rest. They have been more than helpful.’ And though it sounded like thanks, there was a stoniness glinting in his eyes as he dismissed them.
Aidon bowed before glancing to Aya and Will, his face unreadable as he said, ‘I’ll see you out.’ He cut a glance to Peter. ‘Gather the Guard. I want everyone outside the training complex in twenty minutes.’
Aidon’s pace quickened as they hit the hall, his shoulders bunched as they headed to the guest wing. ‘I’m coming with you,’ Josie said as she followed them.
‘Like hells you are.’
Josie grabbed her brother’s arm, a snarl erupting from her. ‘She is my partner and she is in danger.I am coming with you.’
Aidon met his sister’s glare, his voice quiet as he said, ‘They know.’
Josie turned, stunned, to Aya and Will. The prince resumed his pace, and soon they were tucked inside Aya’s sitting room. The silence was heavy again as Aya and Aidon stared at each other.
‘Well?’ Aidon finally demanded, his brow furrowed in disdain.
‘Careful,’ Will warned from where he sat in an armchair, his elbows propped on his knees. ‘Though I’m grateful for your defense to Lavigne’s accusation, I won’t hesitate to wipe that sneer off your face.’ Aya shot him a look, and he shrugged. ‘Unless you’d like to do the honors, Aya love.’
Aya let out a long breath through her nose, turning her attention to the siblings across from her. ‘You know how the Conoscenza speaks of one like Evie rising should darkness return?’ They nodded, confusion marking their stares. Ayatook another deep breath, her hands weaving into the fabric of her dirty dress.
And then she told them. Everything. The fire in the market. The framing of Tova. The prophecy and the orders to study with the Saj of the Maraciana.
She told it all, except the most important piece – that her power was steadily devouring her. That if Natali was to be believed … then she wasn’t the saint they’d all hoped for.
Aya wasn’t sure why she’d been able to touch her power tonight without consequence, especially with the tonic out of her system. But regardless, she wasn’t about to reveal the truth; especially not when they were so desperate for Trahir to commit their forces.
If the idea of a saint was what encouraged Aidon to press this alliance with Dominic, then to hells with it.
By the time she’d finished, Aidon was slouched against the couch, his fingers massaging his temple. But Josie remained upright, her brows high. Aya didn’t miss the note of skepticism in her voice as she said, ‘I’ve never been in the presence of a saint before.’
‘Thrilling, isn’t it?’ Will mused. But for all of the lightness in his tone, his narrowed gaze was fixed on Aidon, who had yet to say a word.
Aya dipped her head to meet the prince’s gaze. ‘So let me get this straight,’ he finally murmured. ‘Your general is innocent. You’re the Second Saint. And you’re here to study your power secretly with the Saj of the Maraciana. Any more secrets?’
Far too many.
‘I meant what I said at dinner,’ Aya said evenly. ‘Ihavebeen trying to study the Decachiré to see how my power might help in the war. Because wariscoming, Aidon. Kakos is preparing for something. You know it as surely as I do. And if we are not ready for them … I fear what will happen to the realm.’
A muscle worked in his jaw as he looked away, his hand massaging the back of his neck.
‘I believe you owe us an explanation now, Your Highness,’ Will drawled.
‘You’re getting close to the point where I won’t intervene if he tries to kill you,’ Josie warned.
‘It’s been a while since the prince and I had a go.’
‘Enough,’ Aya cut in. Will’s baiting wasn’t going to get them anywhere. But her order did nothing but stoke whatever anger he’d been leashing beneath his arrogance, and his relaxed posture slid away as he gripped the arms of his chair.
‘He wants to talk about secrets? He’s been lying to the world for godsdamn years,’ he snarled. ‘Who knows what else they’re keeping from us.’
‘Rich coming from you,’ Aidon shot back. ‘You’ve been sitting on a weapon that could change the tide of the coming war, and you didn’t say a thing. And yet you want me to trust you with my arm—?’
Aidon choked, a vein in his neck bulging. His face grew panicked, his fingers clawing at his throat as he gasped for air.
‘What are you doing?’ Josie demanded.
