“What good is my knowledge of the palace’s many hidden entrances if I don’t use them to sneak in and kill the usurper?” Josie asked, faux sweetness dripping from her voice.
The idea had come to her a few days ago. She didn’t need to wipe out the Bellare entirely. The best way to kill a snake, after all, was to chop off its head.
And the Bellare’s head was Avis Lavigne.
“Seven hells,” Clyde mumbled. “You’re terrifying.”
“I love it,” Lucas added with a grin.
“You two aren’t so bad yourselves,” Natali chuckled from across the table as they nodded to Clyde and Lucas. “The idea to stage a mass protest is particularly inspired, especially given several have already occurred.”
“That was all Clyde,” Lucas admitted.
Natali shot a pensive look at the Head Councilor. “Have you ever considered a career in the force?”
“He’s far too vain for it,” Lucas replied with a wink. “Not nearly enough preening. Best for him to stick to merchanting.”
Clyde rolled his eyes at his husband, but he did not argue.
Josie tugged her bottom lip between her teeth as she scanned the figurines of the map once more. “I don’t like the idea of putting our citizens in the middle of this,” she sighed. “The people of Trahir do not want to fight in the petty battles of kings and queens.”
“They may very well want to fight in this one,” Lucasargued gently. “They’re furious with the Bellare. Your political scheming worked brilliantly, Josie.”
“Besides, that’s what the Royal Army is there for,” Aleissande added. “They won’t simply engage the Bellare. They’ll protect the people.”
Josie nodded. She could feel anxiety pulsing behind her sternum, but she forced herself to breathe through it.
“Are you two sure about this?” she asked Clyde and Lucas. “If anything goes wrong, I won’t be there to help. The Bellare very well could make an example of you.”
She had already put them at risk by asking them to stir dissent in the city against the Bellare. But leading a protest like this…it almost seemed too far.
“You could die, too.” Clyde’s rebuttal was quiet and understanding. “But you don’t see us stopping you from picking up your sword.”
“That’s different,” Josie insisted. “I’ve trained—”
Lucas tossed one of the spare figurines down. “If you think we are going to stand aside while you take back the throne from the scum who stole from your family, you don’t know us at all,” he cut in. “Do not insult our friendship like this.”
Josie’s argument died in her throat as Aleissande laid a hand on her shoulder. “It’s their choice, Josephine.”
She knew that. Shedid. But it did nothing to quell the worry that stirred inside of her. “Fine,” she conceded. “But if you two die, I will personally drag you back from the Beyond so I can kill you myself.”
Lucas barked a laugh. “Deal.”
“Now that that is decided,” Natali drawled, their hand sweeping across the map to clear the figurines, “we should get moving. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow. We all need our rest.” They tugged on the parchment, rolling it up with a snap.
“I’ll ready the Saj,” they continued. “I don’t expect thisto spill over to the Maraciana, but…they should be prepared.” Their amber eyes found Josie, their stare heavy with implication as they said, “And you? Have you gotten your affairs in order?”
Josie could feel Aleissande’s gaze on her. She hadn’t asked Josie about what she’d interrupted the other day, hadn’t pressed for details on why Josie had sent for Viviane, or what had come of it. Now certainly wasn’t the time nor audience for Josie to get into it.
“Don’t worry about me, Natali,” Josie assured the Saj. “There’s nothing that is standing in my way.”
“Good,” Natali said simply. “Meeting adjourned.”
Clyde and Lucas ducked out of the room first, their hugs tight and lingering as they said their goodbyes. Aleissande went next with nothing but a curt nod. But Josie stepped in front of the doorway before Natali could leave, blocking their path.
“Why are you doing all of this?” she asked. She had pushed the question aside for weeks, but now…
She needed to know. They were all trusting the Saj, and Josie could not handle the lingering doubt that gnawed on her as she wondered if her trust was misplaced.
