“Have you spent much time in Allium’s acquaintance?”
The woman bared her teeth in a grimace. “Unfortunately.”
“Then imagine what she was like as a mother. Do you really think there was a possibility in any world that she wouldwelcome me home?” She glanced around the table. “And not only that, but the day before I left with the Loriian delegation, I stumbled upon one of your spies in the Asteran palace. Thisvallosscared me so badly, I hid in my closet for hours afterwards.” She locked gazes with Flyka. “Why would I risk returning when I wasn’t even safe in my own home in the first place?”
“I can understand why you’d feel that way,” Chemaine allowed. “But why not come forward sooner? Your family is sending thousands into battle in your name. Your people are bravely rising up against the king and queen in the capital. Can you not find the same strength?”
The commoners were rebelling? That was news to her.
“I have been a pawn so long that it’s hard to think of myself as anything else,” she admitted. “But I am tired of dancing to their tune. I will not stand for?—”
She choked on her words when another member of the frost council stepped into the room. Lia schooled her expression despite the shiver that ran down her spine.
Bacti.
The lavender-skinnedtraitorsauntered into the tent, his perfect smile taunting.
A memory crashed into her.
“Did you really think you were going to be sent here without any supervision?” He cocked his head, licking his lips. “You’ve had two jobs, and yet you’ve failed on all fronts.” She froze as he glanced down her body and then back up. “Your queen made a mistake sending a common whore.”
“How dare you speak to me in such a manner,” she snapped, fear tightening in her gut.
“Yes,valles, keep playing your part.” He pressed her harder against the window and crowded over her. “You have one day before I spill your secrets to thereillov. One day before I sendword to have your mother executed.” She flinched as he ran his tongue along the rounded shell of her ear. “And don’t worry, we’re very close to finding your brother.”
She snapped out of it as Bacti bowed with a flourish. “Welcome,Reilleve. You have been missed.”
He straightened and sat in the last chair. They stared at each other.
He knew about her family.
He knew the truth of her actions.
Keep calm.
Her husband banded his arm around her waist, anchoring her against him, his grip a little too tight.
“You’re late,” Neve commented, his tone bored.
“I am. Forgive me, my lord.” His smile widened as he continued to pin Dahlia to the spot with his gaze.
Lia forced herself back to the conversation she’d been having with Chemaine. The woman’s lips had pressed thin at the arrival of Bacti. It made Lia like her all the more. “I was saying it is time for this war to end. I won’t have more innocents die in my name. They deserve more.”
“Perfect,” Bacti cut in, bringing all the attention back to him. “I was hoping you felt that way. I say we send you for a visit to dear old dad and let the soldiers see their princess-turned-queen is alive and well.”
Chemaine blinked slowly. “That could work. We need the Asteran army on our side.”
Vidielle shook her head. “It’s too much risk to thereilleve.”
Abeo arched a brow. “It’s her own father, and she is his only legitimate child. Why would that be a risk? He wouldn’t hurt her.”
Bacti’s smile widened. He knew she wasn’t the princess. Marching into Randa’s hands was a death sentence. She hid hershudder at the memory of the way the king’s eyes had roved over her person in the past.
It would be a long, humiliating, and painful death.
But perhaps if she played her cards right, she would survive. It was a long shot but maybe with thereillov’shelp ...
Stop. You can’t count on him. You don’t deserve anything from him.
