So much Incendrian steel in the palace, and I never asked the king for a weapon.
Light flares, fire filling the hallway. It’s so blazingly bright that I can’t see anything at all. But then I hear thesnickof a crossbow, and the man pinning me to the ground jerks hard. A second later, a booted foot kicks him off me.
Ky stands over me. He’s got a handful of fire in one hand, and a crossbow in the other. Two guards are at his back, swords drawn.
They’re all pointing at Charlotte.
Jory is gasping, shoving her own shot attacker to the ground. Blood is all over her chemise, and I quickly draw her to me. “Where are you hurt?” I say in a rush. “Jory, where?”
“Not mine,” she says. “Not mine.”
We scramble to our feet. To my surprise, the two men on the groundarefamiliar. Though maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise, if Pavok is working with Draegonis. Beyond them, Charlotte is cringing against the wall, backing away from the king’s fire.
“Please,” she’s saying. “Please. He made me.”
“Charlotte?” says Jory. Her voice is small. “Charlotte,whomade you?”
She shakes her head quickly. “No. Please. You must understand.” Her voice drops to a whisper. “He’ll kill me.”
I frown. “Master Pavok?” I say.
Charlotte shakes her head.
“Then it’s someone from Draegonis,” says Ky, and his voice is dark. The fire on his palm flickers, emphasizing his fury. “One of the generals? If they’ve infiltrated Astranza this deeply, I will have to—”
“No,” says Charlotte. “But Your Highness—you should know. You are in danger.”
“Then who?” demands Ky.
Charlotte wets her lips, then glances down the hallway as if she’d like to run. “Not like this,” she says. “Please. Not like this.”
It’s exactly what my mother said, when the queen’s carriage was attacked. The words hit me like a knife—and I know they’re doing the same to Jory. Her lips part.
Ky steps forward, lifting the ball of fire. Lady Charlotte flinches back.
“No!” says Jory. “I’ll hear what she has to say.”
For a moment, there’s no sound aside from Charlotte’s panicked breathing.
“I cannot,” she finally says, her voice barely more than a whisper. She stares into that ball of flame, then shudders.
“If you fear for your life,” Ky says, “you should be aware that you are no safer from me than from whoever bears this threat.”
Charlotte blanches. The silence stretches on. One of the Hunters on the ground makes a low moan. I don’t know him well, but I think his name is Rancal. I kick him.
“Fuck you, Asher,” he says.
“Fuck you back.” I kick him again.
Jory puts a hand on my arm, though the king looks like he wants me to do it again.
“Charlotte,” says Jory. “I will spare your life. No matter what you say.” Her tone is bold and confident. The princess who will be queen. She looks to Ky. “Tell her.”
He hesitates, then nods—though he doesn’t look happy about it. “If the princess will spare your life, then I will as well.” He pauses, and that ball of fire crackles and pops, making Charlotte flinch. “But only if you speak the truth, and now.”
Charlotte shudders. “Your Highness, you should know—you should know I have always tried to be loyal. I have always tried to be—”
“Now!” Ky snaps.
