“Very few people know,” he adds, and his voice grows no louder. “And it is essential that it stay that way. I am only telling you now so that you understand the absolute need for this alliance. Once Father is gone, the entire kingdom is at risk.”
Because neither of us shares his magic.
I stare at Dane in shock. “Does Incendar know?”
“Absolutely not.”
“How long haveyouknown?”
“Nearly a year. It wasn’t as bad in the beginning, but the palace physician sees to him daily now. His heart won’t last must longer.”
“And the healers—”
“They have all tried.”
The breath eases out of my chest. I cannot believe they’ve kept this a secret as long as they have—and I’m hurt that they’ve kept it fromme. For the last few months, Father has been slowly allowing Dane to act as regent. It’s commonplace—expected, even, for an aging king—though it’s widely assumed that Father has been overseeing Dane’s decisions. But Father is barely seventy. He isn’t soveryold, and he hasn’t said one word about illness or conceding the crown. No one has suspected anything like...this.
They’ve worked very hard to keep this private, because I haven’t heard one single whisper.
No wonder they didn’t consult me. No wonder they’re willing to let this brutish, violent king drag me across a border to do whatever he wants with me.
Without Father’s magic, Astranza will have limited defenses against Draegonis. We’d have limited defenses against Incendar, for that matter. If the alliance isn’t in place before Father dies, Maddox Kyronancould simply take what Dane is currently offering. Astranza needs that power as an ally, not an opponent.
No wonder marriage is such an essential part of the deal.
I swallow tightly. As the king, my father is always busy, always distant, always tethered to Dane. I often go days without seeing him. Sometimes weeks. We haven’t been close in years. Not since Mother died. When he sentenced Lady Clara to death and exiled Asher from the palace, it broke something between us that he’s never tried to mend.
But he’s still my father.
“Can I see him?” I say softly.
“No. If you go rushing to Father’s bedside, it will be apparent that something is wrong.” Dane pauses. “But do you understand now?”
Yes. I do. I hate it, but I do.
He must read it on my face, because he gives me a sharp nod. “The king of Incendar will arrive at dawn, and Father and I will greet him to review any final details of our alliance. You will meet him at midmorning, and he will issue his proposal. And then the choice is yours.”
But there’s no choice at all. If I refuse, I’m condemning my kingdom.
Charlotte raps at the door, then calls, “The tea has arrived, Your Highness.”
Dane takes a step back. “I will leave you to your attendants.” He strides for the door and exits so brusquely that he nearly collides with Charlotte and her tray. The seamstress cowers behind her when he passes.
I smooth the panels of the dress and give them both a nod, trying not to let any of what I learned show on my face. “Continue,” I say to them both. “It’s growing late, and tomorrow will be a busy day.”
But my head is spinning. My earlier fear has wrapped up with dismay and anguish, and I don’t see any way out.
Charlotte sets the tray on my side table and pours me a cup. “Yes, Your Highness.”
I can’t help taking another glance at the moonlit window.
Asher. I need you.
No shadows move at all.
Maybe it doesn’t matter. Maybe it’s better that he’s gone.
Because there’s no escape for me. Not anymore.
