The king says nothing, but this silence is suddenly pointed. Profound in a way I can’t figure out.
I turn my head to look at him, because I feel as though I’ve missed something, and I want to understand. But the soldier to our left speaks into the night. “Ky. Palace guards. We’ve been spotted.”
At my back, the king’s body goes taut. I peer out into the shadows. The forest has given way to open fields, and I recognize the moonlit palace walls far in the distance. Everything is still dark: no lanterns, no candles, nothing. Shadow-darkened riders are moving across the snow in our direction, but none of them carry a torch.
Ky draws our horse to a halt, half turning to face Callum and Garrett. The two leading Asher are farther behind, and my friend is barely more than a shadow. I can tell from his frame that his hands are still bound, and a long rope stretches from around his neck to one of the horses. I clench my jaw. Maybe they didn’t beat him to death, but if oneof those horses spooked or bolted, his neck would be broken and that would be that.
I can feel his rage from here. His panic, too. The air seems to shimmer from it.
A cornered man will make reckless choices.
I have no idea what Dane will do to him. I know what happened ten years ago, and that was bad enough. This will probably be worse.
I give a small shiver. I couldn’t do anything for Asher then. I doubt I can do anything now.
Ky’s arm is still around my waist, and I lift a hand to touch his. His skin is so warm, and for a moment, I’m struck by the knowledge that Asher would pull away—but Ky does not.
“Please,” I whisper. “Let him go.”
He inhales deeply, and when he lets it out, the breath is full of emotion that takes me by surprise. Frustration. Sorrow. Regret. “I cannot.”
My heart twists, and I feel all those same emotions. “BecauseIbetrayedyou.”
“This is not an act of vengeance, Princess. My soldiers said your brother is holding my captain at the palace. If Prince Dane believes Incendar is responsible for your disappearance, then I have no idea what he will—”
“We have Asher’s orders!” I exclaim. “I’ll tell Dane you had nothing to do with this!”
“Those same orders implicateme.” He pauses. “Do you truly believe your brother would take your word for it?”
I inhale sharply, but then my gut clenches. My heart falls.
He’s right.
Ky’s voice is still low. “Asher delivered these orders—and he is the only man with a connection to where they came from. I cannot release him, Princess. I cannot risk my people for the life of one man. You have proven yourself to be a formidable opponent, so surely you understand this.”
I snap my head around to look at him. For a moment, I think he’s mocking me, but when his golden eyes meet mine, I’m startled by the unvarnished sincerity in their depths.
“If I were formidable,” I say bitterly, “you’d be letting him go.”
“If youweren’t,” he says, “I never would’ve removed a single weapon.”
The words light me with surprising warmth, because no one’s ever faced me like an equal—and right this moment, I hate him for it.
Garrett speaks from beside us. “Two dozen men,” he says, his tone low and foreboding. He squints in the moonlight. “Looks like more coming.”
“It seems your brother has already made up his mind,” says the king. His voice sharpens, becoming an order. “Light your torches,” he says, and the two soldiers beside us obey immediately. Flint strikes and fire flares to life, bringing gold to their cheeks and letting me see them both. It’s clear that the palace guards have seen this, too, because shouts echo in the distance. I think I hear my brother’s voice giving orders, and I wonder if he’s among them.
They definitely don’t sound like they’re rejoicing about my safety. They sound ready to fight to the death.
“I’m the king of Incendar,” Ky says to me, turning to face the oncoming guards. “I think it’s time your brother had a reminder.”
A chill washes through me. The king and his men might be badly outnumbered, but there’s a reason his army has such a vicious reputation. I suddenly realize it’s not just Asher who’s in danger here. It’s the entire alliance. It’s all of Astranza.
I remember the fury in Dane’s voice when he was scolding me about the wedding dress.We’re forming an alliance to have a chance at ending this war! I’m not starting another one!
I don’t want to start another one either.
I swallow hard. “Ky,” I say. “Please. Stop this. Let me talk to Dane. He doesn’t understand.”
