“You are speaking of force.”
I shrug. “I am speaking of power.”
She laughs, but there’s no humor to it. “I will never be like my mother, Alek.”
“No one expects you to be like your mother.”
“No oneexpectsit, but I certainly don’t think they’d complain if I ruled with an iron fist. Not even you.”
I nod, conceding. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
She glances at me. “Tell me your thoughts. I wouldn’t have asked you to walk with me if I didn’t want to hear them.”
“You are grieving. As I said before, I will be little comfort. At best, I can offer judgmental cynicism.”
This time, her smile seems almost genuine. “Perhaps Ineeda dose of judgmental cynicism.”
We’re still strolling through the palace hallways, but just now, we’re a good distance from any guards or servants. I drop my voice and say, “I do find myself wondering . . . is it possible to demonstrate strength while looking like the absence of King Grey has broken you?”
Her breath catches, and her steps falter. Perhaps another man would apologize . . . but I won’t.
“I suppose I asked for that,” she says breathlessly.
“You did,” I say. “And you’re strong enough to take it.”
At that, she squares her shoulders and lifts her chin. “He ruled at my side for years, Alek. That is not a small thing to undo.” She bites at her lip, and her voice drops. “But they targetedmeto get tohim.”
She’s talking about the splintered group of Truthbringers who threatened her life. The same ones Karyl is hoping I’ll align with to help eliminate the queen now.
“Yes,” I say carefully. “They did.”
“Grey was never able to discover who was behind that plot,” she says.
“Nor was I,” I say.
“Before he left, Tycho indicated that the Truthbringers may have been working with these scravers to drive the king out of Syhl Shallow.”
I nearly stop short. The Truthbringers couldn’t be working with scravers. They couldn’t be. They’re trying to eradicate magic. There’s no way they could beusingit.
But I think of that line in Karyl’s letter.
I have discovered a way to ensure success for our family.
No. There’s no way. Karyl hated magic as much as I do. I turn to face the queen. “Impossible.”
“Possible, Alek.” She pauses. “The army abandoned my husband on the fields when those scravers attacked. My advisers urged me to send him out alone. I know there are still Truthbringers among the soldiers.” She glances at me. “I believeyouknow it, too.”
This is growing a bit too close to an accusation of treason— or maybe she’s hoping for an admission. Either way, I’m not playing.
I shrug noncommittally. “I suppose therecouldbe.”
She smiles, and for the first time, it reaches her eyes. “So savvy, Alek.”
“My loyalty, as always, is to you.” I look over so she can see that I’m serious. “Not tohim.”
She gives a disgusted sigh. “You sound like Nolla Verin.”
“Do I?”
