I cleared my throat and looked away. “What happened to him? The other man?”
The brief hint of nostalgia I’d seen in her hardened once more. “I said I was in love. I never saidhewas.”
I shifted in my seat. “I’m sorry, Mother. I didn’t know.”
“It doesn’t matter.” She took a long sip of her wine. “That’s when I learned to put duty over love.” Pausing, she studied me with a tilt of her head. “Oh, don’t pity me, dear. I don’t regret it for a moment, for then I wouldn’t have you.” Her lips rose into a tight smile, the closest to comforting that she could get. “Warm” was not a word one would use to describe my mother, but that was simply who she was. Perhaps when she was younger, things were different…but this world and a marriage to a hard man who put his title over his family had chipped away at her edges.
That momentary softness never lasted long. But I always held on to it when it came.
“And what about you, Thorne?” she asked, eyes piercing. “Are you going to put duty overyouremotions?”
I licked my lips. “What are you talking about?”
She set her glass on the coffee table, and the clang echoed in the quiet room. “It appears Clarissa is still going to marry him. Not only that, but the territory has now fallen in love with her.Youmade them fall in love with her. What happened to our plan?”
I scowled. “You meanyourplan, Mother. I went along with it when I thought it was what was best for the people.”
“What’s best for our people is to not have some lazy, ill-suitedboyfor a king. Tonight was the perfect opportunity for these people to see her as a monster and drive her away for good. To set in motion the wheels of Galen’s removal. Yet you practically pushed her into their arms, painting her as this hero we’ve needed. Asavior,” she huffed. “As if someone from her empire would ever use their magic to save us.”
“What do you have against Veridians?”
“They slaughtered our people, Thorne,” she said in disgust. “They’re power-hungry and only care about themselves. They didanythingto get their precious magic, so don’t think for a single moment that they wouldn’t do anything to keep it. To keep us inferior to them and their empire.”
“It was awar, Mother. Their people died too. And it was overthree hundred years ago. You don’t know anything about them and what they want. Didn’t you see what Clarissadid?” I asked. “She can take away this blight! We need her, Mother. And shewantsto help us. She’s not who you think she is.”
Mother scanned me again, slowly leaning back into her chair. “I see,” she said, drawing the word out. “You’re falling for this girl.”
“What?” My features screwed in disbelief. “That’s ridiculous. I’m not—I don’t have feelings for her. She has to marry Galen. I never understood why he was so adamant about bringing her here, but now I do. It’s more than just her magic being able to cure the blight. Their marriage will end this curse. Forgood.”
To my surprise, Mother stood in alarm. “What did you just say?” she breathed out.
“The entire Grimaldi line kept it a secret, but Galen told me last night,” I explained. “The Fates made a deal with Nyses Grimaldi’s son. If someone in his bloodline marries someone from the Veridian Empire, the curse will break. I know how important you think it is to remove the Grimaldis from the throne altogether, but isn’t thismoreimportant? To have the curse completely lifted?”
I stood and took a step toward her around the coffee table. “Clarissa would be good for this kingdom. I’ve seen it. She might even be able to help Galen pull himself together. Be the king we need him to be.”
Mother spun on her heel and paced in front of the fireplace, rubbing a wrinkled hand along the back of her neck. “This…this changes things.”
“I know. Will you stop your scheming now?” I asked. “This marriage…it’s a good thing, Mother.” I knew the words were true, but they tasted sour on my tongue. “You just have to give them a chance.”
She met my eyes, her expression as stony and unreadable as ever. I saw something ripple across her face, and her cheek twitched before she smoothed it over. Then she gave me a reassuring smile.
“Perhaps you’re right.”
My shoulders sagged in relief. “So, we’re in agreement. No more plans to stop their engagement or convince him to abdicate. The curse will finally be broken. That’s what we’ve wanted all along, isn’t it?”
She took a few steps to me and put a hand on my cheek. “Of course, Thorne. You’re a good boy. Galen is lucky to have you.” Her smile tightened, becoming more of a grimace. “You know everything I do is for you, don’t you? You and Marigold?”
My brow furrowed. “I know, Mother.”
“Good.” She patted my cheek once. “Don’t ever forget that. Good night, dear.”
27
Clarissa
The next two days in the Mid Territory passed in a whirlwind. Word spread like wildfire that I could heal land cursed by the blight, and Mother and I woke todozensof families at the door of Silenus Manor begging for us to come help them.
We went without a second thought.
