The King.How I hated the man.
King Pontus had not only hunted me down and thrown me in the dungeon, he’d imprisoned Stellon there as well until such time as the “love spell” on him was broken—by my death.
The King had been sure my execution would free the Crown Prince to return to his senses.
What would happen to Stellon now that I was missing?
Had King Pontus seen me being carried away? Would he presume the dragon had killed me?
Hadthe dragon killed people?
I couldn’t remember the events of that day well, but it was very possible the collateral damage had included Stellon. I was almost afraid to ask, but I had to know.
“What happened in that arena?” I asked Pharis. “Other than a dragon crushing my bones.”
To my surprise, he winced. But the momentary tic was followed immediately by his usual unbothered expression.
“Screaming, stampeding, chaos… the usual scene when a dragon appears.”
“And in all the chaos, did you see what became of… Stellon?” I asked.
The calm visage was instantly replaced with a snarl of irritation.
“My brother is alive and well,” he said. “But I wouldn’t concern myself too much about him if I were you. He failed you back at Seaspire. He’ll forget about you soon enough.”
“That’s what you said before, and then I found out that he’d been searching for me everywhere, trying to find me so he could marry me.”
“How did that work out for you?” Pharis asked in a snarky tone.
Taking a sip from his wine glass, he said, “You and Stellon were never a good match. Besides, he told you himself—he needs to marry well to secure his role in the kingdom.”
“You mean your father ismakinghim marry well,” I snapped.
Pharis gave a derisive snort.
“Stellon is a grown man—older than I am. And don’t fool yourself, sweetheart. When it comes down to it, nothing is more important to my big brother than his duty to his people and the throne. That’s why he spent the night before your scheduled executionweepingin the dungeon instead of doing something useful to prevent your death—like overthrowing our father.”
Pharis’ tone dripped with disdain, and it made me angry. Stellon had told me how powerful their father was, that his Compelling glamour was invincible.
“Did you really expect him to attempt such a doomed feat?” I asked. “It would have been suicide.”
Pharis leaned back in his chair and pinned me with an unsettling turquoise glare.
“I did. I’m still alive.”
After a beat he added, “So are you, no thanks to theheroicheir to the Coral Throne.”
I had no argument for that, so I changed the subject.
“Speaking of that, I thoughtyouwanted the throne for yourself,” I snapped.
That was what Pharis had indicated the night he’d taunted me and Stellon in the dungeon. It was the whole reason he’d betrayed his brother and cozied up to his father the King.
Pharis smiled slyly and spread his arms out to the sides, gesturing to the grandeur surrounding us.
“I have everything I need right here, in my own little kingdom. My brother can have that moldy old crown.”
“And what of your father?” I asked. “Is he not angry that you spoiled his public spectacle—the oneyousuggested? Is he not searching for you? If we’re at your castle, you won’t be hard to find.”
