“Aveline,” Morkai said, tone pitched low.
“I wasn’t kept captive there for the last six years.”
Dimetreus blinked a few times, his face going a shade paler. “What is she talking about, Your Grace?”
She expected Morkai to answer, but he didn’t. Amusement danced in his eyes, which should have been warning enough to keep her from saying another word. Still, she had to try. Had to test the bounds of Morkai’s control. “I’ve been hiding for six years becauseyousentenced me to death for the murder of Queen Linette. A crime I didn’t commit. A crimehedid.” She pointed at the duke. “He framed me for it, let me take the fall, and you believed him. You believed him when he told you I’d died, but now you see me standing before you. You believed him when he said it had all been a mistake and I’d been captured by Selay, but I promise you that is untrue. Brother, do not believe another word he says.”
Dimetreus trembled and closed his eyes. At first, Cora thought he was crying. Then he stood from his seat and pounded his fists onto the table, sending the dinnerware rattling. Lex scrambled back from the table while Morkai took a sip of wine, watching the spectacle with a grin.
“Lies!” the king shouted. “You lie! You are not my sister.” He reached across the table for her, but she launched back—only to recall she was upon the dais. Her foot slipped on the top step, and she began to fall.
A steady arm encircled her waist, catching her. She didn’t care that it was Teryn. Didn’t care that he kept his hand on her lower back once her feet were planted firmly on the ground. She only cared about the rage distorting her brother’s face. He looked so much like he had the day he condemned her to die.
“She speaks the truth,” Teryn said. “Every word she says is true.”
Dimetreus began to round the table toward them. “You’re both spies. You aren’t my sister, and you aren’t the prince.” He whirled toward where Lex stood plastered against the wall. “Who even are you? Who are any of you? Guards!”
The door opened at the end of the dining hall, and in strode several guards. Cora noted that not one bore the king’s sigil, only the duke’s crescent moon.
“Get them out of my sight,” Dimetreus said as he stormed away from the dais.
“Dimi,” Cora called after him, but he didn’t give her a second glance before he left the dining hall entirely. She pressed in close to Teryn as the guards surrounded them in a half circle. There was no getting to the door without going through the guards first. Cora waited for them to start forward, draw their weapons, and attack. They didn’t.
Slow footsteps drew her attention to Morkai. He sauntered down the dais, cane in hand, and addressed his guards. “The king is having one of his fits again. He’ll be right by morning. For now, ignore him.”
The guards obeyed, making no move to close in.
It didn’t ease the feeling of dread that had crawled into her heart.
Morkai approached Teryn and Cora, eyes narrowed to slits.
Cora felt something squeeze her hand and realized Teryn had been holding it. Gritting her teeth, she wrenched it away and took a step back. Teryn remained rooted in place. He met Morkai with his chin held high. They were nearly the same height, although Teryn was of a much broader build. In contrast, Morkai was lithe and lean, which only somehow added to his terrifying beauty.
“Prince Teryn,” Morkai said, a hint of mocking in his tone, “I do believe it’s time I showed you the garden.”
37
Teryn knew Duke Morkai’s words were not to be taken as a request. It was a demand, and not just for him. The duke motioned Lex forward. Teryn found his friend against the wall, shoulders nearly as high as his ears. Lex’s eyes darted from Teryn to Morkai, then to the guards. Teryn still hadn’t had a chance to speak with Lex alone. He’d tried to call upon Lex earlier but had been turned away by a guard. The duke clearly had every intention of keeping them from communicating outside his presence.
Lex slowly pushed off from the wall and joined Teryn and Cora.
“Come,” Morkai said. “We shall all visit the garden together.” He started off toward the door and the guards gestured for Teryn and his companions to follow.
Cora didn’t hesitate before she marched after the duke, which was all it took to get Teryn and Lex moving too. Teryn saw no point in arguing. No point in facing off with the guards—heavily armed ones, he was quick to note. He’d been disarmed upon arriving at the castle, which meant he had absolutely no defense but his fists. His consolation was that visiting the garden meant going outside, which would offer Teryn a chance to scope out the castle grounds. All he needed was to find an empty part of the wall. A gate left unattended. He’d done more than simply tend his palfrey when he visited the stables earlier. He’d tended all three of their horses, gathered their belongings, hid them inside each pen in anticipation of a hasty escape. He’d meant to convince Cora to agree to work with him, but it seemed their dance had only widened the chasm he’d regrettably created. Regardless, Teryn was determined to get her out of the castle. Princess or no, she was in danger here. Her brother was a madman, and the duke…Teryn wasn’t entirely sure what the duke was just yet, but he had a feeling he was going to find out.
Lex leaned in close as they wove through the halls. “Care to share what in the name of the seven devils is going on?”
“We need to speak alone,” Teryn whispered back. “For now, know we aren’t safe here. None of us are. Don’t trust a word the duke says. I’m getting us out of the castle tonight.”
Lex opened his mouth to reply, but one of the guards gave him a shove between the shoulders, forcing them apart. Teryn bristled, his hands curling around air while yearning for a weapon. He’d never known a guard of any rank who’d consider laying a hand on a prince like that. In any other situation, the guard would lose his position, his hand, perhaps even his life.
Lex cut the guard an affronted glare but kept silent. He’d probably come to the same conclusion Teryn had—that these weren’t regular guards. They didn’t respect royal hierarchy. They followed Morkai, a duke, a man who stood below their king.
No duke should have the authority Morkai did.
The party came to an empty courtyard. It stood beneath a black sky, the sun having already set before dinner. Cool night air brushed Teryn’s skin as they crossed the stone floor and funneled through a door in a low stone wall at the other side. Morkai stopped just beyond it and beckoned the rest of them to come forth.
Cora halted as soon as she took a step beyond the wall. She released a gasp, her body going rigid. Teryn and Lex quickened their pace and came up beside her.
