“So, in a way,” Morkai said, “I’m just as important of an heir as the princess is. When it comes to the council’s point of view, that is. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Teryn’s pulse kicked up. He didn’t like where this conversation was going.
Dimetreus frowned. “In a manner of speaking, I suppose you could say that.”
“And you don’t think you’ll remarry?”
“No, my heart cannot part from my darling Linette. Due to my loss of memories, I feel like it’s been far less than six years since her death. I have no intention of choosing a new queen. Aveline will further the Caelan bloodline, not me.”
Morkai’s face fell with false sympathy. “You must miss her dearly.”
Dimetreus inhaled a sharp breath, and when he spoke, his voice held a quaver. “More than I can say.”
“I bet you’d do anything to bring her back.”
The king nodded.
“You’d sacrifice your own life, if need be, wouldn’t you?”
“Without question.”
Morkai stepped slightly closer. His voice dipped so low, Teryn had to move closer to hear.
“Teryn,” Emylia said, a warning in her tone, but he couldn’t be bothered to pay her heed. Hehadto know what Morkai was saying.
“What else would you trade, Majesty?” the sorcerer whispered. “Your kingdom? Your mind? Would you make a blood mage your heir in exchange for a promise that he could bring your wife back from the dead once he gained power over your kingdom? Or…or have you already done that?”
Teryn’s heart slammed in his chest, his lungs constricting.
“Breathe, Teryn,” Emylia said. “Keep your breaths slow and steady. Don’t lose contact now.”
Dimetreus took a trembling step back. “What…what are you saying?”
Morkai’s voice shifted into a softer tone, one far more sinister than anything that left Teryn’s lips before. It was so quiet, Teryn could barely make out the words. “Were you a willing participant after all, my king? Did you…letthe duke take over your mind?”
“No, I…” Dimetreus’ chest heaved, his eyes going unfocused. “No. No, it can’t be. I wouldn’t have…”
“I’m still here, my king. We can make the deal again. Give me your mind and I’ll give you your wife. I’ll bring her back?—”
“No!” The roar leaped from the king’s throat. His lips curled up in a snarl, eyes wild. “Monster! Demon! What are you?What are you?” In the blink of an eye, Dimetreus surged toward Morkai, the dagger at his belt suddenly unsheathed in his hand.
The guards darted from the dais, and Morkai threw up his hands and stumbled back. He fell to the ground, eyes wide with feigned terror.
Teryn watched, frozen in place, as Dimetreus tackled Morkai and held the dagger to his throat—toTeryn’sthroat. A line of crimson erupted from his flesh, but Teryn couldn’t feel the cut. No, just the frantic beat of his heart. The race of his pulse. The tightness in his chest.
Spittle flew from the king’s lips as he shouted, “Demon! Demon!”
“What are you doing, Majesty?” Morkai’s voice had returned to normal, brimming with horrified innocence. “Seven gods, Majesty, look at me. Look at me! It’s me, Prince Teryn!”
Dimetreus shuttered his eyes and pulled the blade back just as the king’s guards reached them. They hauled Dimetreus up at once, eyes darting between their king and Morkai. “What happened?” one of the guards shouted.
Dimetreus continued to blink rapidly, then stared down at the knife in his restrained hand. With a cry of alarm, he dropped the blade. “Seven gods…”
Morkai slowly rose to his feet, shoulders almost as high as his ears, expression wary. “The king attacked me. We were talking and then…and then…”
Teryn’s blood burned with rage as the guards showed no sign of seeing through Morkai’s farce. Even Dimetreus seemed to take his performance as truth, a wail escaping his lips. With his crown askew and spittle speckling his chin, he looked every part the crazed king. “I’m…I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me. It…it was a moment of hallucination. I’ve never had one so strong, so…”
“Keep him restrained,” one guard said to the others. “This is a matter we must take to Lord Kevan.”
