Silence fell over the room. Emylia slowly turned from the window to watch what would happen next.
Ulrich cleared his throat, breaking the quiet. “What do you mean she’s gone?”
“She ran away in the middle of the night.”
Kevan stood in a rush. “Excuse me?”
“I don’t know what drove her away. Perhaps the pressures of the crown were too much for her.”
Kevan burned him with a scowl. “Do you jest, Highness?”
Morkai met his stare without falter. “No.”
“Verdian will be here within days for the signing of the pact,” Kevan said through his teeth. “He entrusted Khero to us. If he sees the kingdom has fallen apart under our watch, he’ll?—”
“He’ll what?” Morkai let out a dark chuckle. “You’re councilmen of Khero now. Verdian has no power here.”
“On the contrary, Highness, Verdian can usurp Khero in the blink of an eye. That was implied from the start when he and Dimetreus negotiated his and Aveline’s freedom.”
“Then shouldn’t he be grateful to you? Or am I to believe he was being generous in staking such a firm claim on this kingdom? If anything, it seems like he wanted Dimetreus’ regime to fail, and the two of you along with it.”
Kevan’s face burned red, lips pursed tight.
Ulrich took a step forward, teeth bared. “Watch how you speak about King Verdian, Highness.”
Morkai shrugged. “I speak only the truth, and I’m going to speak true now. Verdian was right to suspect Princess Aveline and King Dimetreus as incapable of ruling Khero. Dimetreus is a madman and Aveline is both too soft and too volatile for the pressures of the crown.”
“That we can agree on,” Kevan bit out.
“Which is why,” Morkai said, “you should name me King of Khero.”
Teryn and Emylia exchanged a startled glance.
Kevan and Ulrich seemed equally as perplexed. “Why the seven devils would we do that?” Ulrich said with a disbelieving laugh.
Morkai slowly rose from his chair and stood before the desk. “Before Dimetreus had his mental fit and tried to kill me, we’d had a candid conversation. He’d confessed that I was just as much his heir as Aveline. And we all know that Aveline’s ascension to the throne was entirely dependent upon her marrying me.”
Kevan planted his hands on the surface of the desk. He clearly meant to appear intimidating, but with Morkai standing at Teryn’s body’s full height, the lord seemed more meek than threatening. Especially with how Morkai stared down his nose at the man. “You have no claim to Khero aside from being king consort,” Kevan said. “A title which is invalid without the princess.”
“And what right does Verdian have?” Morkai shook his head. “You may think I’m out of line for speaking against your dear brother, but we can at least agree that his motives were hardly genuine when he appointed the two of you here.”
Kevan said nothing, but Ulrich asked. “How so?”
Morkai spoke with practiced ease. “You went from the heads of Verdian’s council in Selay to the heads of council in Khero. I’m sure you were promised new lands and titles upon the signing of the peace treaty, and it seems a lateral move in terms of position. But we know the truth. Verdian’s real aim was to get you out of Selay to strengthen his daughter’s position as heir. A position she should no longer have now that she’s married into a new kingdom. He isn’t satisfied with her being Queen of Menah through marriage. No, he wants her to inherit Selay too. Wants to see two kingdoms join as one.”
The red seeped from Kevan’s face. He maintained his position with his palms on the desk, but Teryn could see the sudden interest that flashed in the man’s blue eyes.
Morkai spoke again. “You should be princes, both of you. At the very least, you should be Verdian’s heirs. Instead, he’s brought you here. And, like you’d begun to suggest, he’ll blame you for Khero’s current state, for its crazed king and missing princess. If you lose your positions on this council, you know he won’t welcome you back onto his. Your places have already been filled. And if he does decide to usurp Khero, he won’t keep the two of you in power. He’ll only be adding yet another kingdom to his reign. A reign his daughter will inherit.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kevan said, but his tone held little conviction. “Half of what you say is considered treason.”
“Like I said, I speak only truth. Let us not pretend otherwise.”
“So you think we should back you as king instead,” Ulrich said. His tone was brimming with disbelief, but his eyes were keen. Hungry.
“Dimetreus admitted that I am his heir,” Morkai said. “Despite Verdian’s lack of respect for his brothers, he did give the two of you ultimate power over accepting the line of succession should Dimetreus fail his duties. Back me as king and I’ll give you more than land and titles. Kevan, you should be Verdian’s heir, plain and simple. Support my claim, and I’ll support you as heir to Selay. We’ll work it into the negotiations over the treaty. And you, Ulrich, will be named Duke Calloway. You shall inherit the Calloway lands left by the former Duke Morkai.”
Ulrich’s eyes flashed with greed and a half smile tugged his lips.
