“Yes, but that was before my reinforcements were stalled.” Darius narrowed his eyes. “Did you have anything to do with that? Aiding your friends in Tomas?”
“We were not involved,” Cora said, holding his gaze without falter.
“Ah, but you knew about it, didn’t you? When you asked for more time to consider my offer, you knew about the rebellion, right?”
“You threatened us with war. Why wouldn’t I use any advantage to protect my kingdom? You’re the one who broke my trust. You assured me you’d prove your merit?—”
“Don’t bother with that,” Darius said, a dark chuckle coloring his words. “You never intended to consider my offer of alliance, did you?”
“I suppose you’ll never know now. What you’re doing—showing up at my castle with an army—is unforgivable.”
He took another step forward, pausing only when Cora’s guards did the same. Still, he kept his gaze locked on Cora’s. “I told you my threats weren’t empty, and I was tired of waiting while I knew I was being toyed with. You seem to have forgotten what I said about Ridine. That I could and would take it in a single night, should you give me a reason to.”
“So you’re here to fight us?” Teryn asked.
“I’m here,” Darius said, “to give you one last chance to make a reasonable choice. You’ve forfeited your option of alliance, but I will still accept surrender. Take me to the tear at once, or Ridine is mine.”
53
Cora didn’t bother trying to mask the pound of her heart. Let him hear it. Let him think she was afraid. So long as he couldn’t distinguish the cadence of fear from the pound of anticipation, it didn’t matter if he noticed the spike in her pulse.
The key was masking her eagerness.
“How do you know I’m even apprised of the tear’s location?”
He gave her a withering look. “I know, trust me. And don’t bother deceiving me. I learned enough during my few jaunts to Ridine to understand the general location. Somewhere west of Lake Sarrolin, am I right? On the coast?”
Cora pursed her lips. Yet another reaction she didn’t have to hide. She never should have let Mareleau send letters to Larylis through her and Berol without looking over them first. Then again, back when Mareleau had penned the letter, they’d had no reason to believe there was a spy freely wandering Ridine. The intel had only made it back to the castle because Larylis had shared it with Teryn. Darius must have either overheard one of Teryn’s meetings with their trusted few allies or snuck into the royal study and found his correspondence.
Either way, Darius would not be fooled by taking him far from where he expected her to.
Thank the Mother Goddess she had no plans to.
Darius’ expression darkened. “It isn’t up for debate. You will take me to the tear. If you comply, I will accept your surrender and return to remove my soldiers from your premises. If you deceive or fail me in any way, my men will take Ridine. You have ten minutes before they will act on their own. We can spend that time debating and end this chat in bloodshed, or you can take me to the tear and save your castle. You may have forfeited an alliance with me, but we can still forge favorable terms for your surrender.”
Cora and Teryn exchanged a glance. Her husband’s throat bobbed, worry etched in his expression. He didn’t have to feign that. They may have a plan, but that didn’t mean it was infallible. So much could go wrong.
Teryn reached for her hand and squeezed her fingertips. She squeezed his back in wordless reassurance.
Darius’ sharp tone invaded their moment. “What’s it going to be?”
Cora stepped forward, releasing Teryn’s hand with great reluctance. She burned Darius with a glare and spoke through her teeth. “I’ll take you.”
“Good,” he said, voice tight. He extended his arm. “You can travel with a companion, I presume?”
“I can.” Her gaze dipped to the proffered arm, hating that she had to touch him at all. But touch him she must, if she wanted to take him where he was meant to go. With a deep breath, she closed the distance between them, linked her arm through his, and closed her eyes.
She pictured a cliff’s edge, waves battering the beach far below. She imagined salty wind against her cheeks, the soft give of the grass beneath her feet.
Then she took a step.
And planted her feet in their destination.
She released Darius’ arm at once and leaped a step back. One hand remained open at her side, ready to unsheathe her dagger should he round on her. “Well?” she said, raising her voice over the crash of waves far below and the rioting wind tearing loose tendrils of hair from her braid. “We’re here. I’ve done what you asked, now remove your men from my castle.”
He assessed her through slitted lids. “How do I know you took me to the correct location?”
Her lips peeled into a sneer. “I thought you could sense the tear, being themora’srightful ruler and all. Oh…can you not? Ailan could.”
