Her brother’s expression grew guarded. “Lucenna, simply take me for my word when I tell you we cannot trust him.”
“Why? If you don’t answer me, I will contact him myself.”
Lucien closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he looked at her, the expression on his face made her still. Whatever her brother had to say, he didn’t want to speak the words.
“Lucien?” she whispered, afraid of his answer.
“Ava is no longer with child.”
The strength left Lucenna’s legs, and she sat on a large boulder. “What do you mean? What happened?”
Her brother’s lilac eyes grew wet and looked away. “She was found at the bottom of the stairs in the west wing…”
Lucenna’s chest heaved, and she covered her mouth. “Is she…?”
“Ava is alive, but only just. Her child didn’t survive.”
“Oh, Gods.”
Whatever she thought of Ava, to lose a baby was horrible.
“Wait. What does this have to do with Everest?” The expression on Lucien’s face made her blood run cold. “You cannot possibly think he had anything to do with it?”
“Lucenna, that child would have deposed him as heir apparent to the throne. Removing it would restore his position.”
All obstacles in your path will be removed.
She sucked in a breath, her chest heaving with sharp denial. “Listen to yourself. Everest is kind. He would never?—”
“Everest is to be the next Archmage,” Lucien said tightly. “Like all those who came before him, his only goal is power. If you expose yourself to him, he will find you, and bring you back to Magos. He is not the person you think he is, Lucenna.”
She continued to shake her head. It couldn’t be. Not after everything they had been through together. Not after everything they shared.
“You were raised with him, Lucien. He was your closest friend. What you are telling me doesn’t sound like the Everest I know.”
Her brother leaned back in his seat, and his shoulders slumped. “I don’t think we ever knew him at all.”
It simply didn’t make any sense.
“Do you have proof?”
He blinked at her. “What?”
“Do you have proof that Everest pushed Ava down the stairs?”
Lucien frowned. “No, but clearly this was intentional. He is the only one who benefits.”
“Out of everyone in the castle, why do you insist he’s the culprit?”
Her brother blinked at her, stumped by the question. He looked away from her and shifted in his chair.
She narrowed her eyes. “You are keeping something from me, Lucien. You have no proof of your claims, yet you refuse to allow me any contact with Everest. What are you hiding?”
Lucien’s mouth pursed into a thin line. “You willnotcontact him, Lucenna. I forbid it. We will not speak of this again.”
With a wave of his hand, the orb cleared. She gaped at it in disbelief. Lucien had never behaved in such a way before, where he strictly commanded her and expected her to obey.
Like a mage would.
