My Kingmaker Magic flares to life with a blast of scorching heat. I feel the exclusion in his words, the truth pummeling me almost as hard as a lie would. To Piers, I’m not part of his family.
Even coming from someone I’ve never gotten along with, being so clearly set apart stings.
“Griffin wants to unite the three realms. That washisidea. You know that, and it was Poseidon who pushed him in my direction. Zeus, Hades, Athena, and Artemis have all helped us in some way. They’re backing us, and all we want is to make Thalyria a place worth living in again, like it used to be before the kingdom split and the Alphas turned all greedy and demented. Working against me means working against Griffin and everything he hopes to accomplish.” I study Piers, looking for some sign of the reason and intelligence on which he prides himself. “You must see that.”
“Then why did he crown you? Why is he putting the power in your hands instead of his own?”
Frankly, I wish he wasn’t. Griffin knows that. So does everyone we’re close to—I thought. But I’ve learned the hard way that the Fates don’t just go away. They dog your heels and bite you in the back. Destiny isn’t something you can ignore, and in my case, Griffin made sure of it.
Piers wasn’t there when we told the rest of Griffin’s family about our time on the Ice Plains. They must have filled him in, but I say it again. “Artemis told us I’m the Origin. In essence, the new beginning. That means whatever we construct—hopefully a unified Thalyria where people aren’t living in fear of their royals most of the time—somehow starts with me. But Griffin and I will rule together. Of course we will.”
“Until you decide you want all the power for yourself.”
I look at him, completely taken aback. Is Piers blind? Deaf? “When have I ever given any indication of wanting that?”
“It’s in your blood,” he says flatly. “You won’t be able to stop yourself.”
“Oh, that’s fair.” I toss up my hands. “If your father was a murderer, I should just assume you’re one, too?”
His eyes narrow. “You are a murderer.”
My jaw drops in outrage. “I amnotmy mother.”
“Yet. And you’re still a murderer.”
He’s completely convinced. My magic only used to detect lies, except on very rare occasions. Truths mainly came to me as a natural by-product of falsehoods. Since I met Griffin, my magic can also flare hot and painful for truly strong, heartfelt honesty. Right now, the burn in my bones is telling me that Piers means every word.
“I’ve only ever killed in self-defense. Or in the defense of others,” I say past the knot forming in my chest. “You’ve fought in a war. How is that any different from what I’ve done?”
“I saw you in the Games. That’s killing for sport.”
“We didn’t go there for fun. Or glory.” Anger and emotion are starting to get the upper hand and staying calm takes a real effort. “We went hoping to win the opportunity to confront Galen and Acantha Tarva without putting anyone in danger but ourselves. And we spared anyone we reasonably could in the arena, even the creatures. More people made it out of those Agon Games alive than they have in centuries.”
Piers sneers. “Oh, yes.Elpis. I forgot.”
That’s it. Fury heats my blood to the boiling point, and if it were possible to actually see red, I would. “I’ve had enough. Go home. Don’t help. Be impartial if you want to, just don’t get in my way.”
“Myway?” Piers loads enough scorn into his voice to sink a ship. “See? It’s starting already.”
The urge to pummel him rocks me hard. I curl my hands into fists, but I turn on my heel and walk away before I do something I’ll regret.
“Bloody sanctimonious bastard,” I mutter as I start back toward Griffin and Kaia. Being moved to physical violence is the easy and natural path for me, and my whole body almost vibrates with the need to pounce and pound. I’m trying to control myself and learn better habits, but Piers is making it hard.
He suddenly grabs my wrist from behind and jerks me to a stop. I swing around, just barely stopping myself from punching him with my free hand. My lips draw back in a snarl, baring my teeth, and I have to hold on to my thigh to keep my fist from flying up. I’m too filled with rage to hear what he’s saying at first, but then I realize the pattern is a chant, and the words are familiar.
No!Dread slams into me, replacing my fury with fear. I’ve heard those ancient words before, on the Ice Plains. Only there, different rules applied. Here…
“Stop!” I cry, trying to break his grip on my wrist. “You don’t know what you’re doing!”
Piers talks faster, louder. He’s Hoi Polloi, but that doesn’t matter. You don’t need to be Magoi to make this work.
His stone-cold eyes glint with determination, and I let my fist fly, trying to punch him in the throat. I get him, but not hard enough to shut him up. His next words come out hoarse but still too distinct to break the flow of the chant. He starts a new, treacherous repetition, bringing us all closer to terrible danger.
Jerking hard on the wrist he’s holding, I pull him closer and plant my foot in his groin. Or try to. He’s quick and pivots. I hit his hip, jarring the bones in my foot and ankle. Piers hardly moves, absorbing the blow in the same way Griffin would have. He keeps chanting.
“Cat!” Griffin shouts my name from the road. Panic wells up, making my heart pump double time. He can’t be here for this.
I shift my stance and send a quick and powerful knee toward Piers’s gut. He swipes his free arm down and blocks me with his forearm, throwing me off-balance. Before I can recover, he spins me around and pulls me up against his chest, limiting my mobility.
