"Technically, I'm the spare. My sister will take the throne when ..." He clears his throat. "When the curse is lifted."
Gods. I thought he was just a warrior who'd sacrificed much for his kingdom. That was bad enough. This is worse. So much worse.
"Your sister. The warrior,” I say, my voice sounding far away.
"We come from a long line of them."
I nod, reeling. The prince. He's the prince. How can a father I've never met ruin my life so completely? I hate Cato for everything. But I hate him most for this.
"That's why she said you'd never belong to me," I whisper.
The lights flicker. I keep my eyes on my hands.
"She said that?"
I nod. It's all I can manage as shame crashes over me.
"I'm..." My lip quivers. "Oh gods. I can't do this." I press my hands to my face. "I'm such a coward. I said I'd tell you everything, and I can't. Ican't."
"Ada." He leans forward. Sets his hand over mine. "Look at me."
His touch. His comfort. It's too much.
A sob breaks free. I yank my hands away. "Please don't touch me!"
A myriad of emotions cross over his features. Through my tears, I catch only confusion. Pain.
"Cato is my father." The words fall between us like a blade. I swallow. "The man who cursed your kingdom. Who made you ..." I choke on a sob when I see his face.
I would run if I could. Escape the sight of his face. But I'm shaking too hard to move, and I know this moment will haunt me for the rest of my life. I bury my face in my hands. Force a breath. Force myself to look at him again. His expression nearly undoes me.
"I'm the healer you've been searching for." I force myself to breathe. To speak. "I didn't tell you at first because the Sages always warned me I'd be hunted by outsiders. Then you said youneeded the scepter, and I thought ... I didn't think you needed a healer. So it didn't matter. But then the Sages told me ..."
I have to stop. Breathe. Get it together. "They told me Cato and Pia are my parents." My voice breaks. I press a fist to the ache in my chest.
"I'm so sorry, Malachi. I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am." I force myself to meet his eyes. "And I'm sorry I'm the one you're bound to."
Another sob rises. I bury my face in my hands. It's so unfair. All of it.
Who my parents are. What my father did. Everything Malachi has sacrificed. But after all he's been through, the fact that Mortiana bound him to me may be the cruelest blow of all.
I've avoided reaching for the bond out of cowardice. But now I do. And gods, the pain on his end cuts so deep I think it might rip me apart. I wipe my face. Lower my hands.
"I'm sorry,” I repeat, calmer now. "If you take me to Noktemore, I can fix this. I know what it means for me. For us. I know I'll have to sacrifice?—"
The flickering lights should have warned me. He moves so fast I don't have time to react. His hand catches my chin, tilts my face up. His eyes are hard. Brutal.
"You have no idea what this means for us." His voice is low. Dangerous. "You will not sacrifice yourself. I don't care who your parents are. I don't care what Mortiana says, or the prophecy, or anyone else." He swallows hard. "I will not lose you to this curse."
I stare at him. "What?"
"I won't allow it."
"But I ... and you ... did you hear what I said? My father cursed your kingdom. He's the reason?—"
"I don't give a fuck!" He releases my chin and looks away. His eyes flash bronze before returning to golden brown.
"Malachi." I keep my voice gentle. Careful. Like calming a wounded animal. "This is an entire kingdom. Your kingdom. I'm one person. It's not?—"
