“You know not what matters you dabble in, Lady Enchantress,” King Giuseppe growled. “Though my daughter convinced you help her, magic users—enchantresses included—are to refrain from meddling in the affairs ofcountries.”
Now that it is convenient for you, we’re going to trot out that particular platitude arewe?
Angelique very nicely managed to keep the sarcasm out of her voice. “I know that. If Carabosso hadn’t ravaged six of your villages and towns, I wouldn’t be here. But as you have not moved, I am forced to come here and plead on behalf of your own people—dosomething!”
A muscle twitched in King Giuseppe’scheek.
There! He’s not so uncaring as he appears to be. But what, then, is driving him to such a poordecision?
“My orders stand,” King Giuseppe announced. “The Magic Knights will be consolidated and posted in the biggest cities with the army. Our greatest resources must beprotected.”
Angelique squeezed her hands so tightly, her knuckles turned white. “Your greatest resource is your subjects. If you abandon them, Carabosso will continue his slaughter.” Her boiling anger made her stiff as her eyesnarrowed.
King Giuseppe wasn’t pleasant to deal with before, but now he is the first monarch besides the dead King Torgen to willfullyignorethe great danger in his kingdom. How can he be reached? I cannot hope to face Carabosso on my own given how Suzu has joined him! Hemustsendhelp!
“At least allow the Magic Knights to face Carabosso.” Angelique kept her chin up as she met the king’s steely gaze. “He is gathering companions. If his company continues to grow, even your fortified cities willsuffer.”
“Sole has outlasted magical attacks before. We will do it again,” King Giuseppe rumbled. “Moreover, Carabosso is a rogue magic user—by default, he is the responsibility of the VenenoConclave.”
How very high-road of you—to try and push the responsibility off on someone else—when you just warned me not two shouts ago that mages aren’t to meddle with countryaffairs!
Angelique clenched her teeth so hard she wondered if they would crack. “I have sent word to the Conclave, but it will take time for reinforcements to arrive. During which, hundreds of your people willdie.”
“If that is so, you and Lord Enchanter Evariste should have taken care of him at Rosalinda’s christening,” the Kingspat.
Angelique narrowed her eyes, taking in the way the king grasped the arms of his throne with his granddaughter’s name.Is that his true fear—that Carabosso is going to get to Rosalinda if he moves any of his forces away fromCiane?
That thought kept Angelique from completely losing it and screaming at the older monarch, but she didn’t withhold herfury.
“As you have been asleep for the past year, Your Highness, I shall endeavor to be gracious in your ignorance, but it seems likeIwill be the one to inform you. Our continent is at a war with an organization that has spentcenturiespreparing for the upcoming battle. Every country has faced horrors these last few years. No one—not even Sole with all of its honor and knights in shining armor—can afford to ignore the situation, or their land will be wipedout!”
“Enough!” King Giuseppe shouted, so enraged a vein throbbed in his temple. “You may be a Lady Enchantress, but you will not question how I choose to rule my country. Leave Ciane, or I will have you draggedout.”
Angelique almost laughed in hisface.
After all I’ve been through, does he really think I care about making a scene? And does he really think his soldiers could manhandle me? I putallof Ciane to sleep! Heaven help us—or protect PrincessRosalinda.
She ignored the gasps that filled the room and hung in the air like a specter of horror—she didn’t care if they were offended on her behalf or not, particularly given that all of them were too frightened to speak out against theirking.
She took a half step toward Giuseppe. “The blood of innocents will be on your hands, YourMajesty.”
King Giuseppe’s face was expressionless as he leaned back in his chair. “Yes, for it will be done as I havesaid.”
It was so quiet, Angelique could hear her ownbreathing.
This is it,she dimly realized.Sole will fall—either from Carabosso or the consequences of King Giuseppe’s stupidity. Because no one tried to stopit.
“Grandfather, you are making a gravemistake.”
Chapter 27
Surprised,Angelique twisted so she could look back at a lovely young lady who had eyes a stunning shade ofpurple.
It took Angelique a moment to recognize her—for when she had last seen Princess Rosalinda, she had been sound asleep with her remarkable eyesshut.
But though she was King Giuseppe’s granddaughter, there was a marked difference between them—and even between the princess and herparents.
Her family was poised and elegant and arranged themselves like statues to beadmired.
