“If Aren does not sacrifice Ahnna to keep the peace, it will be war on Lestara’s terms,” Alexandra said, then the footman opened the door. “And you, Keris, have no one but yourself to blame for that.”
23
Ahnna
Ahnna had thought she’d knownmisery. Had thought she’d known evil.
Yet the hours she spent in the saddle with Carlo made her feel like she knew nothing at all.
The Beast of Amarid had a fondness for singing—and a remarkably good voice—but there was something about listening to him sing cheerful songs while gleefully tormenting her and James that made her skin crawl. That made fear pool in her belly.
Because Prince Carlo was not sane.
He rode behind the soldier holding the ropes attached to James, his voice rising in crescendo every time James tripped or fell, forcing Dippy so close that for all her horse’s efforts, he stepped on James more than once. Between songs, he’d kiss Ahnna like Harendellian courtiers kissed their lapdogs, then would squeeze the break in her arm while whispering soothing words and stroking her hair.
It took every ounce of willpower she possessed to keep from screaming.
“I like you, Princess,” Carlo whispered, running his fingers down her cheek while he rode next to a stumbling James. “I think I could love a woman like you. It’s a shame I can’t clean you up and dress you pretty. We could have such a lovely time together. ButMother has other plans for you.” He sighed and squeezed her broken arm.
Ahnna clenched her teeth, waiting for the excruciating pressure to ease, then she said, “What will your mother say if you accidentally kill James? Because if you keep this up, hewilldie.”
Carlo let out a breathy laugh. “Mother’s rage would be a thing to behold, my sweet beautiful Ahnna. But James will not die. Not like this. He won’t allow it.”
“You say that as though it were his decision.” From the corner of her eye, she watched James stumble and fall, the horse dragging him several paces before he regained his feet. His face was pale with exhaustion and droplets of blood streamed from his wrists where the ropes dug into his skin, but she dared not look at him directly. “Everyone has a limit.”
“True.” Carlo kissed her cheek six times in rapid succession, his lips leaving damp marks on her skin. “But I know James’s limits. We have been adversaries for a very long time, and there are moments when it feels like he is my soul’s mate. My perfect adversary. My darling nemesis. To lose him to exhaustion? Intolerable.” His voice turned vicious. “I would never allow it.”
He squeezed her arm again, and despite herself, Ahnna let out a soft whimper.
“Don’t disappoint me, my sweetling,” he crooned. “Don’t be less than I dreamed you to be. Mother only made me promise that I keep you alive, not whole. Not whole!” He sang the words, then reined Dippy sideways so that her horse knocked into James.
Ahnna bit the insides of her cheeks, digging deep into her reserves to keep from lashing out in a frenzy. To keep from doing every desperate thing she could to get free, because logic told her nothing would work.
Bide your time,she ordered herself.Wait for them to lower their guard.
But it killed her to do nothing while James was pushed to the brink,so despite herself, Ahnna turned her head—to find James watching Carlo, amber eyes filled not with defeat but with murder.
It seemed that the Beast knew what he was talking about after all.
“You should want him dead, no?” Carlo murmured. “James’s list of transgressions against you is so very long, Princess. I heard that the look on your face when dearest Eddie told all his court that Lestara and Cardiff were the chosen jewels, not Ahnna and Ithicana, was the expression of one stabbed in the heart. Made all the worse because James, your only friend in all of Harendell, was instrumental in the conspiracy against you. I wish I could have been there to witness it.” He stroked her cheek. “Did you weep, Ahnna? Or did you rage? Or did you do nothing but hide in your room while Alexandra framed you for Eddie’s murder?”
“I’ll tell you what I did if you tell me who stabbed him, because I know it wasn’t Alexandra,” she replied. “Edward was a strong man, and it wasn’t a quick death. It took strength, and whoever did it would have been covered with blood. Alexandra was pristine when she approached me.”
“Who indeed?”
“Mother didn’t tell you?” It was foolish to bait him, but Ahnna couldn’t help herself. “Or does Mother not know?”
Carlo gave a soft laugh. “Speaking of not knowing…I can’t help but wonder ifyouknow the full depths of the schemes against Ithicana. James, do you wish to tell her what Eddie planned to do to poor Aren, or shall I?” He kissed Ahnna’s cheek. “It gets much worse, Princess. Much,muchworse.”
Ahnna barely felt the kiss, because James had somehow grown paler.
“Halt,” Carlo called, and the line of soldiers all reined in their horses. The Beast’s breath tickled her ear as he whispered, “I wouldn’t want you to miss any of this confession.”
James’s jaw worked from side to side, his gaze on the snow.
“Reticent, are we? Let me help you along, because there are no secrets in the House of Alexandra. You see, Ahnna, it turns out our dear prince isn’t the bastard we all believed him to be. Eddie, that sly fox, secretly wed Siobhan Crehan, and as she was yet living when he stood in the cathedral with Alexandra, the king of Harendell spoke lies rather than oaths. Time passed and Eddie held his truths close to his chest, but with peace secured with Cardiff, he intended to announce James’s legitimacy and to wed him to you. Isn’t that right, James? Eddie never intended William to sit on the Twisted Throne—the seat was for you.”
He wanted to make you queen!James’s screamed accusation rose from Ahnna’s memory, giving proof to Carlo’s words.
