“Ahnna, if you’d just listen—”
She kicked at the fire, sending up sparks. “Just listen? Just give you the benefit of the doubt so that you might explain yourself? Just set aside the fact that you’re a lying, scheming son of a fucking meddling prick and let you say your piece? Fuck you and your audacity, Your Highness, because you would have spared us all of this if you’d accorded me that very courtesy.”
Before he could respond, Carlo approached and sat on a flat rock.
“Let us have a nice meal together,” he declared as though they were all old friends. “I have a bottle of good red we can share.”
He pulled the cork from a bottle of wine, the wax seal with the vintner’s mark telling Ahnna it was costly enough to feed a family for a year.
Carlo took a swig straight from the neck, then held it out to Ahnna. She took it and lifted it to her mouth, her broken arm screaming protest. She forced herself to take several swallows.
“Hurts, doesn’t it?” Carlo asked, taking the bottle and offering it to James, who shot him a sour glare. “But naughty girls deserve punishment.” He touched his split lip.
“Broken bones grow back stronger.” Ahnna ate the food she’d been given, chewing and swallowing. “I’ve broken many, so I know.”
Carlo smiled and took another sip. “I wish we’d met before.”
Ahnna shrugged. “We might have crossed paths if you’d been part of Maridrina’s invasion. Were you too busy playing with James in the Lowlands or did your mother not allow you to join the fun in Silas’s war?”
James gave a soft laugh. “Care to reveal your own truths, Carlo, or shall I?” When the Beast didn’t answer, he added, “Ithicana has nothing to fear from Carlo, because he’s scared shitless of water. Can’t stomach anything deeper than his own bath without squealing like a little girl.”
Ahnna held her breath, certain that Carlo would lash out, but he only grinned. “I am enjoying this game tremendously. Is it my turn now?”
James reached out, the restraints staked into the ground between his knees stretching taut as he picked up the wine bottle. “Cheers.” He drank, then twisted the bottle as though to smash it, but Carlo swiftly plucked it from his hand, tutting as he did.
The Beast turned a sly eye on Ahnna. “My turn. When I left Riomar, it was with the news that William intended to meet with Aren ringing in my ears. Harendell’s new king intended to give him an ultimatum: Surrender you, Ahnna, for execution or suffer a war they are sure to lose.”
“Aren can’t surrender what he doesn’t have.” Her veins turned to ice. “William knows James pursued me into the mountains, which means they know I’m not in Ithicana.”
Carlo shrugged. “That’s true. But tell me, do you think your brother will believe them? Will he be convinced of your guilt? It is my understanding that Alexandra intended to go to the meeting herself, and I have heard that the woundsyouinflicted have made the lady a horror to look upon.”
Throughout all of this, Ahnna had not once considered that Aren would believe the accusations. Recent conflicts aside, no one knew her better than her twin. But too easily she remembered how James had been deceived by Alexandra’s injuries. Would Aren be the same?
“What will Aren think when he sees Alexandra’s cut-up face? Will he suspect she did it herself?” Carlo asked. “Or will he condemn you? Will he cast you to the wolves to evade war?”
Ahnna forced her face into a mask of composure. “I want Aren to put Ithicana before me. I want him to do whatever it takes to avoid war.”
“Except Alexandra wants this war. Mother’s protégée walks a fine line. She must keep the Harendellians convinced you are Eddie’s murderess but also ensure Aren is certain of your innocence so that he will refuse to condemn you. If she does this, war is certain.”
Her hands felt like ice.
“You see, Ahnna, no matter which path Aren takes, you lose. Youare the one whose name will be cursed until the end of days. Best to just lie down and die, no?”
“Carlo, shut the fuck up. Ahnna, do not listen to him,” James snarled. “Alexandra wanted this war, which means she’d have it regardless of whether you were alive or dead.”
“Perhaps that is so, old friend,” Carlo answered. “But what will the Ithicanians believe? Will they be certain that Ahnna is innocent? Or will they believe that, once again, their king is sacrificing them for the sake of a woman? Perhaps Eddie’s plans will come to fruition and it will be a coup that hands the bridge to Harendell after all.”
The food she’d just eaten threatened to come up, and Ahnna gagged.
“Ahnna, do not listen to him!” James shouted. “He’s getting off on this—he’s just trying to hurt you.”
She knew that. And yet…
Carlo lifted the bottle to her lips, making her drink. Then he stroked his fingertip down her scar. “Nothing cuts deeper than the truth, does it? You will be Ithicana’s damnation. And nothing you can do, whether it be escaping to fight for your people or giving up and falling on your own sword, will change that.” His teeth gleamed white in the firelight as he stood. “Sweet dreams, beautiful Princess.”
James was shouting not to listen to him. Cursing at Carlo and making threats, but Ahnna barely heard him.
Because the Beast was right.
