“It wasyouridea, youeejit!”
Carus blew out a loud breath. “Yeah, and I still don’t think it was a bad one. But don’t act like I’m some monster and you’re not just because you suddenly claim to care about her!”
There was a long pause, and then Morgen said, almost so quietly, she couldn’t hear, “And if I do?”
Something scraped against the floor, a chair perhaps, and Carus said, “Look, as much as it pains me to say this, because, apparently, she’s my sister, but someone needs to ask: are you sure it’s not just because she’s the first person you’ve ever taken to bed? You do know that sometimes, peoplethinkthey’re in love, and then the afterglow wears off, and you realize you were just really fucking horny.”
Morgen didn’t say anything. Hearing what she thought was footsteps, Nya glanced behind her. No one was there, so she remained, despite the dizzying racing of her pulse. She should go, but something held her frozen. This felt important.
“Wait.” The chair scraped again. “Morgen. Please tell me you’re not that stupid.”
“You’re going to need to elaborate.”
Carus let out a rough laugh, loud enough that it echoed into the hall. “Youdidlegitimize the marriage, right?”
“It’s an archaic practice.”
“Of course it is, but this isArcadia, and you are trying to take the fucking throne! You do realize that until you do that, the marriage does nothing to stabilize your claim in the eyes of the council. Not to mention, if anyone were to find out, this makes her incredibly vulnerable. There are plenty of women who I’m sure would love to be queen, and if they knew the marriage ceremony was never technically completed, they might feel there’s an opportunity here.”
“They wouldn’t dare.”
Carus barked out a harsh laugh. “They don’tknowNya! To them, she’s just some outsider you brought in and forced to marry you. Perhaps they would even think they’re doing her a favor by slitting her throat.”
Nya took a step backward, her hand shaking as she brought it to her throat. Everyone here had assumed she and Morgen had sex that night…that they weresupposedto. Worse, they probably thought he had forced her, given the circumstances of the marriage in the first place.
“Nya?”
The unfamiliar whisper came from close behind her. Too close. She whirled, and a hand covered her mouth before she could scream. She smelled something sickly sweet, and her vision tilted. She tried to call for Morgen or Carus, but her lips felt stiff.
She was falling…
Someone caught her, but their hands were rough.
Morgen. I think he was right.
She couldn’t tell if she’d actually accessed the pathway, or if she had just thought the phrase. Before she could try again, her vision blurred, and the world went dark.
Chapter
Eighteen
My big brother says I should write from time to time. Words are whispers of Fate, according to him. I suppose he would know. He has our mother’s name, so he must be important. Sora did not come back from the palace right away. It has been happening often. Today, I will ask her where she goes.
—Anabeth, demi-god daughter of Juno, Goddess of Fate (and sister to June)
“Just fucking do it!”
A loud sigh. “Maybe this was a bad idea. He did say he would kill anyone who tried.”
“Yeah, and he also said he’d automatically assume it was Harren and Laen if anything happened. C’mon, she’ll wake up soon, and I don’t have anything else to knock her out with.”
Nya stayed very still as heavy footsteps drew closer. When they stopped right next to her, she forced herself to open her eyes and move, panic and adrenaline cutting through the haze of whatever they had drugged her with. She’d never even heard of something that could knock out gods, but then again, she didn’t know much at all about Arcadia.
“Shit!”
She tried to bolt for the exit, but someone caught her roughly around the waist before she could reach the doorway. They were in a small, cloistered chamber lit by a single torch, the light flickering wildly and casting long, frantic shadows over the walls. She didn’t recognize the man in front of her, but his gray eyes were wide as they met hers.
“Feron, youeejit.Do it now!” the other voice boomed in her ear, and she thrashed as she screamed. The man covered her mouth, but he roared, “Fuck!” when she bit his palm hard.
