“That is enough!” Prince Gilbert shouted, his command filling the room.
Silence fell at the prince’s words, though Keira swore she heard Lilith mutter something about Victorneeding a dagger in the ass.
“Lord Victor, you, your sister, and your mistress will be taken into the crown’s custody. You will accompany me back to Eversong to face the King’s justice.” His voice was final, like the falling of an ax. Priscilla began to cry all over again as the crown guard moved, their black uniforms trimmed with gold. Two of them took hold of Victor’s arms, another angling toward Yvette.
“Wait,” Florian said, planting himself before her. “Your highness, I beg your pardon for her.”
Victor scoffed, but was promptly gagged.
“Get him out of here,” he growled, the first sign of honest irritation Keira had witnessed break through his princely demeanor. He turned to Florian as Victor was let out the side doors. “You vouch for her?”
Florian nodded, still holding a protective posture between her and all others. Keira looked past him. Yvette seemed… troubled. She regarded Florian with surprise and the prince with fear.
“Her actions were not of her own will and design, your highness, and she has done much to undo the damages they wrought.”
Gilbert turned to Keira and then Caspian. “You are the parties wronged in this, would you pardon her?”
Conflict twisted in her gut. Florian, one of her truest friends, was looking at her with pleading eyes. It was clear what he wanted. It was true that Yvette had been instrumental in freeing her, at great personal risk, and that had been enough to buy Keira’s forgiveness, or at least apathy, the first time. But only an hour ago she had chosen Victor’s life over hers, a choice that had very nearly ended her.
“Without her magic, none of this would have been possible,” Caspian fumed. “She should answer-”
“Caspian, wait,” Keira said, sighing in spite of herself. She stepped down the aisle, his touch lingering as long as he could reach. “Yvette, tell Florian that he has to answer my next question truthfully.” If she understood her magic correctly, if Yvette offered this command, he would be unable to refuse it.
Based on the nervous look Yvette shot at him, she was right.
“She just wants to know you’re not manipulating me,” Florian read her intentions. “Go ahead.”
Yvette swallowed heavily. “Answer her honestly, Florian.”
He nodded and shifted his gaze to meet hers.
“How can you forgive her?” Keira asked.
“Because her actions, no matter how wrong, were out of love,” Florian answered at once. “And she’s risked everything to make it right.”
“Has she ever used her magic to alter your thoughts or actions?”
“Yes.”
Heaviness fell over her.
“On the first day we met, she told me to stand to the side, then later she told me to keep our meeting a secret. Those were the only times until today, now.”
Keira paused, mulling things over. Florian wasn’t under some coercion. He really did believe in her, care for her. Even so, she had caused so much suffering.
She looked over her shoulder at Caspian whose expression was grim.
“I vouch for her pardon,” Keira said. For Florian’s sake.
Caspian’s brow settled further, but finally he nodded. “I will offer my pardon to her as well, under one condition.”
Keira arched her brow. This wasn’t like him at all, terms and exchanges.
“Marry me.”
His words sucked the air out of the room. Time bent as her heart raced, the rest of the world slowing around her.
Caspian stepped down the aisle toward her. “Marry me, Keira, tonight. I can’t wait. Not another day.”
