I hadn’t asked about the dagger, but part of me wished she would confide in me. Every day, I woke before she did and left the bedchamber to afford her privacy.
This morning started like any other. After lighting the candles in the bell tower and scratching my head as I attempted to add marks to my running list against the Queen’s character, I headed down to my library.
Since she couldn’t read in Brennac, she’d taken to lying on the chaise, stomach down, and fiddling with the tassels of a pillow as I translated aloud. I knew she was listening because she stopped me to ask me questions or catch me if I slipped into Brennac.
Yesterday she had lain there with her legs kicking in the air behind her as I read sections that had set the hairs of my arms on edge.
“You must listen, Fifth Heir of Desidero. Find the Last Daughter of my dearest Isleen. She is the key to ending Death’s reign—the key to setting us all free,” I’d told her, and convenientlyomittedsome details. She’d accepted it as fact.
Eventually, I’d be ready to face her with the truth.
Our heir was destined to prevail against Caym.
Today we’d try something different than reading. After setting a game board down on a low table at the center of the library, I placed colored stones on it. Tugging two large cushions over to the table, I prepared for her arrival. Like clockwork, Sybilla would show up soon to let me read to her before we visited the amphitheater for physical training.
I knew she was capable of compulsion, but it wasn’t coming easily to her. She’d revealed through subtle details that as a child those around her had convinced her that her power was a weakness, something to conceal, something to be ashamed of.
“Good morning,” Sybilla chimed from the foot of the stairs, pulling me from my thoughts.
I hummed a response, hating to admit that the flutter of eagerness to see her.
Our second council meeting with the rulers of Henosis was scheduled for later that evening—concessions and decisions. Then tomorrow we were introducing Sybilla as an ally to my people.
“Ryn let you in?”
“I always let myself in,” Sybilla answered. “Ryn taught me your little passphrase.”
Impossible...
I narrowed my gaze as she stepped further into the library. The bruising on her neck was now a light purple and had nearly faded. She wore dark-green linen breeches and a white tunic, looking more casual than I’d seen her. Her curls were tied up atop her head with that stupid blue ribbon. She was barefoot, having kicked her slippers off at the bottom step.
“What are we reading today?” she asked as she stepped onto the library ladder and leaned far to the right, taking in the titles of the texts.
“No reading.” I sat down on one of the cushions cross-legged.
“What are we doing then?” She spun on the ladder, leaning against it and gripping the rung over her head to balance.
The sight made my mouth dry. I imagined her up there, just like that, only wearing far less clothing...
Enough.
It might not be the worst thing to find her attractive. It would certainly make parts of the prophecy less dreadful.
I cleared my throat. “We’re going to play a game.”
“That seems like a waste of time,” she said as she teetered precariously on the ladder rung. “How exactly will games help strengthen me against Caym?”
“If you come down from there, I’ll explain.”
She rolled her eyes but stepped down from the ladder. After seating herself across from me, she said, “Fine. Get on with it. How do we play?”
Sighing, I reminded myself to add:
IV. Impatient.
“It’s like checkers, but instead of pawns, there are five different colored stones. None of the pieces belong to either of us until you jump stones of the same color and collect them. Youcan jump multiple if empty space between them allows it. I’ll go first and show you.”
“Do you oftengo first?” she asked me with one side of her mouth curving up.
