“Those aren’t the words of an ignorant or dumb man, Kaelis. He knowsexactlywho his son is.”Honestly, it’s a wonder he’s kept you alive.But that’s a question for another occasion. I can work through only one mystery at a time. I search his hardened, closed-off expression. He’s trying so hard to hide something that it’s only making it more obvious. “Why did he put you in charge of the academy? Whyyou?”
“He couldn’t put it in Ravin’s hands, he’s too busy as the heir. And our younger brother isn’t an Arcanist.” The detached way Kaelis says it tells me that even he knows it’s a ridiculous claim.
“He has his pick of loyal and powerful clan Arcanists across the whole of Oricalis. Older and more experienced leaders. He doesn’t need his son to be running this academy.” I take a step closer. “Why isn’t he afraid of you being here and having access to the World?”
“It’ll be his undoing,” Kaelis snarls.
“I’m certain it will be.” The sarcasm in my tone draws Kaelis’s attention back to me. He’s so offended by it that he plays right into my hands, head jerking back in my direction. “Butwhy?”
“Probably because he hates me.”
“Everyone would love to have a father who ‘hates’ them so much that he would give them control of an entire academy.”
Kaelis takes a step closer now. The space between us is condensing to nothing, the air becoming more charged. This is a sensitive nerve for him—one that’s very easy to touch. But I’m not backing down. This is important. The more I learn about this family, about these ancient powers—abouthim—the bigger the piece in the center of this puzzle becomes. I can’t ignore it any longer.
“You don’t understand.” Kaelis looms over me, trying to draw on the height advantage he possesses.
“You won’t let me understand. Why does he allow you to even get near the power to change the world?” I take another half step. Our chests are nearly touching. Breaths mingling. I’m so close I can see thefaint flush that is rising on his cheeks from anger and…perhaps shame? “Why you, Kaelis? Why give you access to this power?”
Kaelis tries to avoid my stare. But it’s nearly impossible with how close we are.
“Tell me, Kaelis.”
“Clara—”
“Tell me, please!”
“Because he knows I can’t!” His eyes meet mine, shadowed by his furrowed brow. His breaths come thin and fast.
“You can’t…”
“I can’t change the world—I can’t cast the card.” The admission is a hairline fracture turning into a break. The dam is threatening to give.
“Why? Because you’re of Revisan blood?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Then is it because you’re a coward?”
The flash of hurt in Kaelis’s eyes tells me I’ve gone too far with that jab. But the anger that follows is swift and mighty. “I am no coward. Everything I have done has been to defy fate itself.”
“Stop talking in riddles. Just tell me the truth.”
Kaelis goes to turn away. I catch his biceps and yank him to me. My hand on his arm digs wells around the pads of my fingers as I clutch him. But my right hand cups his face with all the tenderness I possess. His eyes meet mine, and the world narrows further: It’s just him and me.
“Why can’t you cast the card?” I whisper, as though our voices hadn’t just been at the point of breaking into a yell. For the first time since I’ve known him, it feels like the broken pieces of us might just fit together.
“It’s not possible because…” His words falter. I search his expression, waiting, expectant. “The future my father fears mostcannotcome to pass, and he knows it.”
My brows knit together. I continue to hold him in place, though he doesn’t resist. Now I’m holding him for the truth. To explain what it is that should be obvious, yet I’m somehow not seeing.
Then, all at once, it hits me.
There’s only one explanation that could give the king that much assurance. A moment in his history that Kaelis mentioned only once, but it was the first time I admitted that maybe he also knew pain. Because he was forced to do the same as every initiate who has passed through these doors since: He was the first to stand before the Chalice.
Welcome to Arcana Academy…where your future is your tuition.
Chapter 50
