“How is she?” I beseeched Felaf the eve before the baron’s ball. My only duty was to protect our princess, not inquire after her emotional state—but I didn’t care. I needed to know. Rahzlyn had received her dinners in her chambers every night since the attack, ensuring she and I had no interactions. I wasn’t going to force myself in her space, but she couldn’t avoid me forever.
“Her head wound has healed. But she’s not any closer to findinghudro,” Felaf said, looking me over. “She’s not talkingto me either, you know.” I knew, having listened to each breath uttered from Rahzlyn’s lips while I sought sleep. “We fucked up, Raithe. We need to tell her and Gregorios the rest?—”
“I will. It was my idea, so she needs to hear it from me first.”
Felaf stepped forward. “If anyone else finds out he’s still alive?—”
“He likely doesn’t have much longer, so it won’t matter anyway.”
“Do you hear yourself? We’re no better than thefuckingapostai,” Felaf hissed. Her eyes widened as though she were overcome by a horrifying realization. “All this time… I’ve wanted you to see me as more than Hector’s replacement. As an equal, someone as capable as you, and worthy of my title. I, too, was top of my class at the Martial Isles. A general, even, which you never were. I may not have won an Elemental Tournament, but you… You have never even given me a chance. We are failing as guardians to this queendom because ofyourinability to trust anyone but yourself.” Felaf’s stare was withering. “For all we know,youare the reason for this curse. With all your dishonesty and secrets, you’ve done this queendom more harm than good. I see it clearly now: the person I’ve been looking up to all this time…” She stepped closer. “Is no better than the apostai.”
My mind blanked, too stunned to formulate an appropriate response.
She whirled around, but I grabbed her arm, using my guardian strength to root her in place. Felaf bared her teeth at me, her eyes and glyphs glowing as she ripped her arm from my grip.
“I’m sorry,” I said solemnly. “I am. For putting you in this position, for making you feel this way.” It wasn’t like me to hand out apologies, but I was beginning to understand how detrimental my isolation had become—to me, and especially to those around me.
But if Felaf told Gregorios, Maryn, or anyone of what we’d done, it wouldn’t only be our necks on the line. Rahzlyn would be questioned as well. And without Gregorios’s ability to use Blood Sight on her to prove she was oblivious to our treason… I had to believe thatGregoriosbelieved Rahzlyn was worth the risk of deceiving our court to keep her safe. That he would understand why I did what I did and how it could benefit us all.
We wouldn’t have to worry as long as Felaf kept quiet.
A ghostly, exasperated look overcame her tan features. “You know, I am so tired of letting peopleputme in any position. I am not a pawn to be blindly led. This court has forgotten what it means to be a guardian, andyou’reto thank for that.”
“Don’t do anything you’ll regret, Felaf.”Please, I almost added.
She smoothed her braid over her shoulder and rubbed at her arm where I had gripped her. “Believe me, I already have.”
The queendom’s twelve barons and their families arrived by skyship within a few hours of each other. Baron Ionis even surprised us with his presence.
Given his scornful glare upon his arrival, I surmised he was nowhere close to forgiving our court for his wife’s execution, even if her actions as an apostate were treasonous. He may not have the brand of the apostai, but he was no less dangerous in my eyes.
Felaf and I stood tensely outside the queen’s chambers as we waited for Rahzlyn to emerge. We donned our formal uniforms designed for both protection and finery. A high-collared chest plate of matte black armor hugged our torsos. A single ridgedpauldron adorned with gold and crimson edging guarded our right shoulders. A black mantle hung down to our knee-high boots.
Our arms, of course, were entirely exposed to show off our glyphs.
Felaf had scarcely acknowledged my presence when I joined her.
“Where’s your dress?” Rahzlyn prompted from the chamber within. “You’re not joining me?”
“I’ve never been permitted to,” Letti replied tersely. “Hair and limp, remember?”
Felaf’s stance shifted beside me as we inadvertently eavesdropped.
“So? You’re the only person I’d deign to talk to at this ball. So long as there isn’t water nearby for you to throw me into.”
Letti snorted. “Well don’t give me a reason to throw you in any.”
Rahzlyn laughed. “Fair enough.”
“Besides, it’s far too late. I don’t have anything presentable.”
“We’ll have to remedy that.”
I could have sworn there was a smile in Letti’s voice as she said, “We’ll see.”
“Incoming,” Felaf muttered.
“Whereisshe?” Maryn demanded, storming our way from the main staircase. Her jeweled hands gathered her elegant black skirt as she raced toward us. Barto and Chessah trailed her, the former smug with false victory. Gregorios and an entourage of guards were waiting at the base of the staircase.
