“You trust Scorpio, don’t you? We must not question her. I know you generally have little patience for people, but Novah is still our princess.”
“You heard her last night, Felaf. She threatened to expose everything to Maryn.”
“Only because she’s scared. She feels backed into a corner. We are here to protect her—to make her feel safe. If we prove our loyalty, she won’t want to turn against us. I believe that she didn’t willingly choose to become an apostate. For some reason she was able to reveal all this toyou, but you’re not helping by being so callous.”
“But she?—”
“Don’t ruin this. Like you said yourself, she could be the answer. Our way out of this curse,anda solution to the apostai.”
I ran my tongue over my teeth in contemplation. “So you’re saying we should do as she says and let her grandparents live? Go against the Treaty?”
“Stars, no. You and Gregorios have done that enough. We should believewhyshe wants to do that in the first place.”
“Weakening the Astrals is exactly what the apostai wants,” I reminded her.
“I don’t think it’s coming from a place of apostate loyalty,” Felaf said. “But rather, fear for her family. She clearly wasn’t raised the way we were—to strive for Chosen status. Our families were prepared for the ultimate sacrifice.”
Felaf didn’t know the entirety of my background. Whatever assumptions she’d made, I hadn’t bothered to correct. Her ideas of my upbringing were far more pleasant to imagine than the reality of what I’d endured.
“All I’m saying is she strikes me as the kind of person who would do anything for the ones she loves. And loathes, for that matter.” She gestured in my direction. “Look how she stood up to Maryn for you.”
I recalled the little girl in the streets of Dioscuri, Novah, whom Rahzlyn named herself after. I’d thought Rahzlyn was reckless for running into the road like that. Perhaps shewasthe kind of person to put herself in harm’s way for others—even ones she barely knew—without seeking anything in return.
If that somehow really was the case… well, I didn’t know what to do with that.
Felaf rubbed her hands together. “Where I failed, she?—”
“You were given an order, and you dutifully followed.” If I’d had to do to Hector what Felaf did to me… I ran a hand over my jaw. “Trust your instincts. If you’re looking for more words of wisdom or inspiration, that’s all I’ve got.”
Felaf nodded. “No more unapproved actions, trips, or otherwise, alright? Maryn’s angry after what the princess did. We need to watch our backs—and hers.”
We stepped wordlessly into the queen’s chambers.
Apart from the evergreen plants and ornate rugs, the room looked as it always had since Queen Auden’s death twelve years ago. Except even with Letti and other maids coming and going, the massive bed remained unmade. A robe was tossed over the armory, several empty teacups were stacked beside the bed, and slippers were strewn about the black mosaic flooring. The room appeared lived-in, despite Rahzlyn having only been here less than a week.
A sweet, nutty aroma blanketed the space.
Almond.
Gregorios and Rahzlyn were seated on the edge of the terrace pool shared by all four Chosen chambers. The Chosen level of the palace was the most secure, situated in the very center, and the interconnected floor plan made for easier guardian security. The wards helped too.
A portion of the sun cast down on Rahzlyn, drenching her curls in vibrant hues of deep red. Leaning back on her arms, she tilted her chin up. Her eyes drifted closed, basking in the rays. She appeared at peace, entirely at odds with our last encounter.
My fists clenched.
Her anger had been palpable, mingling with my own and leaving us both stripped of any pretense. There was a tangibletension that tethered us. No matter what I did to sever it, everything she did only heightened it. It was maddening.Shewas maddening.
“Ready?” Gregorios prompted her.
With a sigh, Rahzlyn opened her eyes and extended her palm. Letti readied herself with clean bandaging at her side. Felaf and I lingered in the shadows of the aperture. Gregorios sought Rahzlyn’s hand, then began cutting into her flesh over a golden chalice.
She hissed. “How much do you need, exactly?”
“Enough,” he replied.
“Is it true that outside of acolytes, bad things happen to people who attempt Blood Sight?”
Gregorios set the blade down. “You know someone who has used Blood Sight.” A statement, not a question.
