Page 99

“I hope you have a better plan than Vi did,” said Eliza finally.

Beric frowned. “Plan?”

“I might have bullied the truth out of her. But I told her it would work better with your involvement, and she refused. She didn’t trust either of us.” Eliza scoffed. “Imagine trying to kill the man who created The Dark while within The Dark. Death was inevitable.”

I gaped, fumbling at words. “Wait a moment, wait. You already knew?”

“A cover of darkness only he can defeat appears the day he becomes king? Of course I suspected, as did Kat. Vi all but confirmed it.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Beric said. “I could have done something.”

“Exactly. You would’ve tried to kill him yourself, sweet boy,” said Eliza, patting his cheek, “and you can’t just kill a king. You have to do it in such a way that the people don’t panic, so they trust the ruler who comes after. And I have no intention of being known as a tyrant if I rule.”

“So we’re agreed, then,” I said. “We have to kill him, and install you as the new ruler.”

“That’s where I’m going to stop you,” Eliza said, holding up her hands. “As his heir, I can’t be involved in this conversation. The people would never love a queen who killed her own father, especially after they knew him as their savior for two hundred years.”

“Eliza’s right,” said Beric. “It would have to be just the two of us—”

Eliza made a sound of chastisement, covering her ears. “Can’t be involved,” she repeated.

I gestured as if tying my lips in a bow. It felt a bit surreal, discussing regicide so casually in the hall, as if talking of the weather. Especially coming from me, a girl who had seen every sort of nasty wound in her life but shuddered at the thought of killing a spider.

“In the meantime,” said Beric, “Faline will be back any moment, piping mad about nonexistent shoes. We should go.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” I said, attempting to move Beric into my room, but he seemed to be immovable as he watched me struggle. “You, my lord, are going straight to bed.”

Any hint of his happiness dropped, and he was back to being that severe boy with the death glare that could turn the bravest soldier into stone. “I won’t leave you again.”

“The king will sleep for a while yet. Besides, look at you,” I teased, stroking his dark hair. “You’re no use to anyone in this state.”

“I’ve operated on less sleep than this.”

“You take such good care of me, Beric. Let me take care of you, now.”

His mouth twitched into a grin as he relented. I took his hand and escorted him into my room. He must have been as exhausted as I thought, because when I made him sit on my bed he didn’t fight me. I planted my hands on his thighs, leaning close. His forehead touched mine, at the edge of kissing me.

“Take off your clothes,” I said, and the words felt sinful coming from my lips, even if I didn’t intend to be present when he obeyed. “Get comfortable. Go to sleep. And, for once, think of yourself first.”

“You are first in my mind, always, after God,” he murmured, and I felt a thrill run through me.

“Then fall asleep thinking of me. But sleep.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Call me Cali, again.” I felt frozen, hearing myself say those desperate words. But they were out in the open, now, and I heard myself finish the thought with, “Like you did last night.”

But as soon as the rest of it was out there, I felt silly. To demand that of him, it wouldn’t be genuine. Sweet, dutiful Beric would say whatever I told him to. Because I was his knight. And I wanted him to mean it. I wanted him to love saying it as much as I loved hearing it come from his lips.

But when I moved away, his strong hand took hold of mine, halting me. He tugged on it gently but deliberately, as if leading me in a dance. I followed, floated, my insides singing as I sat in his lap. I looked away, suddenly shy, but Beric took hold of my chin gently, turning my face to look at him.

“My beautiful Cali…” he whispered, and heaven moved.

I closed my eyes, soaking in every soft sensation of love in his words, in my name, before they were overwhelmed by his kiss. It seemed impossible that this boy was so perfect … but then, that sort of thought had gotten in me trouble once before. Perhaps it wasn’t that he was perfect that made him so lovely, so incredible in my eyes. Perhaps it was simply that his heart was all mine.

And what a gift it was, indeed, to be loved by such a boy.

“I think I love you, Beric,” I whispered to his lips. But I covered his mouth with my hand quickly as he took a breath. “Don’t respond. I’ll never be able to leave you if you say what I think you might.”