The king looked around to see if anyone was eavesdropping. They weren’t. The rest of the people were slowly filtering out of the ballroom. Everyone was steering clear of us after the events of the night, and I couldn’t say I truly blamed them. I was only here because I had to be.
“Watch it,” he threatened.
“What is the point in continuing to pretend like we don’t already all know?” Keir continued.
I wasn’t sure Gwen had known, judging by the look on her face, but who was I to stop Keir from berating his father?
The king opened his mouth to say something more, but a guard came rushing over. One I recognized as one of the king’s favorite guards. The king met him part way, likely not wanting the rest of us to overhear whatever message this was.
The guard whispered something that had the king’s lips pulling into a sinister smile.
That small smile took me from feeling somewhat relieved about the events of the night to straight terror.
Did they find the sword in its hiding spot? What was going on?
The king said loudly from where he stood as the guard left the way he came, “Everyone who is not a Valanova or in Keir’s Assemblage, get the hell out!”
My eyes went to Owen, standing over at the windows by where I had always looked out. He gave me a look as if telling me to be careful.
I had no idea what the guard told the king, but it looked like our luck for the night was running out. My magic began humming beneath my skin as if sensing it might be needed.
As soon as everyone finished fleeing from the room, the king gave a nod and beckoned to two guards standing at the same side door he had taken me out of to catch Renna and Krew together.
Two more guards came in. Not only was there a sword in one of their hands, but between them they were also carrying Theodore Jones, who looked as if he had already been thoroughly smacked around by the guards.
It has to be the fake,Krew promised me.
We have to help him.
Krew’s eyes pierced mine.We will.
I felt my magic now brewing at the surface of my skin and let it start to heat me. I was going to need it. The only question remaining was just how much of it.
“These guards,” the king began as he walked back over next to Keir and gestured to Theodore, who had been dragged to about thirty feet away, “found this man near the wall as he attempted to pass this off.”
Krew took a half a step in front of me, as if to protect me from whatever came next.
“When you came here, we suspected you were working for the disloyal. This only confirms it,” the king spat at Theodore.
The guards threw Theodore to the ground and my magic intensified. He could barely open one of his eyes, that entire half of his face red, and he had a cracked and bloodied lip. Though he had to be in immense pain, he immediately brought himself up to his feet.
It took him a few seconds, but he stood tall and looked the king directly in the eyes. His bravery had the tears tickling the backs of my eyes.
The king glanced at one of the guards, the one who held the sword at his side.
Without warning, the guard kicked with his leg at the back of Theodore’s knees, who slumped back to the ground.
“Bow before your king,” the guard demanded. “Bow and await your punishment.”
Theodore brought himself up to his elbow, then ever so slowly moved to his knee, which he pivoted away from the king.
All the air in my lungs vanished as Theodore spun directly toward me, turning his neck and fixing his one opened eye on the king. “I will bow before my princess but never beforeyou.”
The king’s magic was snaking toward Theodore before he was even done speaking, but Krew and Keir’s magic combined midair to blow it away.
“Do not,” Keir snapped.
Krew spun toward his father, arms out. “You know we are more so to blame than this man is, so why don’t you just take it out on Keir and me. You know that’s really what you want anyway.”
