Tom started to lead the way down the hall but stopped. His neck tensed as he considered something, and he tippedhis chin over his shoulder, half turned back.
“The love you feel for her is a ripple,” Tom said. “But the love of a parent for their child? You cannot fathom it. Everything I have done is for my children.”
Disgust made an effective shield against any other emotions. Tom continued on, and Vex stumbled after him.
The defensors shoved him outside, back into the castle’s courtyard. The high stone walls of the complex created a perimeter of light in the blackening evening sky, torches pulsing orange. The people crowding the area were the raiders who’d caught him, the ones from the Emerdian, Tuncian, and Grozdan syndicates who defensors had snatched up over the past weeks and pumped full of Menesia.
Distant gunshots made Vex jump. Farther out, was that—
“Screaming?” Vex twisted in the arms of the defensors. “What the hell—Andreu!”
Lu. Ben. Were they confronting Elazar? Was this part of their plan? God, he hoped so.
But the gates to the courtyard opened on a trumpet singing alarm. Defensors started belting a hymn, a low, melodic Argridian dirge that blanketed the area.
The crowd of raiders snapped upright. They drew their weapons. And, as one, they turned for the gate.
Who were these raiders going to fight? Their own people?
The yard emptied. Only a few raiders and defensorsremained, still looking ready for battle. One was Cansu.
“Cansu!” Vex shouted. He tripped and the defensors yanked him upright, whipping him around to face what they approached.
A platform sat where Vex’d last seen it, weeks ago. Tom stood on it, facing the single pyre arrayed before it.
Vex’s throat swelled, and the pain in his legs flared so high he started to see spots.
A pyre.
More defensors stood at the back of the platform with Teo, eyes still downcast, mouth puckered in desperate concentration. Vex almost called out to him, but his throat was dry, and all that came was a gasp on the humid, rancid air.
A pyre.
More gunshots came from the city. Explosions now, too. Screams, war cries, various lilting, out-of-place hymns. Was Lu attacking? Kari? Maybe they’d get here in time. Maybe Vex wouldn’t have to think about that damn pyre—
Defensors grabbed his manacles and heaved him at the wood post. He caught himself on it before he ripped back, a savage instinct tearing his soul in half.
His legs buckled. He couldn’t be here—hecould notbe here—
The defensors hooked his arms and slammed his spine against the wood. One had a length of chain that he fastened around Vex’s waist and chest, locking him back, secure and immobile. They left him facing the platform,and he looked up to see Tom—and Teo, at the head of the platform now, bloodshot eyes tearstained and furious.
Vex’s horror redirected, briefly. What had they done to Teo?
Tom gave a slight bow and turned. “On your command,” he said, hesitating. “Prince Teo.”
Sweat slicked Vex’s face, made the manacles grate on his wrists. “Prince?” he echoed. “What the— Teo! Teo, look at me—”
Teo’s fury peaked. A tear slipped down his cheek, his rage bubbling to the surface. “You lied to me!” he shouted—at Vex. It stunned Vex silent. “You knew all along. You kept me away from my family. You, and—andLu.And everyone. You all kept me away from my father.”
Vex’s mouth bobbed open.What?Oh god—Prince Teo.My father.
Elazar had told Teo that he was Teo’s father. It couldn’t be true—could it? Hell no. That kid had none of Elazar in him. Not that Ben did, either, but the image of Elazar being at all connected to Teo was revolting.
“Teo—I wouldn’t do that,” Vex tried. His voice scratched. “They’re the ones who lied! Teo, Lu loves you. I love you. You can’t believe—”
“No!”Teo barked, his little body trembling, his lips clenched tight. “I hate you, Vex.”
He folded his arms and turned away.
