My anger flares, and flames erupt in my fist again.
“It’s all right,” he repeats slowly, drawing out the word, unconcerned. “So does mine.”
We lock eyes. It’s like he’s daring me to kill him. Like he wants me to.
I shake my head in disgust. “You and me,” I say, my voice fracturing with fury. “We—we’re nothing alike.”
I push off the cold metal bars, then leave, turning my back to him as I ignore the bitter taste in my mouth.
Lie.
My brother has summoned me to the throne room. I might be insulted by the formality of the gesture, if I didn’t know how busy he was.
He’s been practically glued to the throne since our parents died, hearing every demand and update. Every way the island is suffering in the war’s aftermath.
His face looks hollow. More so than when I saw him last.
“You have to eat, Egan,” I tell him.
He blinks. “I will,” he says. “The meetings—they’re more important.”
“Than your own well-being?” He’s wasting away.
He frowns. “Of course. I’m the least important part of this kingdom.”
I look at him, perplexed.
“My own wants matter least,” he continues. “That’s what Father taught me. He was flawed ... but he put the island above all else.”
Including his children.
The commitment to duty, I admit, was admirable, though I never agreed with his insistence on exploring lands beyond Lightlark. As part of the ruling line, I should share that sense of responsibility.
Shame fills my chest like poison. I recall the way I stormed out of the prisons, because of my own emotions. It was wrong. My brother is here, refusing to sleep or eat. Meanwhile I failed to get Grimshaw to reveal anything about his plans.
“Oro,” my brother says. “They say you’re visiting the prisoner. Is it true?”
So he knows. I nod.
The full strength of Egan’s trust in me is visible in the way his brow doesn’t even furrow. “Why?” he asks simply.
“Enya believes he’s planning something. She doesn’t trust the surrender. I’m trying to trick him into revealing information.”
Egan purses his lips thoughtfully. “And how is that going?”
Horribly.
I almost killed him five seconds into our first conversation.
“It’s still early stages.”
He nods. “You’ve always been a good judge of character.” He doesn’t know it’s because of my flair. I kept it a secret from my father. Egan was close to him. I didn’t want it to be a burden for him to keep.
I think about telling him now ... but decide against it. Especially as the doors open, and nobles begin shuffling in for the next meeting.
“Let me know if there’s anything I should be aware of,” he says. I turn around. “And Oro?”
“Yes,King?” I say, in earshot of the approaching nobles.
