“I—um.” I sound small. Stupid. Scared. I can’t stop it. “The—the easiest way is if Cyrus recants.”
“Unfortunately, I will not make my son a liar before I make you one.” The king stares at me a second longer. Frowns. “Or perhaps, better to cut off the whole arm beforethis poison spreads. There are two Seers present in Verdant. We will negotiate for one. You may retire.”
I sag against the vanity, suppressing a laugh—horrified or relieved, I’m not sure. That could have gone worse. Cyrus still gets what he’s wanted all this time: to get rid of me. And he only had to get a few ribs broken as consequence. Compromise, right?
Cyrus has pushed himself onto his knees, swaying and clutching his middle. Now that the initial disbelief has worn off, part of me relishes that hurt. He’ll heal, but at least he suffers. “I know you set up Lady Raya,” he says, gazing up at his father. “I’ve known since before the Masked Menagerie that you had Violet lie to me—”
“And so?” the king scoffs. “Raya is a better match than you could have come up with. Though I see you’ve squandered it—and what for? There is only one love that matters, Cyrus, and that is the love of your people.”
“And an empire will make them happy? Our peopledon’t want to be sent outside the kingdom. Our people wouldn’t want stolen land if you didn’t tell them to want it. You can’tfeed or protect people withglory.These choices only serve the worst of our dukes—”
“Who will support you. Who have no reason to support you otherwise. If you want to do anything, you need to keep your head first.” He sweeps his cane toward me, then back to Cyrus with a jab. “You are both clever and prideful. Too much for your own good. Let today be the only taste of shame you need. I don’t relish pushing the blade deeper. Although I will find some satisfaction in ejecting Dante Esparsa from the capital in disgrace.”
Cyrus inhales sharply and I look up too quickly.
“Just to punish us?” I blurt.
“He’s a spy. Earlier tonight, we seized correspondence that proves it. He has been sending coded secrets back to Balica.”
“Aspy? No. That’s impossible.” When would Dante have had time to be aspy—
My mouth drops open.
Unless that’s exactlywhyheneverhad time.
And why he never let me read his threads.
Why he knows how to fight.
Is that why I haven’t seen him tonight?
“He is the only reason we aren’t at war,” Cyrus spits. He doesn’t look surprised at all. “He is no spy—he’s committed to helping both countries. I gave him knowledge to barter and he maintained peace, in exchange for promises that I would fulfill during my reign. Balica would not have tolerated our treatment of them otherwise.”
“You don’t know who your real allies are,” King Emilius sneers, “but I suppose they were played for a fool after all. You will have no reign.” He takes his timepiece from his pocket and checks it idly before putting it away again. “Clean yourselves up. Then we will clean up this mess.”
He leaves. When the door shuts behind him, the chamber falls into deafening silence. Cyrus gingerly lowers himself onto the floor. I am numb with shock and shaking with wrath.
“I hate you,” I whisper. I’ll be honest: I just want to kick Cyrus while he’s down.
“I don’t regret it,” he says, wincing. “I would do it all over again.”
“Don’t you dare say this was for my own good. Don’t you put up that act—” I surge forward and crash down on Cyrus on all fours. Push him flat against the floor, my hands at his neck. “Don’t put up thatprincely actlike everything you do is sodamn honorable.You wanted to get rid of me, admit it.”
“It’ll always be one of us at the strings and the other one clawing at them.” He shuts his eyes, letting his head loll. Smiles ruefully with those pearly white teeth, stained red. “I was never rash when I wanted to get rid of you, Violet. Only waited too long to do it. I knew we would never be able to work together. We’ll never trust each other enough, and my feelings for you don’t change that.”
My thumbs press harder at the hollow of his throat and, limp in my grip, he lets it happen. I’m a mess in and out, skirts bunched at my bruised knees, hands still shaking. The only joy I have is in how labored Cyrus’s breathing is and his hiss as my elbow digs into his chest. “I didn’t lie about Nadiya. Not that you care,” I say. “That Witch of Nightmares is going to kill everyone, and I don’t even care if she does. It’s going to be your fault, and I hope you witness it.”
Blearily transfixed, Cyrus shakes his head. “The general and his men have them,” he says. “One wrong move and he won’t hesitate to slit her throat. After all this deception, we’re going to do our damn diligence for once and ensure we have the right culprit before executing her.”
“Weren’t you paying attention? That witch is capable ofenchanting people. She’s been invading my dreams, she’s been—” I laugh bitterly. Trying to convince me to join her. I should have. “You’re lucky I didn’t listen.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’ve been dreaming for weeks until recently. The last time I had a full night’s sleep was—gods, it must have been before the ball. I thought I was doing good by not listening. The Fates say they’re owed a life because I was never supposed to save you, and now I can see why.”
If I killed Cyrus when the witch told me to, I would have had the temporary satisfaction of doing it. I would’ve gone down a villain, but at least it would have been violently triumphant in its own way. Better than being some lovesick fool who has to be replaced and forgotten.
She warned me. Even the Fates warned me.He will betray you. They all will.
