Theon bowed. “Yes, your majesty.”
There was nothing left to say. There was more that Cleo wanted to say, but even she knew when to hold her tongue. All that could be gained from more arguing was to summon her father’s anger even more. He might move up her wedding to Aron to a week from now as a punishment. Or even tomorrow.
The king didn’t believe that Emilia was dying. But Cleo believed more than she had before. She felt the truth of it deep in her heart. Only something magical could save her.
“I’m sorry, princess,” Theon said under his breath as they left the king’s presence.
Cleo’s cheeks were hot and her feet thudded against the floor as she unconsciously made her way through the labyrinthine halls and back to her chambers. She thought she’d been out of tears before, but there were buckets left. She cried them all when Theon left her, closing the door behind him.
But when her tears finally dried, their departure brought a slow and steely resolve.
The whole world—including her father—could repeatedly tell her no. In the end, it made no difference to her.
Cleo would fix this. No matter what it took or where she had to go, she would save her sister’s life before it was too late.
? ? ?
After dinner, Cleo gathered her closest confidents together—Nic, Mira, and Theon. “I’m going,” she said after she explained everything to them.
Nic blinked. “To Paelsia.”
“Yes.”
“To find an exiled Watcher to beg for some magical grape seeds.”
She knew it sounded absolutely preposterous, but it didn’t matter. “Yes, exactly.”
A grin broke across his face. “That sounds fantastic.”
“Are you joking?” Mira exclaimed. “Cleo, what are you thinking? Do you know how dangerous traveling there again could be?”
She shrugged defiantly. “I must do this. There’s no other choice.”
Her father would be furious to find that she’d gone against his wishes; she knew that. But she wouldn’t be gone for very long. If she got the right lead, asked the right questions of the right people in the right village, then it would be a no bigger deal than her trip to Paelsia to help Aron buy wine.
She grimaced at the memory. Perhaps that wasn’t the best example of a successful trip.
“The thing is, you can’t tell anyone,” she said. “I’m just telling you so you don’t worry about me while I’m gone.”
“Oh, no.” Mira cast up her eyes. “Why would we worry? Oh, Cleo, I love both you and Emilia dearly, but you’re making my brain hurt with all of this ridiculousness.”
Nic crossed his arms. “I don’t understand how the seeds work. They grow vineyards that create amazing wine...and they also cure diseases.”
“It’s earth magic.”
“Ah, I see. Perhaps you can ask this Watcher where the Kindred’s been hidden for a thousand years. That would be very useful information, wouldn’t it?”
She glared at him. “You’re looking at me like I’ve gone completely crazy.”
His smile stretched. “You are crazy. But in the best way possible. However, you going alone? Now, that’s really crazy.”
She shook her head. “I’m not going alone. Theon is coming with me.”
“No, I’m not,” Theon said quietly.
He’d been standing a bit behind her so he hadn’t been in her direct line of sight as she spoke to Nic and Mira.
She spun around to face him. “Of course you’re going with me.”
He looked at her sternly. “Your sister never should have told you any of this. It put ideas in your head.”
“And now that the ideas are there, I have to find out if they’re true. Don’t you see? This is the answer. This is what’s going to save Emilia. If I don’t go—if we don’t go—she’s going to die. I know it.”
His face was tense. “Your father didn’t give his permission for this trip.”
“I don’t care what my father said!” Her cheeks blazed with anger. “You heard him yourself. He doesn’t understand. He doesn’t believe. But I do. He’ll be angry, but when he sees that this works, then he’ll be grateful that we went against his wishes.”
“He only wants to keep you safe.”
“I will be safe. Besides, you’ll be there to protect me.”
“You might be ready to ignore your father’s wishes, but I can’t. He’s the king. His word is my command. For me, for everyone in this kingdom. Do you know the penalty for going against a direct order from the king? It’s death, your highness.”
Cleo’s heart pounded. “I wouldn’t let anything happen to you. I swear it. You don’t have to be afraid.”
He bristled. “I’m not afraid. You’re just being stubborn. Do you always get what you want?”
“Yes,” Nic said at the same time that Mira said, “Actually, she does.”