“Because you’re better than he was.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “Now you truly do amuse me.” She made a sharp gesture to the guards. “Take him to the prison. Lock him up in the smallest, most ill-favored cell you can find. Don’t bother to clean it first.”
“You’re being completely unfair!” I cried, pushing to my feet. “He told you he’s not responsible for the death of Firebloods and he’s not lying. He rescued me from prison—”
“That’s enough,” the queen snapped.
“—and then he organized a rebellion that ended in his brother’s death and the destruction of the throne. With me. He was my ally!”
“Enough,” she said tightly, and then to the guards, “Take him.”
“If you take him, take me, too.” I put my wrists out to the guards, but I looked directly at the queen. “Shackle and chain me next to him. If you value me so little that you ignore my heartfelt plea for fairness, then I have no desire to be your heir or to serve as one of your masters. I hereby abdicate my right to succeed you as—”
“I said enough!” the queen all but screamed. “Do you think I won’t put you in prison beside him?”
“I am quite sure you will!” I moved in front of Arcus, practically shouting in the queen’s face now. “And I would rather be there than sworn to serve a monster like you. It would be no better than when I was King Rasmus’s prisoner!”
Her hand pulled back and suddenly my face was turned to the side, my cheek burning as a ringing slap echoed through the room.
“My love,” said Prince Eiko quietly, his tone clearly a gentle attempt to calm her.
“Don’t touch her,” Arcus snapped with a warning look at the queen.
Kai’s hands settled on my shoulders, pulling me back against his chest. It might have been a protective gesture, but in my roiling fury, I interpreted it as an effort to silence me.
“No!” I said, elbowing him away. “Don’t try to calm me or convince me that I should accept this. This is wrong and I won’t stand for it.”
The queen and I glared at each other, both of us breathing heavily, the heat in the room multiplying and swelling until I saw one of the guards wipe sweat from his brow.
Finally, the queen’s brow relaxed, her lips lost their white-lipped compression, and a reluctant smile stretched across her face.
“If I had any remaining doubts that you are my sister’s child,” she said, something like admiration entering her eyes, “I would discard them now. You are most assuredly Rota’s daughter.”
“I won’t let you hurt him,” I said, trembling in reaction to her surprising change in mood.
She stared at Arcus, her gaze abstracted. Finally, she let out a long sigh. “Take him to the top of the north tower. I want six guards on him at all times. Kill him if he tries to escape.” She turned to me. “I warn you, Ruby, when I decide what is to be done, even you will not stop me.”
TWENTY-ONE
AS I LEFT THE THRONE ROOM, I encountered a group of courtiers. Two of the ladies stepped forward with curtsies, congratulating me on my upcoming marriage. I thanked them, feeling awkward and impatient. When I was finally free, I headed for the north tower, lifting my skirts to skip steps with impatient leaps. The requisite six guards were already in place in front of one of the doors in the short hallway. The closest two stepped together to block my way.
Time to act the princess. I produced a burning, haughty gaze, zeroing in on the younger of the two.
He blinked rapidly. “My apologies. You can’t go in there.”
I ratcheted my chin up. “I assure you, I can. The process is simple. You unlock the door, and I pass through it. Here, let me show you.”
“Queen’s orders,” the other affirmed.
“Do you know who I am?” I put my index finger to my lower lip as if I’d forgotten my own identity and hoped they would fill me in.
They glanced at each other. “The princess.”
I rewarded them with a broad smile. “Oh, you do know. Splendid.” I did my best imitation of Marella’s nonchalant hand gesture. Observing her in the Frost Court had proven useful more times than I could count. “Either unlock it for me or hand me the key. Whichever is faster. I can’t stand here all day. Things to do. A wedding to plan. Have you heard?”
They looked at each other again, not sure how to deal with me. “Our congratulations, Your Highness.”
“Thank you. Now, all I need is to deliver a quick message to our prisoner and then I’ll be off and leave you to your duties.”
“We would if we could,” said the younger one. “But we were instructed not to let anyone pass.”
I drew myself up. “Anyone? Are you saying that if Queen Nalani stood here and ordered you to let her by, you’d refuse?”
“Well, no,” he said slowly. “No, of course not.”
“Quite right.” The sweet smile again. “I’m so glad you answered correctly. Anything else would have earned you a prison cell, and I can assure you it wouldn’t be as comfortable as this one.” I gestured to the door. “You understand, of course, the same applies to me as to the queen? I am what you call an exception to your rules.” Kai wasn’t the only one who could make that claim. “Think carefully before you answer. Your future depends on it.”
“No one passes but the queen,” said the older one, nervous but determined.
Heat flared from my chest outward. I walked closer to him, firmly setting my fingertip under his perfectly clean-shaven chin. He recoiled a little at my touch. He was a Fireblood, no doubt. His skin was warmer than someone without the gift. But not like mine. If I chose to, I could take out all of these guards. However, my freedom would be severely curtailed if I tried that. Persuasion with a dash of coercion was called for, not outright force.
“And if I tell you I disagree?” I asked. “Will you lay hands on me?” I pressed myself closer, letting my chest touch his. He stepped back a fraction, trapped by the door behind him.
“Of course not, my lady. Your Highness.”
“I’d hate to tell my aunt… oh, I mean, the queen… how you put these rough hands”—I grabbed one of his clenched fists and lifted it to my cheek—“on my royal person. She wouldn’t like that, would she?” I widened my eyes and blinked up at him.
His breathing stopped. Silence reigned. Finally, he let out a loud breath and stepped aside. “Keep your visit short.” Mottled red had crept over his neck. Whether the blush was caused by desire or embarrassment or anger that I’d outmaneuvered him, I didn’t know and it didn’t matter. I’d won. I’d have to be quick, though. They might rush off to alert the queen.
He unlocked the door and I swept through, shutting it behind me.
Before I could speak, Arcus said, “Don’t bother.”
I leaned against the door, gathering my courage. After all the shocks he’d just endured, he was bound to take some of it out on me. “Oh, you’d like me to leave, then?”
“Say what you have to say and then leave. I have no wish to see you or your pretty husband.”
So, this was how it was going to be. I looked at the ceiling, as if I might find a fresh supply of patience up there. “He’s not my husband. I can explain—”
“‘To be,’ then. It’s not worth debating. Or have you missed that? Someone to argue with?”
My teeth ground together. If he didn’t want to listen to my explanations, so be it. “There are plenty of argumentative people here.”
“Well, if you haven’t come to argue, you’ve come to the wrong place.”
I exhaled and looked closely at him for the first time since entering the room. He sat with his face turned away, but even the sight of his familiar profile made me dizzy with conflicting emotions: longing, pleasure, worry, guilt. “Do you think it’s that easy to drive me away?”