“I’ll be in touch.” My eyes met Madinia’s. She looked drained, but for the first time, she wasn’t looking at me with vitriol. “Why did you follow me that day in the slums?”
Her eyes widened. “No wonder you disappeared. You knew I was there. I’ve been watching you since you arrived. I knew you were up to something.”
“And what were you planning to do with that information?”
“I’m corrupt,” she said hoarsely. “If you knew a way out, I would have blackmailed you until you got me out too.”
I couldn’t blame her. I would have done the exact same thing. I got to my feet.
“I want to help,” Madinia said. “With whatever plan you’re making.”
Even knowing her life was at risk, I still didn’t trust her. “I’ll think about it.”
It turned out Lorian’s door was two down on the left. I took a moment to lean against the wall outside his room. If I hadn’t gotten hopelessly lost, Madinia would be little more than a pile of ash right now. And if Farrow hadn’t loved his daughter more than the king, we’d both be in the dungeon, waiting to burn.
The thought made me sway on my feet.
I knocked on Lorian’s door, and he instantly opened it. Had he known I was here?
He stepped aside, allowing me into his rooms, and I paced to the window.
If I didn’t know Lorian as well as I did now, I would have thought that was wariness in his gaze.
“What is it?” he asked, turning to pour himself a drink.
I opened my mouth, and it all came spilling out. The seamstress—my aunt, Demos, and of course, everything that had just happened with Patriarch Farrow.
“What happened with your magic?”
“I don’t know. I reacted too fast or something.”
He raised his eyebrow at me. “That’s not how it works.”
Whatever I had done, I’d nearly gotten myself killed. I shuddered. I needed to figure out what had gone wrong. So I never did it again.
Lorian stared down into his drink, obviously coming to terms with all that I told him.
“Your nanny.”
“Apparently we called her ‘aunt.’”
I could see him weighing what that would mean. I didn’t think I needed to be clear on this part, but with murderous mercenaries, it was best to be safe. “Don’t kill her.”
Lorian rolled his eyes. It was such a strange gesture from him, I almost laughed.
Instead, I leveled him with my best hard stare. “I want your word.”
“I give you my word I won’t kill your aunt. Unless she actively gets in my way.”
I opened my mouth at that, but he was already moving on to the next topic.
“The queen’s lady tried to set herself on fire?”
“Yes.”
He sipped at his drink. Then he gave me a brooding look. “The coward’s way out.”
I blinked. “She was going to die on her terms. And prevent her death from being a spectacle.”
“What would you have done if she were sent to burn?”
“I would’ve attempted to get her out,” I admitted.
He nodded, his gaze steady on mine. “And she didn’t know that.”
“Of course not. We’re not exactly friends.” I knew he had a point somewhere, but I just couldn’t see it.
“Precisely. Even when things look as hopeless as they’ve ever been, you never give up. No matter how much pain you’re in. You never remove any chance at life. Because you never know when something could change. Something you never even expected.”
Madinia’s distraught expression flashed in front of my eyes. “Sometimes you do whatever you can to stop the pain.”
“Sometimes you just need to hold on a little longer and the pain will be over. And you’ll be alive.” He put his drink down and took a step closer. “Don’t you ever make that choice.”
“Lorian—”
“Promise me.” His expression was intent.
This seemed to matter to him. I took a deep breath. “I promise.”
Thankfully, he appeared ready to change the subject. He turned and paced away. “You’re sure Farrow will help us?”
The fact that he said us made me feel slightly better about the situation. Especially after last night.
“Yes. He loves his daughter. He’ll betray the king to keep her alive.”
Lorian paused, clearly thinking over our options. Finally, he sighed.
“I’m looking for an amulet. It’s a blue stone set in silver with ancient writing etched into the back. That’s why I’m here.”
“You thought it would be in the king’s chamber.”
“Yes. I’m positive it’s in this castle somewhere. I’ve searched the libraries, Sabium’s chambers, and anywhere else it’s rumored to be.”
“Why can’t you kill the king?”
He raised one eyebrow. “Vicious thing.”
I scowled at him, and he flicked his gaze over me, lingering on my mouth. “It wasn’t an insult. I like it.” My stomach flipped, and I attempted to keep my expression bored. Thankfully, he continued his thought. “I can’t kill the king yet because I have other plans in motion, and if he were to die early, I wouldn’t be able to finish my tasks.”
“Because that’s not mysterious at all. Are you ever going to tell me who you are?” He wasn’t a prince. I knew that much. What I didn’t know was how he’d managed to convince the royals that he was.
One side of his mouth kicked up. “Yes. But not today.”
“Why not?”
Silence.
I sighed. “I’ll help you look for your amulet. If you help me with the prisoners.”
He studied me. “What’s your plan, Prisca?”
“Vicer said if we can get the prisoners out through the tunnel from the dungeon, he can have rebels meet us at the market. Vicer has been finding any mode of transportation that he can, so we can get the prisoners from the market to the city walls. If Farrow is serious about saving his daughter’s life, the guards will receive an order to stand down—just long enough for the rebels to get out. Farrow is respected enough that they’ll do what he says—at least for the few minutes we need.”
“The hybrids will be hunted.” His expression was blank, giving me no hint of what he thought about that strategy.
“Yes. But at least they’ll have a chance. They’re weakened, but they’ll travel in groups. Those who can’t make a long journey will be smuggled into various parts of the city—Vicer will help there. We’re hoping to find someone who can help with the blue marks. Besides, once they’ve been free for a few days, many of them will be able to use their powers again. They’ll fight to stay free.”
“And you?” His voice was quieter. Almost intimate.
I hadn’t yet thought about my next move. “I don’t know. We have to tell people that Sabium is the one who started the war with the fae. And that he’s the reason it continues.”
“No one will believe you until you have irrefutable proof. Even then, many will choose to ignore the facts.”
“Why?”
A languid shrug. “Their ancestors sent their sons to that war. Their brothers. Their cousins. All for them to die for the king’s greed. To believe it was all for nothing… Most people would prefer to never know the truth.”