Amara summoned tears to her eyes. She hadn’t cried in so long, but it was a talent she’d developed at an early age. The easiest way for a woman to avoid trouble or punishment, she’d found, was to feign weakness among men.
The tears quickly began to stream freely down her cheeks. “I planned to free you, but they told me you were already dead, killed in an attempt to escape. My heart ached for the thought that I’d lost you forever. I should have let you in on my plan, but I was afraid . . . so afraid. Oh, Felix, I didn’t want anything to happen to you, truly. I—I love you! I always will, no matter what you choose to do today!”
Felix stared at her, as if stunned by her words. “What did you just say? You love me?”
“I do. I love you.”
The tip of his sword wavered. But it quickly sprang back up.
“Nice try, love. I might believe that if I were a complete and utter idiot.” He smirked at her. “Time to die.”
A moment later, Carlos, who’d managed to get past Taran and up onto the stage, tackled Felix to the ground. Before she even had a chance to catch her breath, both Taran and Felix were brought before her and forced down to their knees.
Nerissa returned to her side, and Amara took her hand in hers, squeezing it for reassurance that her attendant had not been harmed.
“The other rebels are dead, your grace,” Carlos told her. His face bled from a vicious cut across the bridge of his nose.
She acknowledged this with a curt nod, then gazed down at Felix.
He shrugged again. “Can’t say I didn’t try.”
“Should have been quicker.”
“I like to talk too much, I guess.” He gave her a wide grin, but his single eye was ice cold. It flicked to Nerissa for a brief moment before returning to her. “Let’s revisit that offer of the harem of beautiful women, shall we?”
Amara touched Felix’s cheek, drawing his face up. “I am regretful about your eye. I did enjoy that eye, among other parts of you. For a few nights, anyway.”
“Shall we execute them immediately, your grace?” Carlos asked, his sword at his side.
She waited for fear to flash through Felix’s single eye, but he remained defiant. “If I spare you, what will you do? Try to kill me again?”
“In a heartbeat,” he said.
Taran groaned. “You are a damn idiot,” he muttered.
Her beast had entertained her for a time. He still did.
A part of her was still drawn to him, despite everything. But it didn’t matter. He should have died long ago so he’d no longer be a problem for her.
Amara nodded at her guard. “Throw them both in the pit. I’ll deal with them later.”
CHAPTER 20
LUCIA
PAELSIA
“She’s incredible. Absolutely beautiful and glorious. More like a goddess than a mere mortal, if you ask me. I know in my heart that she will save us all.”
Lucia paused at the vendor’s stall as she searched for an apple that didn’t have any imperfections—seemingly an impossibility in Paelsia—and glanced at the fruit seller speaking to her friend.
“I couldn’t agree more,” agreed the friend.
Could they be speaking of the prophesied sorceress?
“Pardon my rudeness, but may I ask whom you’re speaking about?” Lucia asked. It was the first time she’d spoken aloud in over a day, and her voice cracked.
The vendor glanced at her. “Well, the empress, of course. Who else?”
“Yes, who else indeed,” Lucia said under her breath. “So you believe that Amara Cortas will save you. Save you from what, exactly?”
The Paelsian women glanced at each other before regarding Lucia with weary patience.
“You’re not from around here, are you?” One pursed her wrinkled lips. “No, with that accent, I believe you’re Limerian, aren’t you?”
“I was born in Paelsia and adopted into a Limerian family.”
“How fortunate of you to have escaped these borders at an early age, then.” The vendor glanced at her friend. “If only we all had been given that opportunity.”
The two laughed humorlessly at this.
Lucia’s patience was nearing an end. “I’ll buy this apple.” She pocketed the piece of fruit and handed over a silver coin. “As well as any information you can give me about the empress’s whereabouts.”
“Gladly.” The woman greedily took the coin, her eyes narrowing. “Where have you been these last few days, young lady, that you wouldn’t know all about the empress? Sleeping under a moss patch with the warlogs?”
“Something like that.” Actually, she’d been recovering her strength at the inn in eastern Paelsia until she couldn’t take anymore and needed to escape. Despite the barmaid Sera’s concern for her health, Lucia knew she had to leave there lest her belly grow so big that she never got out of bed again.
She slid her hand over her swollen stomach, and the woman noticed, her eyes growing wide.
“Oh, my dear! I didn’t realize you were with child. And so far along!”
Lucia waved off her concern. “I’m fine,” she lied.
“Where is your family? Your husband? Don’t tell me you’re on your own here in the market today!”