Andreus took Imogen’s soft outstretched hands in his. “I scared him . . . the boy I rescued.”
“He will come to understand why you had to do what you did,” Imogen said, leading Andreus to the Throne of Light. “And now he will think twice if he ever considers crossing you. A king cannot afford to associate with those who could be persuaded to betray.”
“Max would never betray me.”
“Perhaps not willingly. But he is a child and there are those who might take advantage of that.”
Andreus thought of the sabotaged lights and Max admitting he’d told a number of people about the test Andreus planned to run. The boy was enthusiastic and friendly. Both were endearing. Both could, if Max wasn’t careful, be deadly in a place filled with people so intent on wielding influence.
Imogen reached up and placed her hand against Andreus’s cheek. “Is there any doubt as to why my heart was yours from the moment we met? You looked at that young boy and saw past his sickness to the potential within. And believed that your kindness will be repaid with loyalty.”
“And you don’t?” he asked.
“Micah was hungry for power, but he studied the histories and he understood that for kings kindness is a tool, like any other.” She took his hand and led him to the throne. “And it is most used by one who has shown he is willing to evoke fear. Micah always liked to remind me of the vision I feigned and how there were men willing to speak of their part in making it come true if I ever dared cross him. Fear mixed with kindness is unsettling and powerful.”
Andreus tightened his hold on Imogen wondering what other things his brother had done to cause her fear. “You should have told me what Micah was doing.”
Imogen shook her head. “It was my choice to stay quiet just as it is my choice now to see how you wield your own power. Tonight you proved willing to use the fear and strength the crown bestows. Once you are on the throne, you will teach the Council and your subjects that they will bend to you or break. Once they learn that lesson, you can show them the kindness you have always shown me. Before then the people and your enemies will see any sign of mercy as weakness. Your father understood that. It was why he had no choice but to have your uncle killed.”
“My uncle committed treason.”
“That’s what your father said.” She put her hands on his shoulders and gently pushed him down until he was seated on the Throne of Light. “The truth is what the man who sits in this chair wishes it to be. You belong on this throne, my prince. The kingdom needs you to stay safe. I need you.”
He let those words settle over him, washing away some of the doubt he felt at the look he’d seen in Max’s eyes and the guilt that lingered after emptying his sister’s bottles. Had he not known how she would suffer, it wouldn’t bother him. Or if he knew for certain she had betrayed him . . .
“You still look troubled, my prince.”
Andreus took her hand in his. “Do you know if they’ve located the seamstress seen talking to the assassin?”
Imogen sighed. “Captain Monteros sealed the gates, but so far no sign of her has been found, which is a shame.”
“Do you think she would implicate my sister in the plot?”
“I doubt it. But you said the girl was someone you both knew when you were younger. The fact that your sister has kept her association with this girl a secret from you demonstrates how important she is to the Princess. That kind of affection is a weakness you could exploit to your advantage with the Council . . . and the people of Eden.”
Andreus thought of the row of empty glass bottles. “We don’t need the girl for that. My sister has more than one weakness.”
“I hope you are right, my prince. I saw the way she looked at the throne tonight. She is not winning the Trials, but she has made choices that have captured the hearts of many of the people, and once they hear of tonight’s trial and the choices she made, more will flock to her banner.”
“That will never happen.” Especially not after tomorrow, he thought. “Carys will break.”
Imogen placed her hands on his knees. “My vision still shows two paths before the kingdom—not one. You have to take care even if you don’t believe.”
“It’s not that I don’t believe.” It was that he couldn’t. “I’ve seen too many decisions based on visions that turn out wrong.”
“Visions are the Gods’ ways of sending us warnings to pay attention to the future. Seers are trained to report only what we see in the stars. But many seers seek to find power beyond their visions, giving meaning to that which the stars gave none. You may not believe in them, but that does not mean they aren’t real.” Standing, Imogen held out her hands. “Come with me to the tower. I can show you the stars that are guiding your way.”
He rose from the Throne of Light and looked down at the sapphires that glowed with an almost hypnotic light.
“Come, Prince Andreus, you can tell me what you have done to keep Eden safe from the path that leads to darkness and I will check the stars to see if they have changed their message.”
“I doubt I will be able to concentrate on the stars, my lady,” he said, running a finger down her face. “Not with your beauty distracting me.”
She laughed, but took his hand and wove her fingers through his. “Is it any wonder that I fear your sister’s jealousy will try to take this from us?”
“Carys cannot hurt us,” he assured her. “Trust me.”
17
They were gone.
Carys stared at the wardrobe as if she could will the bottles to reappear. Her head spun. The bottles had been here earlier. They should be here now. But they weren’t, and Carys could only think of one reason why they would be gone.
Andreus.
He must have realized she had lied about the Tears of Midnight. Part of her wanted to believe he wasn’t the one behind this—that it was the Council that had figured out her secret. Because Andreus knew what happened when her body craved the drink. He’d sat with her when she shook and sweated and screamed at him that she was dying. He held the bottle to her lips when he could no longer bear to see her suffer.
But that was the brother who needed her to act as his shield. The brother she saw in the Hall of Virtues tonight no longer wanted her aid, and this was his way of telling her that they were done.
Gods.
Carys rubbed her temples and tried to think. The welts on her back were already beginning to throb. Not terribly, but the wounds whimpered when she moved. By the start of the next trial tomorrow evening, it would be worse. Which is what her brother was counting on and something she couldn’t let happen. Andreus needed her even if he didn’t realize it anymore. She had to warn him about Imogen before Imogen had the chance to destroy Andreus the way she did Father and Micah, or before she could find and hurt Larkin.