Chapter 6 #4
“If you wish to hold the power, use his guilt against him. Use every misstep of his to gain another concession. Make your forgiveness of any slights contingent on obtaining what you desire most. The King of Aureum is a man—point out a problem, give him a way to fix it, praise him when you are satisfied, and he will live under the happy delusion that he has earned your love.”
“But…won’t he catch on?”
Leukos laughed.
“No, Your Highness. We are very simple creatures at heart. And I know His Majesty’s type.
The lure of proving himself will shine so brightly that he’ll be blind to your motivations, as long as you can act satisfied.
As for the remaining soldiers and nobles, rest assured, I will keep them in line.
There will be no more talk of bargains and blood.
Provided you act in the interests of Viridis, they will follow your orders. ”
And that was what worried her. The interests of Viridis were Flora’s ambitions, plain and simple. If she worked towards giving Flora the Dragon’s Flank, Leukos was an ally. But if she stepped out of line? Aurora suppressed a shiver.
“You understand that destroying Drakon must take priority? If he lives, he will lay waste to the whole of Trisia.”
“I’m aware, and I believe, with the right maneuvering, that we can accomplish both our aims.”
Bloody nobles. It was probably the best she could have hoped for, given her alternatives. At least Leukos didn’t plan on being unreasonable…yet.
Theron returned to the tent before she could question Leukos further. He stood and bowed deeply to Aurora.
“With your permission, I will excuse myself, Your Highness.”
“You may go.”
“Glory to the Princess of Viridis and the star of Aureum,” he said, his hand to his heart.
With that, her new ally departed, leaving her feeling cautious. She dared not be hopeful yet, not until she discovered more about the man and his aims. Not until he’d proved he intended to help her first.
“Did that dog mind his manners while I was away?” Theron asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. Tell me if he forgets his place.”
Theron dried off from the rain, running his hands through deep crimson hair made nearly black by the water.
As he pulled off his tunic, she swallowed.
Betrayal had not changed how perfectly he was formed.
Heartbreak had not shrunk the sheer breadth of his shoulders, nor the thickness of his arms. It certainly hadn’t dimmed her body’s yearning for him.
Fate and Passion had laid the perfect trap of flesh and blood for her.
If only They had also spared a thought for his morals when They’d fashioned his thread.
“Theron?”
Though perhaps they were well matched, given what she was about to do.
“Yes?”
Was this really the right thing to do, to use his guilt against him?
To believe that this change was fleeting and that she should take advantage of it while it lasted?
It felt so cold and calculating this way, as if forgiveness were merely a matter of balancing a ledger, and not an ugly battle between hope for what could be and rage at what had been.
But she’d tried to be a good person with him, and all she had to show for it was a marriage she couldn’t end and the shattered remnants of her heart and trust. Maybe it was time to try something different, even if it felt wrong.
Drakon needed to be slain, as did the rest of the serpents.
Perhaps here and now, the ends justified the means.
“You asked what you could do to regain my trust. I’ve…
thought about it. If I’m ever going to trust you again, then I need to see that you mean what you’ve said.
I want the heads of all the serpents you’ve created, and I want to see them the moment I step into Aureum.
If you can do that, then…I think I can forgive you. ”
He seemed almost...suspicious. Aurora’s heart dropped to her knees. Had Leukos been wrong? Had his aim been to sow discord between them? Goddesses, why was she always so na?ve?
“Do you mean that?”
“Yes.”
He stalked towards her, looming over her, caging her in with his arms on either side of her in the bed.
“And when you see that, what will you do about the Viridians?”
Aurora took a steadying breath. Maybe this would work after all. He was using his presence to soften her up, to make her give him more than she wanted to, but she would not yield.
“When I see the heads, we’ll discuss what happens afterwards.”
“Then consider it done.” He smiled, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles.
Thunder rumbled overhead. She tensed. Even now, she hated that sound.
His gaze roamed over her face and his hand tightened on hers.
Her cheeks heated. Of course he knew. She might as well be an open book to him.
Without a word, Theron slipped into bed and held her close.
Despite her shame, she let him. As Aurora pressed her ear to his chest, she let his heartbeat be her comfort, all the while praying that it would not become the siren song that led her to her doom.