Chapter Sixty
CHAPTER SIXTY
Mira
Three hours earlier
I stared out of the carriage window, unexpectedly calm. For perhaps the first time in my life, I knew that I’d made the right choice.
It still felt strange, walking away from the vengeance I’d desired for so long. After meeting with the resistance, I had been so sure of my next move – I’d returned to Madam Mandrakes to buy a thin blade that I could smuggle into the wedding, intending to strike when I reached the altar.
I’d reasoned it all out. Aric and Lillian had a solid plan to escape; they should be free and clear before they realised what I’d done. And by murdering Emperor Kalias, I would have finally done something to help the Kalurians.
But killing the emperor didn’t guarantee their freedom. And vengeance wouldn’t bring my mother back.
Aric was right: life was for the living. And I was done wasting mine.
It was surreal to step out of the carriage, knowing that I was about to see Aric again. Surreal, because I was finally ready to say those words back to him.
I love you, too.
I felt suddenly shy, though there was no reason to be. Aric had slipped out of my rooms before the guard rotation had changed, but I’d seen how hard it was for him to leave. It was impossible to doubt his love for me. Not after everything we’d been through.
And everything we’re about to risk.
I forced the thought aside, striding through the harbour. The docks were peaceful this morning, and as I listened to the water lapping against the ships’ hulls, it occurred to me this visit was very different from my last. With any luck, it would remain that way. Facing down arrows once was enough for a lifetime.
The Drakkar came into view as boots thudded against the cobblestones. I turned, catching sight of a strange collection of people running towards me: two hooded figures with blades glinting in their hands; a dark-haired prisoner, chains encircling his wrist; and a richly dressed lady, who despite the dirt on her clothes, could have come straight from the palace ballroom.
I glanced around the docks, but there was no one else in sight. ‘Where are Aric and Lillian? Are they already on board?’
‘No,’ Jadis said tightly, removing her hood. ‘We couldn’t locate them. They weren’t where they were supposed to be.’
‘But Scarlett told me they were with you!’
‘Well, I didn’t see them.’ Jadis glanced at her brother, but Elian shook his head too.
Panic surged through me. If something had happened to them—
‘I have to get back to the palace.’ I looked wildly around for a carriage. ‘Right now.’
‘Mira.’ Jadis’s voice was sharp. ‘You can’t. We’ve just extracted a high-profile prisoner from the dungeons; the emperor will order his Warriors to investigate. And what happens if Aric and Lillian return while you’re gone? You need to trust them to handle themselves. They know what’s at stake.’
I bit my lip, conflicted. ‘But if Scarlett betrayed us—’
‘We don’t know that. Maybe she was given some misinformation.’ Jadis stared me down. ‘Either way, we need to be ready to sail at a moment’s notice. Give Aric and Lillian time to reach the docks.’
Jadis was right, but that didn’t make her words any easier to hear.
She strode towards the ship without waiting for a reply. Her brother followed, half supporting Odessa over one shoulder. Darius looked dazed and exhausted – possibly drugged – but he possessed enough awareness to follow.
I remained on the deck, pacing back and forth in rising distress. The distant tolling of a bell made me flinch and I glanced towards the palace, just in time to see a familiar figure step lithely onto the wharf. The sunlight lit up Cassius’s golden hair.
‘Going somewhere?’ he asked conversationally.
His nonchalance was unbelievable – even for him. Then I realised that only I was visible: he couldn’t see Jadis and the others inside the cabin, and he must not have heard about the breakout. If he had, he would have brought Warriors with him.
‘Yes, actually,’ I said, matching his blasé tone. ‘So, if you don’t mind, I should be on my way.’
Just as I’d hoped, Cassius strode down the gangplank. He wasn’t wary at all; it hadn’t occurred to him that this could be a trap.
The prince was dressed handsomely for our wedding, in a crimson and gold tunic and fitted black dress pants. He eyed my plain clothes with dissatisfaction as he approached. That dissatisfaction darkened as he noticed that I was no longer wearing my ring.
‘When my informants told me you were here alone,’ he said, his attention still on my hand, ‘I had hoped to bring you to your senses. Most girls would be thrilled to marry a prince.’
‘Feel free to marry one of them, then,’ I said. ‘Because I have no intention of accompanying you back to the palace.’
The moment Cassius reached the deck, I made my move. He barely had the chance to flinch before my dagger was at his throat.
His eyes flared with impotent anger. ‘We both know you’re not going to kill me,’ he gritted out.
‘I wouldn’t be so sure.’
He searched my face, but I didn’t soften. I didn’t waver. And then I heard the loud creak of the cabin door.
Cassius’s eyes darted over my shoulder – and widened. I turned but didn’t release my grip on the dagger.
‘In,’ I told him, motioning towards the cabin with my left hand.
Cassius, of course, didn’t move. He was studying Jadis and the others, his expression calculating. ‘How long have you been working with the resistance?’
‘You’re not in a position to be asking questions.’
As if to enforce my comment, Elian moved forward – and tightened a pair of cuffs around the prince’s wrists.
In an exasperated tone, he asked, ‘Is this really necessary?’
It was Jadis who replied. ‘We’re not taking any chances.’
‘Am I along for the journey, then?’ Cassius said pleasantly. ‘Or will you let me leave once you cast off?’
That was a good question. I glanced sideways at Jadis, who didn’t meet my eyes. A prince, after all, was a useful hostage.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, but now wasn’t the time to decide. ‘Take him below deck,’ I said, releasing the dagger from his throat.
Cassius didn’t try to struggle as Elian took him by the shoulder, but I saw the flicker of fear that he was too slow to hide. He was no longer in control, and we both knew it.
The prince tried to catch my eye as Elian escorted him away, but I ignored him. Instead, I moved over to the rail. There was still no sign of Aric or Lillian, and I could hear trumpets blaring in the distance.
With the ceremony about to start, they were cutting it dangerously close. Soon, people at the palace would notice that Cassius and I were missing. When that happened . . .
‘Mira,’ Jadis said softly, ‘I’ll give them as long as I can, but we can’t stay here indefinitely.’
I didn’t reply. I wasn’t willing to contemplate leaving without them. I wouldn’t need to leave without them.
Aric had promised he would be here, and he always kept his promises. He would find a way.
I have to believe he’ll find a way.
Midday.
As impossible as it seemed, it was midday. And still, they hadn’t come.
Jadis was growing impatient, but I kept my gaze fixed on the palace. The Warriors must have started looking for me by now, and it was likely that the dungeon breakout had also been discovered. How long until the emperor’s Warriors reached the docks, the most obvious place to search? How long until they descended on the Drakkar with their swords and arrows?
My heart hammered as I recognised the unmistakable sound of hoofbeats on cobblestones. A mixture of excitement and terror speared through me.
Jadis reached for my arm. ‘Mira—’
But I was already scrambling towards the docks. Towards the young man dismounting from his horse.
‘Aric!’ I shouted.
He didn’t show any sign that he had even recognised me, though his gaze met mine. I shuddered as I noticed the emptiness in his eyes – and the blood staining his armour. His dented armour.
‘What happened?’ I demanded as he approached. ‘Where’s Lillian?’
‘Don’t pretend.’ Aric stepped onto the gangplank. ‘Don’t lie .’
I stared at him in bewilderment. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘I saw what you did. I saw Lillian’s body cut down because of you.’
‘Lillian’s—’ I broke off, feeling like I was going to be sick. No. No, it can’t be true.
‘My sister loved you. She died for you.’ His voice cracked. ‘And it is only because of that, Mira, that I’m here right now. That I’m willing to let you leave.’
I shook my head back and forth. ‘There has to be some kind of mistake. I don’t know what’s happened, Aric, but—’
‘Do you deny buying a blade from Madam Mandrakes? Plotting to kill the emperor?’
‘No,’ I spluttered, ‘but I didn’t go through with it! I swear – I would never do anything to hurt you or Lillian!’
Aric didn’t appear to be listening. ‘You as good as admitted it to me last night,’ he said, almost to himself. ‘I knew you were planning something, and I – I was so blind .’ He let out a rough laugh. ‘Lillian was right. You destroy everything you touch.’
I stumbled back, but he kept advancing.
‘I never want to see you again, do you understand? From now on, you’re nothing to me.’
My tears overflowed. ‘You don’t know what you’re saying.’
‘What I know ,’ he said, ‘is that my sister is dead and you’re responsible.’
My whole body was trembling; I felt like I was about to shatter apart. He must have seen that too, but he turned decisively on his heel. As if he meant every cruel, heartbreaking word. As if I really was nothing to him.
‘Please.’ It was all I could think to say. ‘Aric, please . . .’
His shoulders tensed, but he kept walking.
‘If you leave now,’ I shouted after him desperately, ‘when will we ever see each other again?’
Aric paused to look back over his shoulder. ‘You’d better hope we don’t, Mira,’ he said coldly. ‘Because if that day comes, there will be a reckoning.’
It would have hurt less if he’d struck me. He watched me collapse to my knees with pitiless eyes.
Then he strode away from me – towards the Warriors galloping down the hill on Zigilian stallions. Towards the young woman leading the charge, the emperor’s bone crown gleaming on top of her red hair.
The gangplank was pulled back, our ship sailing away from Ravalia for what could be the last time.
I waited for Aric to glance back, even just once—
He didn’t.