by Hope Hart
My mouth goes dry. “You were supposed to be there that night.”
“Yes. It was my inability to stay where I was told that saved my life. And cost my parents theirs.”
I frown. “You were just a kid. You couldn’t have saved them.”
“There are secret passages throughout my castle. Most of them had been forgotten, many of them blocked off, as they were too dangerous. But I loved to explore in my free time. If I’d been in the royal quarters, I could have saved my parents.”
My heart aches for the little boy who was supposed to be murdered with his parents that night. “You might have died with them.”
“Or they might have lived.” He shrugs. “There’s no way to know now.”
I open my mouth, frowning as Arix shrugs again, the picture of indifference.
But I see beyond that indifference now. And he’s a man who’s swamped in pain.
I lift myself onto one elbow and stare at him.
I can’t believe I thought Arix had no feelings. He’s bursting with feelings. Just because he hides them behind a charming grin and a lewd mouth doesn’t mean they don’t exist. And he’s been missing his parents every day since they were taken from him.
“What is it?” he asks, running his hand over my back.
“Nothing.” I lower my lips to his, hoping his taste will replace the ashy taste of betrayal that has filled my mouth. “Nothing at all.”
Chapter Twelve
Vivian
I study the vendors disinterestedly, ignoring the way my stomach rumbles at the smell of the roasted nuts I love.
We’re back at the marketplace after traveling from Rakiz’s camp yesterday. Truthfully, between the happiness radiating from all my friends and the weight of the hope in the other women’s eyes, it was almost a relief to leave.
Now, though, the castle is full of Braxians from a tribe bordering Arix’s territory. He obviously needs to keep them on his side, because he’s been spending hours negotiating with them.
“What exactly are we looking for?” Sarissa asks.
“I’ll know it when I see it.”
I don’t want to admit to Sarissa exactly what I’m doing. Because it’ll be an admission that I care more for Arix than I should.
She shrugs. “Varge said he’ll meet us in the same place he spoke to you last time.”
I grind my teeth but nod. That’s the reason we’re truly here. To collaborate against the man who shares my bed each night.
For whatever reason, our guards are no longer sticking as close as they used to, giving us more freedom. Freedom that Sarissa is taking full advantage of. In fact, we have our own little side project that may help lessen the sting when Arix is ousted from his throne.
A project that may help him get that throne back.
Yeah, because he’s really going to forgive you and listen to what you have to say. And he’s definitely going to trust any other information you give him after you’ve stabbed him in the back.
“Are you okay?” Sarissa asks, and I shrug.
“Fine.”
She raises her eyebrow but chooses not to say anything, and we walk through the marketplace in silence. It’s no longer an interesting, almost magical place for me. Instead, it represents betrayal.
Bright colors catch my eye, and I can’t help but stop in my tracks. A woman with green skin slams into me and hisses something my translator doesn’t catch, her elbow hitting me in the ribs as she strides past me. I ignore her, staring at the paintings.
“Wow,” I murmur, and Sarissa silently follows me as I walk closer to the vendor’s kradi.
The colors aren’t as bright or as vivid as those I’ve seen on Earth. They’re more…muted, but no less beautiful. In fact, the sheer skill it must require to paint these without access to the types of paints and brushes we have…
“Incredible.”
The paintings depict scenes from across Agron. In one of them, an old man with horns sits on a porch in a forest, looking content, if a little lonely. In another, a dragon flies above the Colossal Water at sunset, his reflection shimmering below.
“That’s Dragix,” I murmur, and Sarissa nods.
“Look at that one.” She points, and my heart flips. Arix is wearing a midnight crown as he lounges on his throne. He’s looking down at someone, his brow creased slightly in thought, one corner of his mouth curled up and his long fingers wrapped around a jeweled cup.
My heart stutters. I need that painting.
I tune out everything and everyone around me, turning to the vendor, who has been watching me closely. He’s scaled, the red-and-pink colors blurring together in a way that makes me dizzy, his eyes a bright gold.
“Are you the painter?”
He shakes his head. “My brother.”
“Will you give me his information?”
He shrugs but finally rattles off the details. I glance at Sarissa, who sighs but pulls out one of her pieces of paper and writes down the guy’s name and address.
The vendor tilts his head. “He will be here tomorrow if you would like to meet him.”
I definitely would. For now, I point to the painting of Arix. I don’t care how, but I’m taking that thing with me when I leave.
“How much?”
He names a price that makes Sarissa choke, and I narrow my eyes at him.
“How much if we weren’t human?”
He smiles, displaying crooked yellow teeth. “Your race has nothing to do with the price.”
I scowl. “What is it, then?”
“The look on your face when you gaze at our king.”
I blush, and Sarissa tuts, a smirk playing around her mouth. “Someone’s dick-struck,” she mutters, and I wish the ground would open up and swallow me.
I stare at the vendor, who sighs.
“Since you obviously plan to give my brother more work, I’ll take ten credits.”
“Seven.”
“Nine, and I’ll have it delivered to the castle.”
I raise my eyebrows at that, and he laughs. “Everyone knows of the strange females staying as the king’s guests.”
I sigh but dig into my pocket and hand them over. Arix insisted we never leave without a pocketful of credits, so technically, he’s the one buying this painting for me. Since he’s the reason I feel the need to buy it in the first place, it seems fitting.
I’m in a better mood as we walk away. Sarissa wisely chooses not to mention the fact my “fling” is veering into dangerous territory.
Next, I’ll probably be cutting off a lock of Arix’s hair to take with me when I get on that ship.
Actually, that’s a great idea.
No, no, no. This was always meant to be temporary. I was supposed to have some fun and get him out of my system. I need to get a handle on whatever obsession I seem to have with the man.
I hesitate, about to whirl around and stalk back to the vendor to tell him I don’t want the painting after all.
Sarissa nudges me, murmuring under her breath. “There he is.”
Shit.
I walk toward Varge as if I’m walking toward the gallows. Apparently, Sarissa has already arranged for our guards to be distracted for the next few moments. She now has enough contacts in this kingdom to run all kinds of plans. It’s a little scary, to be honest.
“Greetings,” Varge says. He runs a hand over his furry head and nods at Sarissa as she steps closer.
“There will be a ball in six nights,” he says, getting straight down to business. “Nobles from many tribes across this part of Agron will be attending with petitions for the king. All you have to do is ensure he is in a particular place at a particular time.”
Sarissa narrows her eyes at him. “How exactly will this work? You promised the king won’t get hurt.”
He nods quickly. “My contact is planning to overthrow the king with evidence of his ineffectual rule. He will convince the council he should rule in Arix’s place.”
It takes everything in me not to punch Varge in
the face.
“We want the chip first,” Sarissa says, and he laughs.
“If you have the chip, what will compel you to hold up your part of the deal?”
“If we hold up our part of the deal, what will compel you to give us the chip?”
Stalemate.
Varge sighs and turns to Sarissa. “We will meet you at the dock on the night of the ball and will give you the chip.” He nods at me. “You will help us overthrow the king and will then be free to go.”
I glance at Sarissa, who frowns.
“We’ll think about it and let you know.”
Varge scowls at that, his huge, furry eyebrows drawing together like two giant caterpillars. “We don’t have much time.”
“We’ll get a message to you. Who should we use at the castle?”
I hold my breath, wondering if Varge will actually tell us. He hesitates and then finally shrugs.
“Give it to your maid,” he tells Sarissa, and I stiffen. Arix is surrounded by traitors.
“Done.” Sarissa nods as if completely unconcerned, and Varge turns and walks away.
“Are you going to be able to do this?” Sarissa asks me.
“Do you want my honest answer?”
“Of course.”
“I think this is all a mistake.”
Sarissa’s silence almost makes my ears bleed.
“Okay,” she finally says. “How do you suggest we tell everyone we can’t actually get off this planet because you lost your lady balls?”
I inhale so sharply I almost choke.
“Oh, of course it’s so easy for you,” I snap. “You don’t give a shit about anything or anyone!”
She stares at me, hurt, and then fury flashes in her eyes. “You really think that?”
I throw up my hands. “Arix has been good to us. Better than good. He didn’t have to let us stay with him. We have our thruster fixed because of him.”
She rolls her eyes. “Get a grip, V. He didn’t do that out of the goodness of his heart. He did it because he wanted to fuck you. How are you not used to that by now?”
I flinch. “Regardless of why he did it, he doesn’t deserve to lose his throne.”
“And we didn’t deserve to lose our home! Do you honestly still think life is fair? Life sucks, Vivian! You can have your moral dilemma all you want, but it’s not going to change the fact we have thirty women depending on us to get that fucking ship in the air.”
I open my mouth, but she holds up her hand, her eyes burning.
“Those women had lives and families and homes that were ripped away from them. You may be getting starry-eyed over that man, but you know deep down he’s not going to lose any sleep when you leave. He’ll move straight on to the next woman, and the next after that. He’s broken, V.”
That’s it. The gloves are off. “You want to point fingers at Arix?” I laugh coldly. “You’re willing to betray anyone to get what you want. You’re broken too!”
She nods, her lips bloodless. “I am. But I don’t pretend to be anything I’m not. You made a choice. So either honor that choice or don’t, but don’t stand there and judge me for doing whatever it takes to make things right for those women. And don’t you dare pretend you didn’t know exactly what you were signing up for when we agreed to this deal.”
“He’s a good ruler, Sarissa. He does good things here. You don’t care that he’ll lose his throne and this place might end up in a civil war?”
“I was a good person too, once. Those women who had their lives taken from them are good people. Being a good person means nothing in this universe. If you can’t play your part in this, let me know, and I’ll do it myself. But don’t fool yourself into thinking your hands won’t be just as dirty as mine.”
We stare at each other in silence, and I blink back tears.
When we were kids, we saw each other intermittently. Our moms were constantly fighting, and it could be years before they made up from their last fight and had a big dramatic reunion scene. Then we’d be sleeping over at each other’s houses every weekend for months, until the next fight occurred.
We swore that would never happen to us. But I don’t know if I can ever recover from this.
Because as tempting as it is to blame my cousin for this, it’s not her fault. All she’s doing is holding up a mirror. I want Arix to love me. I want him to keep his throne. But I also want revenge. And I want the other women to get off this planet and live the lives they want to live. I want everything, but I don’t want the consequences that come along with any of the choices I have to make.
It’s easier to blame Sarissa when she’s the only one strong enough to make the hard choices and deal with those consequences.
The way she’s been doing all her life.
She tilts her head as if reading my mind, and then she turns and stalks away.
Chapter Thirteen
Vivian
I’m in a terrible mood when I arrive back in my rooms, finding Arix lounging on my bed.
“Don’t you have things to do?”
“I do.” His grin makes it clear that I’m one of the things he has to do.
I slump down beside him, my head hitting the soft blankets with a thump. He leans over me and gently rubs his lips against mine.
“I know what happened at the market today.”
I break out in a cold sweat. “I can explain.”
He grins. “Explain how you bought a painting of me? You don’t need a painting, lovely. You have the real thing.”
My heart almost breaks at his words, and my face must fall, because he frowns. “What’s wrong?” He takes my hands, and his frown deepens. “You’re cold as ice.”
I force out a laugh, ignoring the question. “I couldn’t help myself. The painting captured you perfectly. You looked like you were contemplating doing something you knew was wicked but you’d definitely enjoy the process.”
He smiles and leans closer, murmuring into my ear, “If I remember correctly, the last time I allowed someone to draw me was the day I met you.”
I shiver, and my eyes widen as he moves away. I wish I could paint so I could capture the way he looks right now.
His eyes are as dark and mysterious as midnight. But the warmth in my chest when he looks at me is as bright as dawn and just as hopeful.
Sorrow makes my hands shake, and his eyes narrow on me.
“I know what will make you feel better.”
I glance at his lips, my nipples hardening. He laughs.
“Not that, my wicked female. Come with me.”
He gets to his feet, and I frown, following him out of the room, down the hall, and out a back entrance of the castle. Guards trail at a distance, but he waves away any advisers that approach, leaving Rachiv staring after us.
“What’s this?” I ask.
“This is where I come to relax.”
I watch as he picks up a crossbow, loading it with an arrow and handing it to me.
He gestures at the target in the distance. “It will make you feel better. I promise.”
I shrug and aim, the arrow hitting the target with a thack.
Arix stares at me, more surprise than I’ve ever seen on his face.
“My guards mentioned you won a game at the marketplace, but this…” He turns and walks closer to the target, which must be twenty feet away. He studies it and then walks back to me, pointing at the next target, which is further away.
I hit it and load another arrow before hitting it again. The movement becomes repetitive as Arix guides me to the next target, and the next.
A crowd gathers, but I tune them out, fury and frustration warring within me.
I can’t do this anymore.
The thought slams into me like an asteroid. I can’t look at this man, can’t kiss him while knowing I’m going to betray him.
There’s an animal in Australia called a quokka. When threatened by a predator, it’ll relax its pouch muscles, allowing its baby to fall out. The baby will lie on the gr
ound, hissing and drawing the predator’s attention so the mother can escape.
Most people would agree that’s cold. But what if the sacrifice of those babies means the survival of the species as a whole?
Arix somehow snuck beneath all my defenses. But how do I give up the futures of the women who are so desperate to get home?
Strong hands take the crossbow from me, and I blink, realizing my face is wet. Arix’s eyes are dark, his face hard as he waves his hand, and the people gathered around us begin to thin out.
“It’s not as bad as you think it is,” he says, and I choke out a laugh.
He wipes my tears, and I open my mouth, ready to tell him everything.
“Your Majesty.”
We both turn at Bevix’s voice. Arix’s expression goes cold at the interruption, and Bevix bows his head.
“It’s Korzyn. He was attacked.”
Arix
Korzyn is unconscious but alive. He’s deathly pale, but he has traces of blue around his mouth. My knees go weak as I slump into the chair next to his bed.
“He was carrying cava berries,” I murmur, and the healer nods.
I resist the urge to slide my hand into my own pocket, where a few of the dried berries are hidden. Korzyn’s planning and paranoia have saved his life.
“The berries began the healing process, giving us enough time to get to him. Once again, we were detained,” the healer says, and I tear my gaze from Korzyn, meeting her eyes.
She nods at whatever she sees on my face. “The main door leading to the healers’ quarters was barred. Sevis—one of the younger healers—managed to climb out a window, reaching your commander just in time, while the rest of us were forced to wait for some of your guards to break down the door.”
She shivers and glances at the wreckage of the door.
“You did well,” I manage to get out, my hands fisting. Sevis will be rewarded for her quick thinking.
The traitors are getting desperate. My spies are up against their spies, and they know for sure that Korzyn would never betray me.
My mind flashes back to the moment I first sat on my father’s throne. I felt overwhelmed, horror and anguish warring within me, while I fought to keep my face blank.
