“Will you make it all better?”
“I might.”
As he drew in a ragged breath, her expression grew more grave. She stroked his hair back from his face. “Magnus, please. What can I do?”
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
“Why did you go to Paelsia?”
“Father sent me there to bring something back for him. I failed. And...bad things happened. He’s going to be very angry with me.” He looked down at the floor, looked at his hands. He’d left his sword downstairs. He hadn’t bothered to wipe the guard’s blood off it.
“What bad things happened?”
“The guards who accompanied me—they were killed.”
Her eyes widened. “They were killed? But—but you got away. You were hurt, but you got away.” She touched his face softly. “Thank the goddess you survived.”
He looked into her beautiful eyes, taking strength from the way she looked at him, as if he could never be capable of doing anything truly horrible. “I killed someone.”
Lucia’s lips parted in surprise. “My poor brother. You’ve experienced such horrors. I am so, so sorry.”
“I’m a murderer, Lucia.”
“No.” She captured his face between her hands to force him to keep looking at her. “You’re my brother. And you’re wonderful. You could never do anything horrible. Do you hear me?”
She hugged him tight, so tight that he could almost forget what had happened. He held on to her. She was his anchor to keep him from being swept completely out to sea.
“Father won’t be angry,” she whispered. “Whatever he wanted you to do isn’t as important as having you return safely home.”
“He might disagree with that.”
“No, he won’t. I felt terrible about what happened with Sabina.” Her voice caught. “But he assured me that I’m not bad and that my magic is nothing to fear. That what happened was meant to happen. It was fate.”
“And you believed him?”
Lucia was quiet for a moment. “It took me a while, but I do believe him now. What I can do—I’m not afraid of it anymore. Let me show you what I’ve learned.”
She pressed her hand against his injured cheek. Her skin grew warm against his and begin to glow with a soft white light. He stared into her blue eyes, willing himself not to pull back from her as the heat grew and sank into his skin. It hurt, but he forced himself not to flinch away from her. When she finally pulled back from him, he touched his cheek to find that it was smooth, apart from his previous scar, and that the new scratches had vanished. Lucia had healed him with earth magic.
“Incredible. You’re incredible.”
A small, confident smile played at her lips. “I was surprised how kind Father was to me after...well, after what I did. I love him for not making this worse for me.”
Magnus hated that Lucia had been taken in by a few kind words by the king enough to forget the past. “Do you love him as much as you love me?”
She leaned against him and let out a soft laugh. “The truth?’
“Always.”
“Then it shall be our secret,” she whispered in his ear. “I love you more than any other.”
He pulled back from her and looked into her eyes, holding her beautiful face between his hands. Could this be real?
“Does that make you feel better after your horrible ordeal?” she asked.
He nodded slowly. “It does.”
And then, heart swelling, he crushed his mouth to hers, kissing her as deeply and passionately as he’d always dreamed. Her lips were so soft and sweet, and they filled him to overflowing with hope and love.
With a chill, he suddenly realized that her hands were pressed flat against his chest and she was trying to push him away. When he broke off the kiss, she skidded back from him, landing hard on her backside. She brought her hand up to cover her mouth, her eyes wide and appalled. And something else. Disgusted.
His lips tingled from the feel of her, the taste of her, but the reality of what had happened crashed over him like a bucket of ice-cold water.
She hadn’t kissed him back.
“Why would you do such a thing?” Her voice was pitchy and muffled by her hand.
“I’m sorry.” His heart hammered in his chest. Then he shook his head. “No, wait. I’m not sorry. I’ve wanted to kiss you like that for so long, but I was afraid.”
Her hand trembled as she pulled it away from her mouth. “But you’re my brother.”
“You said that you loved me.”
“Yes. I love you desperately...as my brother. But this...” She shook her head. “No, it’s not right. You can’t do something like this ever again.”
“You’re not really my sister.” He wouldn’t let himself feel shame for what he’d done. He’d given in to his love for her in a real way, and he refused to let it be turned into something vile. It wasn’t vile; it was pure. The purest thing in his entire world. “Not by blood. You weren’t born into this family. You were born in Paelsia. Sabina stole you from your cradle. You were raised here as my sister, but we’re not related by blood. If we’re together, it’s not forbidden to us.”
Her face had paled so much that she now resembled a ghost. The fierceness had left her eyes, replaced by shock. “Why are you saying these horrible things to me?”
“Because they’re the truth. The truth that you should have been told by the king himself. He wants to use your power for his own gain. That’s why he had you brought here, why he’s raised you as his daughter.”
Lucia shook her head. “And you’ve known this all the time?”
“No, I learned of it only the other night from Sabina herself. But Mother confirmed that it’s true.”
“I don’t understand.” She staggered up from the floor to her feet. He followed suit, watching her warily. His disgrace in Paelsia was momentarily forgotten. He hadn’t meant to tell Lucia like this, not so bluntly.
“Ease your mind,” he soothed. “Please. The king still considers you his beloved daughter. I know he does. And we were raised together, side by side. This is all true. But to consider you only my sister now that I know the truth...I can’t. You’re so much more to me than that.”
Lucia met his gaze. “Please don’t say these things to me.”
“You’re the only one in the world who means anything to me.” His voice broke. “I love you, Lucia. I love you to the very depths of my soul.”
She just stared at him.
“You said that you loved me.” He tried to keep his voice firm. “More than anyone else.”
“As a brother. As my dear brother, I love you unconditionally.”
It was as if his heart had stopped and the world crashed down all around him. “Only as a brother.”
“You can’t do that ever again. You can’t touch me like that. It’s wrong, Magnus.”
He clenched his fists at his sides. “It’s not wrong.”
“I don’t feel the same way toward you.”
“But someday you might—”
“No.” Tears shone in her eyes. “I will never feel that way. Please, let us never talk of this again.” She ran a hand over her long dark hair, as if attempting to straighten it. She moved to the door, but he caught her wrist to stop her.
Magnus’s eyes burned. “Please don’t leave me.”
“I have to. I can’t be near you right now.”
She pulled out of his grasp and left his room.
He stood there facing the door, unmoving, unthinking. Stunned by what had just happened.
She would turn her back on him and punish him for this. For showing her how he felt. For opening his heart in ways he’d never done before with anyone.
Magnus had always been a fool. A child. One who was easily beaten or abused by th
ose who were larger or stronger or more powerful. All his life he’d endured so much pain and developed only a thin mask to cover his true feelings. But masks could easily be removed and smashed with only a few words.
As of today, he was no longer a child. He had killed. He had lost the one he loved more than any other—and she would never trust him as she had before. Nothing would be the same with Lucia from this day forward. He’d destroyed that forever. And for a moment, all alone in his chambers, he clenched his fists at his sides and let himself cry over the loss of his beautiful sister and best friend.
Then his heart, now broken into a thousand pieces, slowly began to turn to ice.
Cleo could barely function as she returned to the palace. Sounds were muted, and all she could really hear was the rush of blood through her veins and the pounding of her heart.
Theon was dead.
“Try not to worry. Stay next to me,” Nic whispered as they were brought immediately before the king. The guards hadn’t given Cleo a chance to go to her room first. Frankly, they seemed surprised that she’d returned at all.
She didn’t speak. She wasn’t sure that she could speak.
The tall wood and iron doors swung inward, and there he was. The king. A guard had hurried ahead to inform him of Cleo’s return.
His face was pale. He looked even older than she remembered.
“Cleo,” he began. “Is this real? Have you truly returned, or are you only an illusion?”
They were ushered into the room and the doors shut heavily behind them. Cleo got a pitying look from one of the guards. He knew of the king’s temper.
“I’m sorry,” she managed, but could go no further before she started to cry.
The king swiftly moved toward her and gathered her into his arms. “My poor girl. I’m so relieved you’re home.”
This was a surprising reaction since the king had been stern with her for so long she’d practically forgotten his tender side. Finally he let go of her and helped her to a chair. His gaze flicked to Nic. “Explain.”
Nic shifted his feet. “Where should I begin?”
“I am furious that the two of you went to Paelsia against my wishes, but I had no idea that the difficulties between the lands would result in conflict like this. I was visited by King Gaius, who told me that he had Cleo in his grasp.”
Cleo shivered at the memory of the dark-haired boy with the cold, cruel eyes.
“He definitely tried,” Nic said with a nod. “But we got away.”
“Thank the goddess,” the king breathed. “How?”
“Theon,” Nic began, and his voice caught. Despite his previous smooth words, he also fought tears. “He fought Prince Magnus’s men. Killed them so they wouldn’t lay a hand on the princess. Then the prince killed Theon.”
“What?” the king gasped.
“We had no choice but to leave his body on Paelsian soil. We had to flee immediately.”
“I wanted to kill the prince,” Cleo managed. “I had the chance to, but...”
“I wouldn’t let her,” Nic admitted. “If she’d killed Prince Magnus, I knew things would be even worse than they already are.”
The king took this information in. “You were right to stop her. But I understand her desire for vengeance.”
Vengeance. The word sounded so decisive. So final. It was what Jonas wanted when he’d taken her. She’d seen the fiery hate in his eyes for her role in his brother’s death. If this was how he’d felt toward her, she was grateful that she was still alive.
His goal was to put her somewhere Prince Magnus could find her. They were working together to destroy her father. It was a miracle that she’d escaped. A miracle that came at too high a price.
“Cleo, you’re so pale,” the king said with concern.
Nic touched her arm. “She’s still in shock.”
“Do you now see why I didn’t want you to go, daughter? I know you wanted to try to help your sister, but there’s too much at risk right now.”
“I failed.” Her voice broke. “I didn’t find anything to help Emilia. And Theon’s dead because of me.”
He cupped her face and kissed her gently on her forehead. “Go to your chambers and rest. Tomorrow will be better.”
“I thought you’d be so angry with me.”
“I am angry. But to see you alive and well and returned to me is the answer to my prayers. So my happiness that you’re safe is more powerful than any anger. Love is stronger than anger. Love is stronger than hate—stronger than anything. Remember that.”
Nic helped her to her chambers, and he too kissed her forehead before he left her there, tucked into her warm bed. He left her in the dark room and she tried to sleep, but she was plagued by nightmares. One after another, and each of them starring a different dark-haired boy. One, Paelsian and savage, dragging her along a dusty road to lock her in a small, dirty shack. The other cruel and haughty, with a scar on his face and a bloody sword, laughing over the body of Theon.
She woke in the night, sobbing.
“There, there,” a familiar voice soothed. A cool hand brushed her forehead.
“Emilia?” She sat up in her bed, realizing that her sister was with her. The shadows of the room weren’t enough to cover how thin and pale her sister looked or the darkness under her eyes. “What are you doing here? You should be in bed.”
“How could I stay away when I learned that my little sister had finally returned?” Emilia’s face was grave. She climbed into the bed next to Cleo. “Father told me what happened. Cleo, I’m so sorry about Theon.”
Cleo opened her mouth, but no words came for a long time. “It’s my fault.”
“You mustn’t think that.”
“If I hadn’t run away, he wouldn’t have had to come after me. He would still be alive.”
“It was his job to protect you. And he did it. He protected you, Cleo.”
“But he’s gone.” It was only a tiny gasp.
“I know.” Emilia held her as she sobbed, tears that seemed to have no end. “And I know how you feel. When I lost Simon, I thought that it would be the end of me too.”
“You really loved him.”
“With all my heart.” She stroked Cleo’s hair. “So mourn Theon. Cherish his memory. Thank him for his sacrifice. One day, I promise this pain will fade.”
“No, it won’t.”
“Right now it’s still too fresh. It might seem as if this grief will never let go of the hold it has on your heart.” Emilia’s jaw tightened. “But you must be strong, Cleo. There are hard times ahead.”
Cleo’s chest hitched. “War.”
Emilia nodded. “King Gaius wanted Father to turn Auranos over to him without a fight. He told Father he’d do horrible things to you if he put up any opposition.”
Cleo trembled at the thought of it. Emilia leaned closer. “And just between you and me, I believe Father would have done exactly as King Gaius asked before it was too late to save you.”
“He couldn’t. There are so many people in Auranos, he couldn’t just give it over to the Limerians.”
“And the Paelsians. Paelsia and Limeros have partnered in their hatred against us.”
“Why do they hate us so much?”
“Envy. They see that we have so much here. And they’re right. We do.”
Cleo exhaled shakily. Her actions had nearly brought about the ruin of her father’s kingdom. “My trip was wrong in so many ways. But I still can’t bring myself to fully regret it. I wanted to help you.”
“I know.” A small, sad smile touched her lips. “I know you did it for me. And I love you for that so much. But I don’t think even a Watcher could have helped me anymore. I’m not sure I even believe they’re anything more than legend.”
“They’re real.”
“Did you meet one?”
Cleo faltered. “No. But a woman I met, Eirene, she told me tales I’d never heard before. About a sorceress and a hunter, about the Watchers. Did you know the goddesses were Watchers who stole the Kindred and exiled themselves? Now the Watchers wait to find the next sorceress, who can lead them to the hidden Kindred to restore their magic before it dies away completely. It’s all so incredible.”
Emilia’s smile held. “Sounds like quite a tale.”
“It’s real,” Cleo insisted. “The goddesses stole the Kindred and split it between them, but the power made them enemies. Before that, the entire Western Realm was one. We were all friends once upon a time.”
“No longer. The Limerian king hates Father. He wants to destroy him. He’s hungered for Father’s land since before he was on the throne. His father was a kind and gentle king who only wanted peace. King Gaius will be happy to spill oceans of blood beyond his own borders if it will get him the power he desires.”
Cleo’s chest tightened. “His son is a vicious, evil creature. If I see him again, I’ll kill him.”
This didn’t bring a look of concern to Emilia’s face, rather one of admiration. “You have such boundless passion and determination. And strength.”
Cleo stared at her. “Strength? I could barely lift a sword to try to save my own life.”
“Not physical strength. Strength here.” Emilia pressed her hand against Cleo’s heart. Then she touched her forehead. “And here. Although up here is a part that you could probably work on a bit, so no more trips to dangerous lands will be in your immediate future.”
“I’m not strong,” Cleo insisted. “Neither heart or mind.”
“Sometimes you don’t realize how strong you are until you’re tested. As the youngest daughter in this family, you haven’t been tested very much in your life, Cleo. Not like me.” Emilia’s face shadowed. “But I believe you will be. Very soon. And you must draw from that strength. You must increase it. And you must hold on to it because sometimes that small glimmer of inner strength is all that we have to help us press forward through the darkness.”
Falling Kingdoms Page 26
