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"Here we go," Maven says, letting go of ely cold without hi do I have to be here?" He forces a whine into his voice, playing his part well The more he can keep her distracted, the better our chances One poke into the wrong head and everything will go up in sood o as you please You have duties and you’ll stay as long as you’re needed" She fusses over hi his collar, his uard This is a wohts, who tookgood She loves her son And for all her faults, Maven loves her
King Tiberias, on the other hand, doesn’t seelances his way "The boy’s just bored Not enough excite a hand over his trimmed beard "You need a cause, Mavey"
For a brief moment, Maven’s annoyed mask drops I have one, his eyes screaion, he knohat he’s doing, what he wants You need to figure out what you’re going to do with yourself, eh?"
"Yes, Father," Maven says Though he tries to hide it, a shadow crosses his face
I know that look very well I used to wear it myself, when h that was i I could change, wishing I could be quiet and talented and pretty like her There’s nothing that hurtsdoesn’t notice Maven’s pain, just liketo draw the king’s disapproving eye away When Tiberias turns to rateful smile
"And what a job he’s done," the king replies, looking irl who refused to bow to him "From what I hear, you’re close to a proper lady now"
But the s the suspicion there He wanted to kill me back in the throne room, to protect his crown and the balance of his country, and I don’t think the urge will ever fade away I’m a threat, but I’m also an investment He’ll use ood help, h I don’t care what he thinks His opinion isn’t worth the rust on my father’s wheelchair
"Are we just about ready?" Cal’s voice says, shatteringaround to see him enter the hall My stomach churns, but not with exciteirls talk about I feel sick with myself, hat I let happen--hat I wanted to happen Though he tries to holdoff his ares to s her lips
"Your Majesties," she ly perfect curtsy
Tiberias s a hand down on Cal’s shoulder "Just waiting on you, son," he chortles
When they stand next to each other, the faold eyes, even the sahtful, while his eline on one side and his father on the other, Cal can’t do htly, and I know it’s the only greeting I deserve
Despite the decorations, the ballrooo, when the queen first pulled e world, when my name and identity were officially stripped away They struck a blow against me here and now it’s ht
But I can’t think of that now I have to stand with the others, to speak with the hundred members of court lined up to trade words with royalty and one ju for the iven to the Guard, the sparks to light a fire Reynald, the colonel, Belicos--and Ptoleeline
He is one of the first to greet us, standing just behind his severe father, who hurries along to his daughter When Ptolee to be sick Never have I done anything so difficult as looking into the eyes of a dead ratulations," he says, his voice hard as rock The hand he extends is just as firm He doesn’t wear a ether in s scales He’s a warrior, but not a soldier Like his father before hi the capital with his own army of officers The head of a snake, Maven called him before Cut him down and the rest will die His hawkish eyes are on his sister, even while he holdsby Maven and Cal before eeline in a rare display of affection I’ether
If all goes to plan, he’ll never hug his sister again Evangeline will have lost a brother, just likemyself to feel sorry for her Especially not with the way she holds on to Cal They look like colitters like a star in a dress of razor spikes I want to kill her, I want to be her But there’s nothing I can do about that Evangeline and Cal are not ht
As Ptolemus disappears and ets easier to forget uid movements of Ara, the Panther Toas she does so But there’s so that tells me she knowsrandet: Reynald Iral, her cousin Maven told enius who keeps the army funded with taxes and trade schemes If he dies, so does theto trade one tax collector for that When he takes my hand, I can’t help but notice his eyes are frozen and his hands are soft Those hands will never touch ain
It’s not as easy to dismiss Colonel Macanthos when she approaches The scar on her face stands out sharply, especially tonight when everyone seeht not care for the Guard, but she didn’t believe the queen either She wasn’t ready to s the lies being spoon-fed to the rest of us
Her grip is strong as she shakes lass "Every happiness to you, Lady Mareena I can see this one suits you" She jerks her head toward Maven "Not like fancy Samos," she adds in a playful whisper "She’ll make a sad queen, and you a happy princess, e to sh the colonel’s life will soon be at an end No matter how many kind words she says, her minutes are numbered