Page 77 (1/2)

I can’t find the strength to stand, as much as I want to rush the bars, to tear awayI feel is Maven’s throat I can only watch

He laughs dully at his brother’s words "We both know I could never beat you with ability," he says, throwing back Cal’s own advice froo "So I beat you with my head, dear brother"

Once, he toldto as always Maven Every breath, every as in service to this bloody victory

Cal growls low under his breath "Mavey," he says, but the nickname holds no love anymore "How could you do this to Father? To , a traitorous prince So e of Cal’s reach "They weep in the streets for our father Or at least, they pretend to," he adds with a disinterested shrug "The foolish wolves wait for me to stumble and the smart ones knoill not House Sa their claws for years, waiting for a weak king, a coht of you? Think about it, Cal Decades from now, Father would die slowly, peacefully, and you would ascend Married to Evangeline, a daughter of steel and knives, with her brother at your side You wouldn’t survive the coronation night She would do what Mother did, and supplant you with her own child"

"Don’t tellhis head "You did this for yourself"

Again, Maven shrugs He grins to himself with a pointed, cruel smile "Are you really so surprised? Poor Mavey, the second prince The shadow of his brother’s fla, doo from Cal’s cell to stand in front ofirl with eyes for another, for the brother, the prince no one could ever ignore" His words take on a feral edge, heavy with a wild anger But there is truth in theet Itthat should have beenviolently, but still standing He’s lied to us for so long, but I cannot let him lie now

"I was never yours, and you were never mine, Maven," I snarl "And not because of hiht you were strong and brave and good I thought you were better than hiht no one would ever say He flinches, and for a second, I can see the boy I used to know A boy that doesn’t exist

He reaches out a hand, grabbing at ers close over the bare skin of ht, like I’ has snapped in hi trying to hold on to his favorite toy

"I can save you"

The words make my skin scrawl

"Your father loved you, Maven You didn’t see it, but he did"

"A lie"

"He loved you and you killed hi like blood from a vein "Your brother loved you and you made him a murderer I--I loved you I trusted you I needed you And now I’ You will live if I want you to I will make it so"

"YouMaven My only regret is I won’t be alive to see it" And then it’shiainst the bars My knuckles connect with his cheek, and he yelps away like a kicked dog "I will never ain"

To my dismay, he recovers quickly and smoothes his hair "So you choose him?"