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A mere four minutes had determined the early course of Bane’s life—four minutes that had seen him arrive second-born frodom

A mere four seconds determined the rest of his life, for that was all the time Bane needed to devise his plan Those four seconds took place at supper, in the lull between the soup course and the fish, and immediately after Queen Aveline of Phaira said to him, “Mere words could never express how thankful we are to your brother for sending Gocea’s warriors to defend our people against the undying scourge I trust that giving to hi the depth of our gratitude, even as it unites our kingdoms”

Their brightest jewel? Bane’s gaze followed the queen’s across the table Sitting at Ta woman with luminous brown skin Diamond hairpins secured black curls in an elaborate style A white silk gown clung to ample curves

Their daughter, Sapphira The heir to the Phairan throne

Resenth Bane’s blood, hot and bitter When he’d been su camp to attend this royal banquet, he’d assumed the only purpose was to celebrate the victory over the scourge But they also clearly meant to wed Sapphira to Tadoms

Because of gratitude

Yet it hadn’t been Tamas who’d sent Gocea’s army to Phaira No, his twin brother had petulantly refused to help their neighbors No ued with hi beast would only strengthen the scourge’s nuainst Gocea—his brother hadn’t relented, whining that his kingdom would be undefended if he sent his army outside Gocea’s borders

Bane had led the warriors into Phaira, anyway He had crushed the scourge He had saved that kingdom

Yet the Phairan king and queen were giving their daughter to his spineless shitbag of a brother And by doing so, they were giving Tadom, too

So Bane would leave theive the princess to him, instead

It would be easy enough Fuck her Plant his seed Tamas wouldn’t want her if Bane had her first—and his touldn’t risk claidom But then, his brother was a vain, worthless parasite

In that respect, Tamas and Sapphira seemed well matched

Bane watched her now, sizing her up as he would a fortress that he wanted to breach His first thought uponthe princess was that she appeared pretty and lively but also pa he saw at dinner overturned that impression