Total pages in book: 208
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
“Ha-Lah is not leaving Aramus,” Alfie replied.
True looked to his man. “He can’t possibly—”
“They had a guard under their window. Catedrais was killed in the attack.”
This stood to reason. The assailants had breached the palace through the windows. And there had been a great number of them.
He thought it had been a miracle that all on their side had survived.
But True had learned a long time ago that miracles didn’t happen.
Especially in battle.
“Bloody hell,” True muttered, turning to walk down the stairs.
“The Mar-el are as us,” Alfie continued. “As brothers. Aramus is not in a good state, losing his man. His wife is remaining close.”
“And Mars?” True asked, now jogging down the stairs, Alfie doing the same.
“I do not know.”
“Silence?” True went on.
“I do not know that either, though Luther shared, as far as he’s heard, she’s not left Mars’s side,” Alfie told him as they made the first-floor landing.
“Has not left his side or he has not let her away from his side?” True inquired.
“The latter,” Alfie answered.
“Bloody hell,” True repeated.
They spoke no more as they made their way to Mars’s study.
Basil and Kyril stood outside it.
But the hall, both the east and west corridors, was laden with Firenz warriors as well as those from Airen, Wodell and the Nadirii.
Basil opened the door for them and True walked through while Alfie remained behind.
Only for True to stop dead.
Silence sat in Mars’s chair behind his desk. She was curled into herself, thighs to her chest, arms around her calves.
And she was still wearing her nightgown, which was stained thoroughly with dried blood. So much so, only streaks of white could be seen through the rust. There was dried blood on her arms. In fact, the only bit of her that had been cleaned was her face.
And her neck, which was mottled an angry purple with bruising.
At the sight, True felt his heart begin to race, his blood heating in his veins.
Mars was behind her, pacing, his angry energy almost a physical thing in the room.
All the others were there. King Aramus and Queen Ha-Lah. Prince Cassius and Princess Elena. Queen Ophelia and Princess Serena. Queen Elpis. King Gallienus. Select members of each guard. And a variety of barons of Firenz clans and chieftains of Firenz tribes.
True’s parents, King Wilmer and Queen Mercy, were also there.
But True was pleased to see his father’s counsellor, Carrington, was not.
Lorenz, the captain of Mars’s Trusted, was standing in front of his king’s desk, reporting.
“Those who were not found dead were found asleep or unconscious, draughts for the former, blows for the latter. The sergeant for this eve realized swiftly half the unit had not reported for duty at the changing of the guard. He sent warriors to discover why, and as you know, died on the palace steps, most likely on his way to Chu to raise the alarm.”
Mars kept pacing as he rapped out, “It’s my understanding the hour for the changing of the guard is modified daily so this exact occurrence would not happen.”
“It is,” Lorenz answered.
“So tonight’s hour was known to the assailants.”
“It was.”
Mars stopped moving abruptly and pinned his captain with dark eyes. “We have a traitor.”
Lorenz’s jaw was tight as he forced out, “We do.”
“Have they been worked?” Mars asked.
“They have.”
“Has the traitor been identified?”
“He has.”
“And?” Mars prompted
Lorenz hesitated but a moment to give his king a meaningful look.
But he did not speak.
Mars clearly read this meaningful look for his face turned to granite.
“He and the rest are being marched to the pits?” Mars queried through clenched teeth.
“They are,” Lorenz assured.
Mars seemed to realize then that True was with them and his gaze sliced his way.
“My sister?” he demanded of True.
“Your sister?” True asked in return.
“Farah,” Mars snarled, and True noticed Silence curling deeper into herself.
His attention returned to the king.
“My princess,” he corrected.
“Semantics,” Mars spat impatiently.
But True suspected he was less patient.
Farah in her state, Sofia gone, the attackers coming in through his cousin’s window, and his earlier thought proven untrue for it was a certain miracle Silence had survived.
Thus, he shared his impatience immediately.
“Absolutely fucking not semantics,” he bit out.
He sensed Silence’s, and everyone’s, attention sharpening on him, but he didn’t break eye contact with the Firenz king.
“I take it this means you’re finally claiming her in a way that matters,” Mars bit back.
“Do not try me, Your Grace,” True warned. “Not with my cousin sitting in a bloodstained nightgown in your chair with her neck black-and-blue and my future wife in her bed so deep in her mourning, she’s disavowed her country…both of them.”
A vein in Mars’s temple pulsed.
It took a moment before Mars declared quietly, “She will heal.”
“She will. Because I will see to it,” True returned. “In other words, Mars, she’s a bloody mess. She’s also not taking part in this procession.”
“As you’ve claimed her, that’s yours to decide,” Mars allowed.