Page 88 of To Bleed A Kingdom

Eyes narrowing, I bite out, “It's not something one can fabricate.”

Zander looks to Amara who shrugs her shoulders. I roll my eyes at their lack of faith.

“Alright, then,” Zander says. “What about the Queen?”

“She's capable of it,” I reply. “She has a darkness to her, but it's not her.”

“It might be,” Amara argues.

I shake my head. “No it can't.”

I think back to when I first saw Adelphia in front of Aurora’s shop. Arrogant, vain, selfish, and drowning in darkness. But that darkness was not inherently cruel or evil. It was created from grief and pain, something I know firsthand how difficult it can be to resurface from.

“The darkness within her was caused by the Breccans. As such, she would never work with them. In her eyes, she lost everything to them.” I try to tuck my hair back into my cloak, but the rippled, wavy strands continue to pull loose. “I doubt she'll act against them unless she has no other choice.” I gather my hair to one side and wave the ends at Zander. He chuckles, walking past my line of sight to stand behind me.

“If she lost so much to Brecca, why wouldn’t she act against them?” Zander asks as he weaves his nimble fingers within my hair, plaiting the locks with a speed and skill I’ve always been envious of.

“Because she's terrified of them,” I reply, recalling the thick terror coating her entire aura. It’s the same terror that has engulfed me, but unlike her, I've never allowed it to define my actions or determine how to treat others undeserving of blame.

She suffers, but that doesn't excuse her need to make everyone else suffer along with her. I doubt she even sees the effect it has on those around her. She's too narcissistic to take notice.

Zander tickles my cheeks with the end of my plaited hair and I giggle, snatching it from him and tucking it back into my cloak. He wraps his arms around my neck from behind in a familial embrace and I clasp my hands around his forearms. I wish for a different male’s arms wrapped around me, but I'm comforted by my friend's affection nonetheless.

Amara stands and swipes grass off her backside as she peers over her shoulder. “Okay, so none of us think it's any of the royals.” She turns to face us and slaps her hands to her sides with a frustrated huff.“Which brings us back to having no leads.”

Tapping Zander’s arms, he releases me and I step forward. “Tristan, search the royal chambers as well as Aurora’s loft above the shop.” He nods and my gaze ventures toAmara’s. “Since you've already managed to get into the armory, I'm assuming you've mapped out the Guard’s base?”

“Of course.”

“Did you find any blades made from anything besides steel?” I doubt she did, otherwise she would’ve already mentioned it, but I must ask.

Wincing, Amara stares a hole through her shuffling feet. “No, but I wasn't really looking for it, either.”

“Of course you weren’t.” Tristan rolls his eyes and she smacks his arm.

“I was just trying to get in and out,” she spews through clenched teeth.

“You should have searched for it anyway,” he scolds, smacking her back.

“You can look for it now,” I say, ignoring their bickering. “And search Darius' office while you’re at it. I know he’s not the one we’re looking for, but you may find something that can be of use.” Turning, I meet Zander’s blue gaze. “I want you to find out who's changing the guards’ schedule. I have a few questions for him, and I suspect this person will lead us straight to the source.” Debating for a moment, I add, “And I don't want Darius discovering who it is first.”

Zander hisses in a breath and rubs the back of his neck. “I don't know if that’s possible. They’ve already been searching much longer than I have. They may already know who it is.”

My lips purse. “Then keep Darius in the dark as long as possible, but I need to speak with the perpetrator first.”

Zander gives me an uncertain look, but nods his assent.

“We need to leave,” Tristan says, peering over the side. “Guards will be patrolling this area anytime now.”

Amara snorts. “If they were scheduled, you mean.”

Zander brushes past me and we all follow behind.

Hearing a crackle and a pop, I whisper Zander’s name.

Zander glances at me over his shoulder, his gaze traveling up when he catches sight of the inflamed wall. Jewels illuminated, his gold, shimmering hands call forth the twisting flames. The flames uncoil from the marks, and with spitting sparks, a wave of fire barrels towards Zander, heedless of Amara, Tristan, or me blocking its path.

Amara and Tristan cry out and dive to the side as I shut my eyes, allowing the fire to blast into me, consuming me. Tendrils of golden, sputtering flames tease my skin as they play with my hair and lift my cloak. With a soft whoosh, they release me from their embrace and vanish into Zander’s palms.

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