Page 38 of Kingmakers, Year Four

“You might think it would bring us together, having a mutual enemy,” Hedeon says, watching his hulking brother methodically bring food to his mouth. “Children are too young, too easily manipulated. We hated each other exactly as they wanted us to. We fought and clawed and tried to kill each other, just as they wanted. Because really, they only needed one son. The heir and the spare.”

Ares, Cara, and I are all transfixed by the horror of what we’re hearing. None of us seem able to speak.

I blurt out the only thing I can think to say:

“They picked you in the end?”

“No.” Hedeon shakes his head slowly, his dark blue eyes finally coming to land on my face. “I don’t think they did. The night our letters came from Kingmakers, Kenneth and Margaret were screaming at each other. You could hear it all over the house. And in the morning, they told me I was accepted to the Heirs division. But neither of them looked happy.”

I frown, confused.

“Hedeon,” Cara says, softly, laying her hand over the back of his hand.

Hedeon jumps as if he’s not used to being touched. But he doesn’t pull his hand away.

“I’m so sorry that happened to you,” she says, looking up into his face. Dampness sparkles in her lashes like tiny gems.

“I’m sorry, too,” Ares says, in a choked voice.

“It doesn’t matter,” Hedeon replies, the dark veil of anger sweeping back over his features. He takes his hand back from Cara, sitting up straight despite the broken ribs. His jaw is fixed, his teeth bared. “The people responsible will get what they deserve.”

He’s glaring at Silas once more.

But I get the feeling he’s not talking about his brother, or the Grays.

I turn my head, catching sight of Cat Romero at the far end of the table.

Dean Yenin has his arm around her shoulders, and Bram is muttering something to them both. Cat is sitting still, her keen dark eyes fixed upon our group. Though she’s so far away, I can’t help thinking that she was listening to every word Hedeon said.

Ares follows my gaze, likewise locking eyes with Cat, then quickly looking away.

“They’re an interesting couple,” I say.

Dean is tall, ferocious, and barely any more polite than Hedeon, while Cat is diminutive, soft-spoken, and much more friendly.

“Don’t be fooled,” Ares tells me. “Cat is clever. She’s no little kitten.”

“I would never think that,” I say to Ares. “Women are always more than they seem.”

10

Ares

I’m sick with guilt, hearing Hedeon’s recounting of how the Grays abused him.

I knew the story of his real parentage. But I never knew what had happened to him after he was dumped on the Grays’ doorstep.

Now I’m in a hell of a predicament.

I’m increasingly reluctant to keep hiding the information he needs. At the same time, his obvious intention to seek revenge on those who wronged him makes it all the more crucial that Hedeon learnsnothing.

Hedeon’s revenge is in direct opposition to my own.

Even worse, Cat Romero heard the whole thing. I can tell from that glint in her eye that the wheels are turning in her head.

The more quiet Cat is, the more she’s thinking.

Never was someone put in a more appropriate division than when Cat was assigned to the Spies. Luther Hugo has no idea how inspired he was the day he signed those papers.

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