Page 58 of The Throne's Undoing

"How can they recreate them? Can they even do that?" Dani asked with a shudder.

"I do not know if we will ever knowhow," Cetia said, her brows twisting together. "But if what you say is true, they are already doing it. So it seems that yes, they can."

"Do you think Domitius knew?" Medenia asked. "Is that why he sought a marriage alliance with them? Was the choosing ceremony just a ploy?"

Graeson tensed, his rage rising as he realized that the marriage alliance was an even bigger ploy than they had thought. The king wasn't just after Frenzia's army, but their knowledge as well. And he planned to use Kalisandre to get it. Was there no end to his deceit?

"I think it is safe to assume that he was aware of the ongoing events or knew something about them. I think it would be foolish of us to believe otherwise," Cetia remarked.

"How could he have known? Neither of our kingdoms did," Ellie asked.

"How has Domitius known anything?" Cetia inquired. "How did he know how to get into your kingdom seventeen years ago? Why did he take the princess to begin with? Why has he kept heralivethis entire time? There are many things we do not know about that man and the knowledge he possesses." The queen shrugged, taking a swig of tea.

"There is one way," Dani said, exchanging a knowing glance with Graeson. "Domitius has been conversing with a seer."

"We do not know that, Dani," Graeson argued. "Seers are rare. Therefore, the possibility of Domitius knowing one and having one in his possession is highly unlikely."

"But notimpossible," Dani said, peering at him.

"Whether he has a seer or not matters little at this point," Cetia said. "A war is coming, and Queen Esmeray will need to make a choice."

Graeson turned toward the window and gripped the ledge as he looked at Nyrri, his knuckles blanching. "There is no choice to make. There is only one answer."

Chapter 17

MYRA

Myra should have beengrateful for the king's silence.

She should have been even more grateful for the increase in rations, for her body no longer ached to the point of exhaustion. But Myra knew it wasn't the blessing she begged for it to be, for kindness from the king never came without a price.

She had learned that years ago.

Still, she forced herself to eat as much as she could. Because even though the king had not yet sent for her, she knew he would in due time.

And the next time she faced Domitius, she vowed she would not crumble to her knees before him.

Myra couldn't fathom what use the king and Sebastian still had for her. With Kallie being taken again by the Pontians, Myra at least knew she would not be manipulating the princess. However, Myra wasn't sure if she could afford to wonder what was to come. Whoever was in that room with the healer caused a wave of pain smacking into her and leaving her breathless.

Every day and night, she prayed to the gods for some sort of solace. But even the gods could not prevent the inevitable, it seemed.

Soon enough, the rattling of keys approached, and the cell door creaked open. She pressed her back against the wall.

"Come," the guard, whose voice she recognized belonging to Kolen, ordered. "It is time."

Myra debated saying no. She wanted to fight back. She wanted to scream. Myra begged her body to do anything at all as her gaze flicked to the door.

Even Kallie had fought when the Pontians had come to take her.

In the end, Myra only nodded and followed as she always had. Fighting, she knew, would only make matters worse--for both her and her brother.

Although the second guard waiting outside the cell hadn't spoken, Myra quickly realized he was not Iro, for he was too tall.

"Where's Iro?" Myra asked, breaking the tense silence.

Kolen peered at her. Though shadows from the helmet bled over his eyes, Myra sensed the vile spilling from them.

"The king does not take kindly to those who question him. Remember that, handmaiden," Kolen grumbled.

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