Page 69 of When Day Breaks

"The business of Your Highness is not of any concern of yours. Please do better to respect the privacy of your rulers or your invitation to the carousal will be revoked." Kacian's vehement and demanding voice booms over the curious faces, leaving Birdania utterly annoyed at the answer that was provided to her. She rolls her eyes and huffs as the dismissal of everyone else begins.

Troian walks over to where Kacian and I exit, leaving the Center Hall and stepping outside. There, we find Travois who seemingly stood nearby to listen to my unprepared speech.

"I'd say well done, brother but by the looks onyourface…" he points to Troy, "there is nothing to celebrate." His analysis isn't shy of accurate but I would hope they'd have better faith in my plans.

We all huddle closely, making sure that no one else is watching or listening as we discuss our next steps. But first…

"Am I delusional to suppose that there might be a traitor amongst me and this kingdom?" My question simmers with my siblings and my wife's guard.

They all look between themselves for a beat before settling their eyes back onto mine. I think the answer is obvious, someone in this castle is—was—likely in an alliance with Viktrum. Or something of the sort. And unfortunately, the only person that I know of right now who has been close enough to the Valor king to scheme whatever illogical and moronic plan they might have come up with is Ameliana or Zharus.

I hate the idea that my Factotum might have betrayed me though. And if it were Amy, she'd proven just how right I was about the kind of person she is but she'd also let down a lot more than just me.

Before I can explain any further or elaborate my thoughts, Troian smacks my upper arm with a thud. "Idiot! What the hell are you thinking of inviting everyone to a freaking party? Is that really your master plan to reassure everyone of your leadership and their safety?"

"Would you calm down?" I request and all she does is give me a pointed glare and possibly flips me her middle finger, but I turned away from her before fully catching it. "The party will give us a distraction. We don't have long before the Faction is made aware of Viktrum's death and they make good on their threat to come to retrieve Travois. We need to figure this out and the party is our hourglass." The carousal will be a good event to have in the background as we track down anyone who might be involved.

"Apologies, brother. But did you just divulge that the king of Valor is dead?" Travois asks and I forget that he's been slinking to the shadows since our family gathering.

"It was an accident." I hear Troy reply, obviously wanting to defend her sister.

I look at the way she dips her head, eyes closed and the exhaustion rolls over her. She's tired. More so as of late than I've ever seen her. Troian isn't meant to be at everyone's beck and call. She's a lone soldier who thrives in her right to be free. But she's been roped into all this mess and she hasn't broken character to the loyalty she plays for me. I won't let that notion go unnoticed.

"Lucynda's curse has returned," I announce and in the same breath, I see theI told you solook across Trav's face and the need to say as much is barely kept under his control. "She's chained and contained for now but I'm afraid it's gotten worse. She's at risk of all her humanity being completely stripped from her at the likes of this disease and at that point, we won't be able to bring her back."

Troy scoffs, "And you planned a fucking party?" Vexation floods me at her rashness and I have to fight the urge to argue with her. Instead, I simply direct an unyielding glare at her and she retreats with an apologetic shrug.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to make things worse," she says and turns to face the others. "What should we do?" she asks and I see the look on Kacian's face as I turn my eyes to him.

"I may need Nathairia to come back," I admit. "I might have to ask her for another dose of the herbs or something else that may be stronger."

"You know that tangling with her will only cost you more than you can afford," Travois states. and I appreciate his attempt to look out for me, but I just don't have a choice.

"I'm aware," I claim and wait to see if Kacian will have an objection to my declaration.

"I want out of this," he implies while shaking his head harshly. "I am trying my fucking best to understand why you did what you did, Rivian. But I want nothing to do with that bitch." His clenched jaw and gritted teeth are all I need to understand that he still has ill feelings toward my actions, but what he and everyone else needs to know is that I will not stop at anyone's hurt feelings when it comes to my wife.

"Wait, before we jump to our own deaths," Troy interjects. "Is there literally anything that you can think of that might help? Maybe a book in the library or…"

"A book?" Travois casts his twin a satirical glance in which she just ignores.

"I don't know," she starts. "Maybe there might be information about these kinds of things in one." She doesn't back down from her suggestion even though I might agree with Trav's stance on it.

"We can try," I offer. "But we are running out of time."

"Well, what are we all waiting for?" She shoots each one of us an assertive glare before instructing us to get moving.

But just as quickly as she demanded our urgency to leave, she stops us to make a confession.

"Actually, one more thing." Her body language reads discomfort, and she seems unsure on whether or not to say anything at all, but she continues as we watch her with careful eyes.

"There's something you both have to see."

24

of phantoms & verity

Rivian

---