Page 73 of Ruled By Magic

“What? Zantus yes, you were right.” I rubbed my hand over my eyes. This was a lot, pre-coffee.

Leo put his arm around my waist.

“And this morning,” Hex continued, “he’s trying to order me about, telling me I have to bow to him, use his stupid title every thirty seconds. I’m not doing it.”

“Then you’re not coming to Atar,” Leo shot back. “I’m not asking you to do it for my own amusement. The Ataran court is brutal. If we can’t put on a good show, this whole charade falls apart. You have to practice.”

“I mean, it makes sense. You will need to—”

“Well, of course you’d take his side. I won’t—”

A beep sounded from Andrew’s netviewer, placed on the kitchen table in the best signal spot. Someone had responded to our vid. Probably nothing. We’d been inundated with fakes.

I woke the screen. A vid comment. Everyone crowded round as I hit play.

The screen showed a man seated on a throne. His clothes drew the eye first. Trousers and a tunic tailored to fit his body—black, decorated with looping patterns of embroidered silver thread. Dark sleeves covered his arms and another piece of silver fabric—a cloak?—swirled around him to one side. The outfit, coupled with long, dark hair falling past his shoulders, gave him a strange, exotic look.

His face, though, made me gasp and lean forward. Sharper cheekbones, thinner lips, but the resemblance was undeniable. He could only be Leo’s half brother. Leo’s dark eyes must have come from the king. This man’s were the same, but cold and watchful. A few years older, but just as shockingly handsome.

He stared at the camera for a long moment before speaking, his voice smooth and arrogant. “Lord Commander Rahl. The king is indisposed, but I accept your offer. Your safety, and that of your party, is guaranteed. Arrive at our gates. We shall be there to greet you. I look forward to meeting you, Brother.”

The recording cut off.

Brother.

I scrolled back and froze the footage so we could study the Ataran prince.

Atalie looked between the screen and Leo, eyes wide. “There’s two of them, Liv. How will you cope? Though this one’s more my age. Do you think he’d be interested in a consort?”

I laughed. Atalie’s relaxed attitude to my relationship with Leo—a sharp contrast to Hex’s simmering anger—gave me hope others could look at it the same way. I tried to remember that Hex cared more, tried to see things from her point of view. She had a right to be worried and to hate Leo. She was only looking out for me. But Zantus, it was draining.

Leo frowned at the screen. I touched his face to get his attention. “What do you think of your brother?”

“I’m not sure. I wasn’t expecting him to be quite so—” He broke off.

“He’s the double of you. It must be strange.”

Leo tore his eyes from the screen. “Don’t think of trading me in for a future king. He’s too old for you.”

I raised an eyebrow. “I should keep my options open. You might retire as Lord Commander, but a king is for life. And he still looks pretty good.”

Leo stared at me, shock written across his face, before he broke into a laugh. It was wonderful, the freedom to have fun when I felt like it. Before, there had always been a barrier, a line I couldn’t cross. Now I was free, the line was gone. And he didn’t seem to mind at all.

“Two days,” said Damien. “Shit. We aren’t ready. I didn’t really think this would work.”

“Same.” I jumped to my feet and set water to boil. Nervous excitement churned in my stomach. Leaving the territory. Flying. Bargaining with royalty. It all seemed too ridiculous to be true.

Leo nodded. “We’re not organized enough. Except my dad. Did I mention he sourced a jetflyer?”

“No. How?” Coffee in hand, I sat next to Leo at the table.

Leo shrugged. “A friend of his in Alaria. He’s sending it over for us. Dad knows everyone.”

So it appeared. Andrew flew into action as soon as we spawned the plan. He bought outfits, made travel arrangements, and now a jetflyer. His and Leo’s energy and attitudes were so similar, it was hard to believe they weren’t related.

“So, you teleport us to the flyer, we fly to Alaria, and a vehicle will take us to Atar?” I asked.

“That’s right. It’s too far for me to teleport the whole way, and Atar has a teleportation shield around the capital. No one can enter or leave without the king’s permission.”

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