Page 14 of Joined By Magic

The air thrummed with electric tension. Quiet whispers buzzed around the room. Leo leaned down to study the man at his feet. It had all happened so fast. My fingers trembled, and my mouth was dry. Leo had been crown prince less than a day, and now this?

“Reynauld.” Leo’s voice rang out strong, showing none of the nerves he must have been feeling. “Won’t you reconsider? I understand this is difficult to accept, but it’s happening. Your refusal of it changes nothing.”

Reynauld barked out a laugh. “So reasonable. You’re too weak to survive here. Prince Adante will return to take back what’s his, and you won’t even see him coming. Do you think anyone will side with you when it comes to—”

Leo’s fingers flicked out and blue magic banded Reynauld’s mouth, cutting his words off. His hands flew to his face, and he glared at Leo, hatred roiling off him.

“Imprison him and give his lands and assets to whoever would inherit them upon his death provided they don’t choose to follow his example of defiance.” Leo’s tone, dismissive and cold, sent shivers down my spine. “He can live out his days as a pauper, with plenty of time to reflect on his decision.”

The king’s brows drew together, but he made no comment. Hoping for a more aggressive punishment? The tightness in my chest eased. I wasn’t about to watch a man die right in front of me. At a gesture from the king, the guards hauled Reynauld to his feet and dragged him from the room.

A test. Had Leo passed it to the king’s satisfaction? The nobles watched as he returned to his seat beside me and took a drink of his wine. He fixed each of them with a flat stare. “If anyone else has anything to say to me, now is the time.”

The nobles exchanged glances and shifted in their seats, but no one spoke a word.

The rest of the meal passed without incident, a torturous hour of awkward silences and forced small talk. Once the servants had cleared away the dessert plates, the king raised a hand, quieting the table. “Thank you all for attending.”

The assembled nobles took heed of the dismissal, made their bows to Leo and the king, and filed out. Leo rose, but the king waved him down. “Sit, Leopold.”

Leo settled back into his seat.

The king leaned forward. “Too soft. You shouldn’t have let Reynauld get away with speaking to you like that. In your position, I’d have seized his lands for the Crown. He said himself he doesn’t have long to live. The best way to hurt him would have been through his descendants.”

Leo paused before responding. “I’m hoping I’ll have made allies of whoever stands to inherit.”

The king snorted. “His son is a brown-nosed lickspittle without a tenth of his guts. He’ll support whoever offers him a comfortable life.”

Leo frowned. “I need to learn the court, study the flow of power.”

The king nodded. “I’ll arrange for information to be sent to your rooms.”

He ran a hand across his face. The energy he’d displayed at the start of the meal was fading. “I must bid you good afternoon. You have a meeting shortly with our scientists to discuss the portal.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Leo stood and I followed, dropping into a low bow. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The king didn’t respond.

As we reached the door, the king spoke again, his voice thin and weary. “One more thing. I’ll see that Reynauld is taken care of. I know you wished to appear merciful, but the insult won’t stand. He’ll be dead before morning.”

Leo tensed beside me. He spun back toward the king. “No. I’ll look dishonest. Untrustworthy. I can’t promise one thing and then do another.”

The king studied Leo. “You need to learn how things work here. Justice is often meted out covertly. Adante was a master of it. My nobles see you as an easy target—this will convince them otherwise.”

“No. I mean it. I won’t have him killed in my name.”

The king’s eyes narrowed, and he slammed a hand down on the table, rattling the cutlery. I tried to suppress a flinch. “You’ll listen to me. You don’t have the first idea about anything here.”

Leo stepped toward the king. “I know the right way to do things, and having men killed in the shadows isn’t it. If I wanted him gone, he’d be dead already. I’m not Adante, and I won’t emulate him.”

The two men stared each other down. After an agonizing stretch of time, the king flicked a hand, an irritated dismissal. “Have it your way, then. You’ll learn.” He slumped into his chair, his strength draining away before my eyes.

Leo let out a relieved breath. “Thank you.”

I bowed again and followed Leo out of the door. Servants awaited us outside, but Leo waved them off. He took my hand and, without warning, teleported us back to our new, fancy suite. As the world settled, I smiled. “Didn’t feel like walking?”

Leo dropped my hand and stalked to the picture windows overlooking the palace gardens. I joined him. So different to Dexia’s lush greenery, the view from the window showed pale, skinny palm trees and colorful flowers attached to thorny stems. A few water features, decadent in the arid climate, took pride of place surrounded by seating. It was empty, no one braving the afternoon heat.

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