Page 31 of A Pact of Blood

As the carriage rocks back into motion, Marclinus’s attention veers to my savior. “Prince Bastien. That was quite the shot. I hadn’t realized you were so invested in my wife’s well-being, but I can hardly complain about the results.”

Despite the last part of that remark, his tone is cool enough to send a chill over my skin. Instinct kicks in, making me laugh as if it was all a bit of folly and touch my throat where my attacker meant to sever my life from my body. “Neither can I.”

Bastien’s knuckles have paled beyond his usual pallor where he’s clutching his bow. He dips his head to Marclinus, not even glancing at me.

His voice comes out carefully even. “I actually thought he meant to hurt you, Your Imperial Majesty. I couldn’t let any harm come to my most esteemed foster brother.”

Yes. Pretend it had nothing to do with me. That’s the safest route.

The narrowing of Marclinus’s eyes suggests he doesn’t fully believe that explanation. “The wretched fellow would have had quite the reach to stick that blade into me.”

Bastien’s shoulders lift in a twitch of a shrug. “It happened so fast, I didn’t have the chance to think thesituation through. All I knew was he was lunging in your general direction.”

And even more so mine.

“Well,” Marclinus says with a hint of a drawl that doesn’t ease my nerves for a second, “I appreciate you stepping in on my wife’s behalf as well as my own. It isn’t as if there’s any shame in defending both of us.”

Bastien bobs his head. He reaches to the quiver at his back for another enchanted arrow as if he considers the matter resolved. “Naturally, Your Imperial Majesty. I’m glad to have assisted you one way or the other.”

He turns away from us to launch the new arrow toward the sky. Glowing streaks in a rainbow of colors haze the bottoms of the darkening clouds.

I touch my throat—unguarded by the charmed fabric of my dress. The guard must have known it was one of the few spots where a blade could harm me.

The ominous hush of our audience seeps through my stunned state. I yank my attention back to the spectators.

They’re peering up at us with puzzled expressions. I push a smile onto my lips and give another wave to show I’m perfectly fine.

Nothing to concern themselves with here. Just a momentary attempted murder.

The last thing I want them to see is the dread winding around my gut.

One of the soldiers hired as part of our own imperial entourage thought his world would be better without me in it—so much so that he was willing to give his own life to accomplish it. He couldn’t have imagined he’d survive the attempt even if he’d managed to drive his blade home before my guards intervened.

He believed that I’m going to bring doom on them all. Just how many of Dariu’s people feel the same way but aren’tbrash enough to deal with the imagined problem so violently?

At least, not yet.

Marclinus studies Bastien for a few moments longer before offering his own jaunty wave to our audience. The sharp glint in his eyes turns my skin clammier.

I don’t know what he makes of Bastien’s response. I have no idea what deeper answers he’s searching for.

Something about the prince’s sudden move bothers him. Something that makes him aim that evaluating look my way next, along with his arrogant grin.

Whether Bastien has truly forgiven me or not hardly matters. If my husband is scrutinizing any association between me and him, I need to put even more distance between myself and all of the princes I care for.

Chapter Eleven

Aurelia

As our procession passes through the arching gate in the city wall, High Commander Axius moves around the carriage’s seats to put himself right behind Marclinus.

His voice is firm and solemn. “I apologize for the inexcusable oversight, Your Imperial Majesty. As soon as the rite is finished, I’ll personally interrogate every guard and soldier stationed in and around the palace to root out any additional hostile sentiments.”

I notice he’s apologizing specifically to my husband, not me, even though I’m the one his soldier attempted to murder.

Marclinus appears to take that approach as a matter of course. “If we have any more incidents like that, I’ll be holding you personally responsible, HighCommander.”

His voice has gone even colder than when he was speaking to Bastien. The burly military man sits back down without change to his grim expression, but I’d imagine he’s aware of just how dire a punishment his new emperor might deal out.

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