Page 8 of A Pact of Blood

I lift my shoulders in a brief shrug, dragging my attention away from the subject of our conversation. “We obviously can’t trust her. She’s in this for herself, just as we suspected at the start, and she managed to deceive us into believing better of her for a while. But with how much she knows now about our gifts and plans, we have to be cautious.”

His grimace deepens. “If she encourages Marclinus to do anything that hurts our countries…”

“We shouldn’t assume she’ll go that far,” I allow. “We can’t really be sure of anything at this point except that she’s an unknown threat. We’ll wait and see what she does.”

As the last words leave my mouth, my throat constricts.

For a short but shining time, I couldn’t wait to see what Aurelia would do next. How she would surprise me with her defiance and her subtle strength.

Believing in her felt so damnedgoodafter everything that’s gone wrong in this place. I should have known I couldn’t trust that unexpected sense of hope.

I shouldn’t miss it now that it’s gone and the world looks dim and dreary again.

“This whole situation is fucked up,” Neven mutters, as only a seventeen-year-old can.

Raul ambles over to us, his tall, broad body exuding hisusual assurance. I hesitate, but it could be useful to have him weigh in on this subject. To maintain as much plausible deniability as possible if anyone accuses us of conspiring, the four of us have avoided spending time together since our first bewildered conversation as we scrambled to destroy the evidence of our planned escape.

I’m not sure what’s been going on in the prince of Lavira’s head over the past two days, but he’s never shied from a chance at vengeance.

I tap Neven’s arm in an attempt at reassurance. “We won’t simply stand by. If we have to, we still have ways we can subtly undermine her. It’ll be much easier to manipulate our new emperor against her than we could his father, that’s for?—”

Raul breaks in with a voice that’s harsh despite its hush. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

My head jerks toward him. Even though he’s one of the few people in this palace I can count on, his massive frame is imposing when he’s glowering down at me with his icy blue gaze.

I gather myself before answering. “Only potential problems that might arise. Considering the false loyalties that’ve been shown?—”

Raul snorts with a shake of his head that makes his short ponytail swish against his tawny neck. “False loyalties? In all your ‘wisdom,’ you didn’t even figure out— For fuck’s sake. We all need to talk.”

I blink at him, thrown by his mood. “That’s what we’re doing.”

“Not like this. Properly.” He jabs his thumb toward the doorway. “I’ll round up Lorenzo. Meet us in the library.”

Chapter Four

Aurelia

When Marclinus takes my hand for our fourth dance of the night, I don’t recoil inwardly quite as much as the first three times. He’s refrained from pawing me so far. It seems as if he’s come down from the high of the entire city’s adulation into one of his more subdued moods.

Which doesn’t mean I’m looking forward to the dance or what will follow later tonight any more than I was before, but at least I don’t have to hold my instinctive reactions quite so tightly in check.

This particular tune is more lilting than spirited, winding through the room at an almost languid pace. I have room to breathe—and strike up a conversation.

I tilt my head to the side as I gaze upat him. “What’s in store for us from tomorrow onward, husband? You’ll have to give me some guidance—I wasn’t expecting to find myself empress so soon after arriving.”

And perhaps feeling as if he’s gotten to guide me will make him more susceptible to a little persuasion from my end.

Marclinus arches an eyebrow at me. “Are you already thinking ahead?”

I give him a placating smile. “I want to make sure I’m as prepared as possible so I can put my best foot forward with your people.”

He gives a thoughtful hum. “From what I understand, there’s the standard confirmation process to go through. A few ceremonial rites to show I have the favor of the gods before I’m officially emperor in every capacity. Those require a little traveling, but I don’t think they’ll take long. There won’t be much required of you other than appearing at my side.”

I’m not familiar with the confirmation rites, but then, the last emperor was instated years before I was even born. It sounds as if we’ll have some time in between each to address other matters.

Where can I best begin nudging the empire in the direction I’d like to see it go? I’ve already observed during the trials how resistant Marclinus is to outside suggestions.

I need to start small, with something innocuous enough that he won’t have a strong opinion one way or the other. Something I can handle well enough to earn a little trust so he might be more open tomyopinions going forward.

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