Page 71 of A Pact of Blood

Marclinus’s guards draw to a halt by the doorway. One glances my way, but he doesn’t move to stop my approach. Perhaps he feels I have some right to join the conversation as empress.

I walk slowly but steadily, keeping my ears pricked. When their voices become clear enough for me to make out Axius’s words, I slow even more, gazing vaguely into the distance as if pondering some other concern.

“—more than a hundred executed, and twice that in custody,” the high commander is saying. “The raids and interrogations will be continuing as we speak.”

My pulse hitches, and then stutters harder at Marclinus’s answer: “Oh, I think Tribune Valerisse can hit the wretched traitors even harder than that. Everyone in those cities needs to know they can’t get away with so much as scowling at the representatives of their empire.”

Axius hesitates before going on, his next remark more halting. “The local forces still haven’t been able to determine who the actual conspirators are, or?—”

Marclinus snorts. “I’m sure we’ll wipe them out along with a bunch of the other rats who simply haven’t taken thegamble yet. If they aren’t betraying us, they’re hiding the ones who did. Let them all die.”

I can’t linger here merely listening any longer. Lifting my chin, I stride into the room.

A step over the threshold, I stop and raise my eyebrows. “So this is where you wandered off to, husband.” I slide my gaze to Axius and then back to Marclinus. “What’s pulled you away from our gathering? Is there urgent news?”

My husband’s tone stays as flippant as when he was ordering the executions of hundreds moments ago. “Only an update from Lavira. Nothing that needs to concern you.” He nods to the high commander. “I think you know where to take it from here.”

Axius dips his head lower in respect and leaves the room, his mouth set tight. I get the impression he isn’t all that pleased with his orders.

I step closer to Marclinus, pushing my mouth into an adoring smile that feels utterly hollow. “What was the news? It sounded as if you were talking about Lavirians dying—has their royal family identified the culprits?”

I’d rather not admit how long I was eavesdropping.

Marclinus lets out a dismissive huff. “As if I’d trust those incompetent fools to crack down on their own people. Our soldiers are getting done what needs doing and teaching the lessons needed.”

“Oh,” I say carefully. “When we discussed it before, you seemed eager to put responsibility for the sanctions on the local royals.”

When did he go back on his seeming agreement? Did he have that conversation with me and immediately turn around and pass on instructions to do the opposite, or did his opinion change sometime during the days afterward?

Marclinus tugs a lock of my hair free from its upswept style, winding it around his finger. It’s a seemingly playfulgesture, but something has hardened in his cool gray eyes. I feel as if I’m staring into irises of polished limestone.

“I’d imagine it seemed that way toyou, wife, with all your Eloxian devotion. Did you really think I was going to go along with your soft-hearted nonsense?”

My words catch in my throat. I’m not sure he’s ever spoken quite so disparagingly toward me, even when I was only vying for our marriage.

I summon a cautious remark. “Involving the Lavirian royal family and their own soldiers—you came up with that idea.”

“I could see that your poor nerves needed soothing, so I presented some bullshit to set your mind at ease. You should be glad I know how an uprising actually needs to be quelled. Give them one inch of compassion and they’ll be razing everything they can to the ground. But we’ll smash them first.” With a feral grin, he smacks his fist against his palm.

So everything he said to me during our conversation last week… The consideration he offered me, his curiosity about my opinions, his pensiveness while he thought the dilemma through… All of that was a lie? The whole time he was mocking me in his head?

When I can’t come up with an immediate response, Marclinus clucks his tongue at me as if I’m a child he’s chiding. “You really thought I cared what you’d make of the situation.You, a minor princess from far off Accasy who’s spent barely a month in Dariu?”

I restrain a wince. “I’m always open to learning what I lack. If I’m going to serve the empire as well as I can?—”

He snaps his fingers in my face. “That is your mistake. You don’t serve the empire. You serveme, while I give the empire what it needs. Did you figure performing the confirmation rites proved you were meant for more? All it’sdone is show what a pathetic figure you are. Going out of your way to hand out the fruits of the rite to commoners, as if you’re some kind of almsgiver rather than the wife of the emperor?”

Marclinus’s lips curl with a sneer, his gaze cutting into me.

He’s not just dismissing my contributions. He’s angry.

Because I stole some small part of the attention he felt was his due? Because the people of Ubetta reacted so enthusiastically to my offering?

My fingers itch with a spurt of my own anger. I have a brief vision of snatching the small knife in its sheath behind my belt pouch and plunging its blade straight into his heart.

But I have more strength than this man will ever give me credit for. I will not be baited.

I let my head droop, willing my shoulders not to slump in turn. I refuse to outright abase myself before this man unless I have to. “I simply wanted to remove any doubts about my place by your side.”

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