Page 15 of A Dance of Shadows

As the horses pull forward with a rock of the carriage, I brace myself. My stomach still twists, but it’s a mild sensation I can ignore without much trouble.

Which means I can focus on other concerns this seems an ideal opportunity for.

I push my smile a little wider and hold out my hand to beckon him over to my side of the vehicle. “You’ve been focused on work all morning. Why don’t you let me take care of you a little too? My studies may have been mostly focused on potions and similar substances, but I’m also familiar with the benefits of a massage to loosen one’s muscles and one’s mind.”

Marclinus hums approvingly and crosses the carriage to sit next to me. “I can’t say no to such a generous offer.”

He really is trying to butter me up, isn’t he? Well, I can’t complain when it gets me what I want.

I motion for him to turn his back to me, draw myself up as straight as I can so our differing heights don’t matter as much, and tug his collar a little looser. As I make a show of brushing his unruly golden curls to one side of his neck, I peek at the back of his left ear.

Not the slightest blemish mars the pale skin there—no hint of the spot of dye I applied just a few nights ago.

My pulse hiccups. I place my hands on either side of my husband’s neck and dig my thumbs into the muscles with practiced effort, but my mind has spun off in another direction.

My ploy worked. I couldn’t ask for more confirmation.

I really am married to two separate men who look utterly alike—other than the mark I’ve placed on one of them.

On Linus. While the man with me today is definitely Marc. From what he said when he explained their situation, his brother must be riding in the expansive locked carriage just behind us that holds all his needed belongings as well.

They must switch off sometimes when one or the other ducks inside as if to grab some possession or change clothes. And no one ever suspects—not the court, not their guards…

I’m the only one who knows this secret besides the two of them. The only one who’s ever known since their father eliminated the few who were aware of the birth and needed to support them as infants, other than Tarquin himself.

And that means I have two men to eliminate myself. Tarquin came up with this scheme in part to ensure that assassinating his heir was particularly difficult.

If I could reassemble his ashes to poison him all over again, I would.

As I adjust my grip to work on Marc’s shoulders, he lets his head loll. A whiff of his cologne, tart amber mingling with smoky vetiver, tickles my nose.

I’ve gotten my full confirmation that I have two husbands. If I want to rid myself of them, I’d better get on with finding out as much as I can about their habits and true intentions. Which means it’s time for a little buttering up of my own.

I swivel my thumb against a particularly tight knot of muscle at the crook of Marc’s neck. “Prince Lorenzo may be able to convey a few facts, but I’m glad my first visit to Rione will bewith you at my side. I can’t imagine there’ll be any trouble after you ended their revolt so soundly.”

The corner of Marc’s mouth crooks upward at the reminder of the military response he led several years ago. “The aim in ending an uprising is always to shut down any thought of future revolts as well. But we should never get careless. Make sure your guards are always nearby.”

“Of course,” I say, and then, because very little stokes the ego more than being asked for advice, “How would you suggest I speak with the Rionian royal family? Are there any topics I should avoid that might seem to rub salt in that wound?”

Marc huffs dismissively. “You’re their empress. We speak to them however we like, and they can manage their own feelings about it. If they don’t like reminders that their people stepped out of line, they should have corralled them better to begin with.”

What a very imperial attitude to take. I bite back the choice remarks I could make about his approach and slide my hands farther along his shoulders. “Perhaps I should focus on more pleasant considerations, then. Is there anything about the place you enjoy that I can look forward to?”

Marc is silent for long enough that I start to wonder if he thinks my question was absurd. Finally, he speaks, more slowly than before. “Some of the ocean views are quite spectacular. And I’m sure it’s easier to appreciate when you’re not battling traitors. I’d imagine we’ll have more than one chance to go out on their seacraft—they are renowned for their boat-building skills for a reason. The speeds those skiffs can reach…”

I hadn’t expected the wistful note that creeps into his voice. But despite his appearance of relaxation, Marc’s mind must be as alert as ever.

He says his next words quietly so our guards won’t hear them over the hiss of the carriage wheels, but he keeps hisstatement carefully vague too. “There are many endeavors I’d enjoy partaking of with you. You’ve had quite a bit more time to consider my proposition.”

I manage to stop my fingers from twitching with the stutter of my pulse.

He means his proposition that I help him murder his twin. Which I’m still not sure is a genuine request rather than a test of my loyalty.

There’s no way for me to know what the right answer would be, but I’m reasonably sure he isn’t going to accuse me of treachery fornotagreeing to kill one of the men I married.

“There hasn’t been much to reconsider about my original stance,” I say evenly. “My principles remain the same. I haven’t seen any reason for concern in any of the treatment I’ve faced.”

That’s true enough. Linus has dressed down a few noblemen, but I can’t say he’s been any worse than usual with me.

---