Page 92 of The Prince's Mage

So…

This was it.

She was going to go on the table or die.

Gavril’s own fingers moved, a similar rune lighting up. The illusion on the king’s arm faded, revealing the lines on it.

When the runes were finished, the lines vanished on both their arms.

Gavril’s magic was no longer in danger of being sealed.

And she was a condemned traitor.

“You are released from your promise, and I am released from mine. There is no time left to fight each other. In four days, we will march. And we will eliminate the Sordes and their corruption and the danger they pose to us for good.”

Gavril was still kneeling on the marble.

The commanders and the other Runai all broke out into a clamor. Marcella pushed forward against her guards and hoped Gavril might hear her. “Gavril? I can explain. Please, I want to explain! I wantyouto explain. If I am to die, give me that. You owe me an explanation for your lies as well.”

But he did not move. He did not even look at her.

“Take the Sordes back to her cell.”

As the guards started to haul her away, she cried out louder in her language,“Gavril! Have faith in me.Mea spes.My hope. Please, at least give me the truth. You owe me that! If I am to die, let me die knowing why you lied!”

But whatever was going through his head couldn’t come out and he didn’t even make any attempt as he remained kneeling on the floor while her guards dragged her away for the last time.

Aimilia rushed forward, leaving Nikias to quickly kneel beside Gavril, grabbing him by his shoulder. She looked past Gavril toward Marcella. She called out in Marcella’s language, “Steady! Will right! Will right!”

Marcella did not know if she could let herself believe that. Or in anything anymore.

Chapter33

GAVRIL

Everything since the banquet had been a blur to Gavril.

He remembered after Marcella had been hauled away, Nikias pulling him away from their parents and trying to explain. Marcella had only been cooperating because she’d been given orders to win their trust. She’d just been biding her time until she could take Nikias as a hostage and leave Gavril behind. It explained everything. Why she’d so suddenly warmed up to Gavril after cursing him. Why she’d begged him to spare Nikias.

No.

She loved him. That was the only explanation. This had to be some misunderstanding.

Then Nikias had shown Gavril the ravens and their messages. He could no longer deny the truth that was in front of him.

Gavril remembered how jumpy Marcella had been, particularly when she’d seen the raven in her room. A bad omen?

He’d believed her. Like a fool he’d believed her just because she’d said it. Because he wanted to.

Now he knelt on the marble floor, unable to speak a word due to the runes Nikias had put on him right before this—in the hopes his forced silence would spare him their parents’ wrath later. He could hear Marcella being dragged away from him and Aimilia calling out in her language after her, but it was still so distant and far away.

He knew if he listened to a word from her mouth, he would buy it. He would fold like silk.

It wouldn’t even matter if it was true or not. If she was just trying to play him again like she’d been playing him this whole time, he would eagerly play the fool. He couldn’t help it.

So unless he could be certain he could steel himself against falling for it again, he couldn’t listen.

Aimilia was whispering something to him, but he couldn’t hear her. The other commanders and the rest of the court were too loud as they voiced their support for their forces to go meet the Sordes army.

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