Page 97 of The Prince's Mage

Marcella wanted to ask more. She wanted to reach forward past the bars and ask him if he could still love her now that he knew the truth.

He started to reach for something in his pocket when the sound of footsteps had them both stilling. More than one set. Gavril scrambled to his feet right as Nikias turned the corner, hauling Aimilia by the arm. She had clearly been caught by the dark look in Nikias’ eyes and the resigned one in Aimilia’s.

When she looked at Gavril she gave him a disappointed, sheepish grin and spoke first in their language, “Sorry, I couldn’t give you longer. He figured out I was stalling. I think it was the talking to him politely and pretending to be able to stand the sight of him at all that tipped him off.”

“You are not a subtle woman,” Nikias snapped before turning to Gavril and saying, “Gavril, our parents—”

Gavril’s marble was mended and Marcella could not read him anymore as he said, “It’s alright, Aimilia. I got what I needed. Nikias, I’m coming.”

What had he needed? Her to admit that Nikias was right about her? Confirmation she was wholly unworthy of his forgiveness?

That he was wrong to ever hold any affection for her and that she belonged on the table or buried in the dirt?

As they started to walk away, she pushed herself to her feet. She opened her mouth to yell but all that came out was a whisper, “Misericordiae.”

Gavril didn’t look back.

Marcella closed her eyes and hit the ground.

She drew her legs in, clasped her hands together, and like so many times before in this cell, she prayed for a miracle.

Mother Asentai…

Let it not be for nothing.

All her pain.

All her scars.

All her love.

Let it not be for nothing.

Chapter35

MARCELLA

Marcella wasn’t given anything to eat. She didn’t hear anything. She didn’t see anything.

She just prayed.

Then—she wasn’t even certain how long it had been but it felt like a day at least—she heard footsteps.

And she was at peace. Whatever it was.

Gavril ran into view, keys clinking in his hand. He was at the door the second she was blinking, trying to make sure she wasn’t hallucinating him. As he opened the door he said in her language, “Up! Come, we don’t have much time.”

Marcella staggered to her feet. “Time for what? What’s happening?”

Gavril flung the door open and held his right hand out to her. “I promised you peace. You want peace above all else? We are getting peace.”

“How?” Marcella started toward him, a faltering step.

He was here… so he believed her? He knew—

“Soldier!” His voice darkened as he stepped toward her. “If you want to live, you will do what I tell you when I tell you.”

Her breath caught in her throat. He hadn’t treated her so coldly since she’d cursed him. Maybe he didn’t believe her. And it didn’t matter.

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