Page 88 of Stars May Fall

Could that be it? Could it be that Father regretted going down an immoral path and didn’t want me to follow in his footsteps?Therefore he had chosen somebody who was immutably good rather than the person who brought him power and security.

I smiled up at him. “See, Venerick, Father didn’t want you to be like him either. He wanted you to be strong in the ways you are already strong.”

He’d chosen Venerick because he cared about my happiness and my future. The thought brought tears to my eyes. I wiped them free, hoping they wouldn’t become a torrent again.

How had it taken me so long to see the same thing as my father had, that Venerick was a genuinely good person? We could have worked together from the start.

I reached out and took his other hand without reacting to the stickiness of blood and grime on his fingers. “I need you by my side, Venerick. Please. I can’t do this alone. Help me make this world that fairer place you dreamed of.”

He shook his head and looked down at me, his brown eyes soft. “I will always be at your side, Your Majesty. You don’t need to marry me to guarantee that.”

I licked my lips, the way he was looking at me was close to adoration and it unraveled the tightness in my chest. The kind intelligence in his eyes made the fear inside me melt away. I noted the fine laughter lines and the straightness of his nose. He was safety, security, and trust, things I’d been in search of for a very long time. I just hadn’t realized when I’d found them. I didn’t release his hands. “I don’t want to call off the wedding. That is, if you’re willing to be king and rule at my side. I’ll support your dreams, Venerick, as you have supported mine.”

He stared at me for a moment, then grinned with such relief and pleasure, I couldn’t help but smile too. “That is…good news.” He was so overcome, his eyes were moist, making my eyes water too.

I stepped back and we both stood side by side, not looking at each other, and I was sure he hadn’t stopped smiling. Suddenly,I didn’t want to stay in this room of death any longer. I was ready to leave the past behind and reenter a world beckoning me with glimpses of warmth and hope.

I rested my hand on his shoulder. “Thank you for the food. We should get you cleaned up. We don’t want any of those wounds getting infected before they can be stitched. There’s a lot of hard work to do, and I don’t want any excuses.”

He bowed, a new energy in his movements. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Organizing is my area of expertise. We shall have the chaos under control in no time.”

He placed his hand on my back and led me out of the room into the warmth of the palace. The smile didn’t leave his tired, bloodstained face.

KASTEN

Dawn started to lighten the windows. I sat in an armchair in Highfair, watching Lyrason sleep, his words turning over and over in my mind. My mother had invented the halfsouls? Could it be possible? I was more convinced that he’d have said anything at all to make me spare his life in that moment.

But then, when I’d tried on the bracelet that disrupted the link between haemalcomy poles, I’d instantly felt weaker. What if…what if I was like Prince Stirling? What if I had haemalcomy inside me that had been sucking vitality from others since before I could remember? What if I really was the monster everyone had made me out to be?

If that was the case, I had no right to be alive. Not if my worthless life came at the expense of others. Even Sophie had said that I was a monster. But why would I have needed more vitality in the first place? I’d never had a serious illness. And all my near-death experiences had come from the hands of the king or in battle long after my mother had been banished. And if my motherhadinvented the halfsouls, how had Lyrason and Gregane ended up with the art?

I tentatively explored what faint memories I had left of her, bracing myself for the complicated emotions that always accompanied them. I’d last seen her when I was three years old, the morning before she’d failed to come home. My nanny had held me while I cried, waiting for her to come back. But she never had. And my life had utterly changed. It had been cold ever since. Well, until Sophie had come and broken through all my defenses.

I couldn’t think about Sophie right now. My anger, frustration, guilt, and sorrow were too much to process on too little sleep. She was safe, sleeping upstairs. For now, that was enough. I had checked in on her once after Beatrice told me she was fast asleep, just to see for myself that she was well. A large bruise was blooming across her cheekbone, which only made my anger toward the man in front of me more potent. Right now, Sophie needed to rest and not to argue with me. I shouldn’t have blamed her for any of my actions. I alone was the monster. I regretted everything I’d said to her.

I tapped the arm rest as I waited impatiently for the sedative in Lyrason to wear off. When Sophie had been convinced the loss of vitality wouldn’t kill him, Tara had wrapped the haemalcomy-disrupting bracelet around Lyrason’s wrist before she had retired for the night, letting Sir Philip take over guarding my wife. And now I’d given Lyrason a stimulant, it shouldn’t be long until he was conscious again.

I almost wished he’d died already. Some information was not worth hearing.

Sir Chase entered the room and bowed. “The scouts have confirmed there are no more loose halfsouls, General Batton. Tyler Gregane’s body was taken to the palace as ordered. Princess Annabelle requested your presence at once. She wishes for Lyrason to be handed over for questioning.”

I grunted. “Tell her he’s still unconscious, and I’ll bring him as soon as I’ve finished my own business with Lyrason.” She owed me that much at least.

The guard bowed and left. Once again, I was alone with Lyrason. The silence was oppressive. It suited my mood.

The minutes ticked by before Callum slipped into the room, a bandage wrapped around his head and a foul-smelling tonic in his hands. He opened his mouth, saw my expression, and closed it again. He eased himself into the chair next to mine and sipped his drink.

I hadn’t told him how I felt when I’d worn the bracelet. I didn’t want to strengthen my worries before I could confirm my fears.

Lyrason stirred. I’d tied his hands and feet to the bed, but he had enough room to roll onto his side. I held up a hand to warn Callum to keep back in case he tried anything.

Callum stood but kept his distance. “Hey! Lyrason! Can you hear me? Hello? Wakey, wakey! Nap time is over.” I almost expected him to prod him with a stick.

Lyrason groaned in response. I was glad Sophie wasn’t in the room. This man was toxic, and I was already wary of what I was about to hear. And I didn’t yet know what lengths I’d have to go to get the information I needed. I didn’t want Sophie to have another excuse to call me a monster.

I waited for Lyrason’s eyes to flicker open and for him to glare at Callum before clearing my throat and leaning back, crossing my ankles. “Lyrason, I don’t have much patience remaining. You said my mother invented the halfsouls. You have five minutes to explain what you meant before I decide to simply execute you for innumerable crimes.”

His eyes darted in my direction. His glasses had been knocked sideways, and the bonds on his wrists were just looseenough to allow him to adjust them. He squinted toward me as if his eyes were struggling to focus. “Where…am I?”

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