Page 15 of The Endless War

Nothing he didn’t know, yet for some reason, hearing it from Lestara caused his stomach to twist.

“But through me, you have the harem,” she said. “The daughters and sisters and nieces of the most powerful men in the kingdom and beyond. Our influence will sway them to support you, to keep your brothers in check, and to ensure the crown remains firmly on your head when you return.”

It was what his father had used them for. Why he’d married so many women over the years. Because marriage secured alliances and power. “Why? Why not wait until my back is turned and then choose one of my brothers and make this pitch to them? Why bother with me?”

Lestara slipped off the bed, bending to retrieve her cloak, which she donned before approaching him. “Because you’re the best of his sons, Keris. The only one of age who we trust to heal Maridrina and make it strong again.”

She was trying to make him believe the harem supported her actions, which Keris doubted. “Am I to assume that the price of this offer is marrying you?”

She hesitated, then said, “In Cardiff, on a child’s seventh birthday, a witch looks to the stars and sees the child’s fate. The stars said that I would be a powerful woman, a queen, and that my deeds would never be forgotten. They said nothing about living out my days in obscurity as afavored aunt.”

A story mapped in the stars.

Keris exhaled a long breath. For his kingdom, agreeing to wed her, or someone like her, would be the right thing to do. A strategic choice that any good king would make.

But he wasn’t a good king, and never would be.

“Not queen of Maridrina.” He twisted the handle on the door, swinging it open. “Please leave.”

Lestara stared at him, jaw tight, but instead of obeying, she said, “The book I gave you before you left for Nerastis. I want it back. It was a token of a sentiment I find that I no longer hold for you.”

Book?He blinked, then remembered that cursed book about stars and the stories they told. Zarrah had brought it to the dam with her the night they’d first been together. Had she thrown it in the spillway? His mind dredged up the memory of her throwing his coat into the water, but the book … That, she’d clutched to her chest. What had become of it after that moment, he had no notion. He’d only had eyes for Zarrah. “It’s in Nerastis.”

“All your things were brought back from Nerastis.”

“I’ll look for it tomorrow,” he hedged. “It’s the middle of the night; I’m not going to go rooting through my library right now.” Hopefully he’d get out of having to account for it by boarding a ship to Ithicana.

“If you have it, I want it back. Now.”

His temper rose, fueled by lack of sleep and irritation that she’d throw a tantrum over a book because she wasn’t getting her way. “I don’t know where it is, all right? It’s probably lost.”

Lestara squeezed her eyelids shut, twin tears flowing out from around them, and guilt instantly replaced his anger.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it meant so much to you.”

Silence.

“It’s fine.” Her eyelids opened, and no more tears gleamed within. “It’s better that I know the truth.”

Without another word, she left the room.

Rubbing at his temples, Keris said to his guards, who were looking everywhere but at him, “No more visitors. I need some sleep.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” one of them mumbled. “She … she said you were expecting her.”

“I’m not expecting anyone,” Keris answered, swinging the door shut. “Good night.”

He stood staring at the door for a long moment, then placed the beam in the brackets, ensuring that he’d have no more unwanted visitors tonight.

Turning down the flame on the lamp, he walked toward his bed, unbuckling his belt as he did. But as he was about to drop his trousers, cold steel pressed against his throat, and a female voice said, “Well,thatwas an interesting conversation.”

WOODSMOKE FILLED HERnose, and a moment later, her captors pulled her to a stop, shoving her down to her knees.

“Welcome.” The sack was pulled from her head, revealing a woman’s face illuminated by dawn light.

Zarrah tried to get to her feet but was shoved back down.

“Relax,” the woman said. “We’re just going to have a little chat.”

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