Page 124 of A Thieving Curse

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THE FIRST LORD who voted, the one with graying hair, stood and made his way to Alex’s side. Raelyn waited with bated breath as he spoke. “If you try to kill him, I will stand with Prince Alexander against you—because you will have proven you are a murderer.” She exhaled with relief but didn’t relax completely yet.

“What then?” Henry sounded disgusted. “You’d make him king?”

The lords shouted their approval. Raelyn and Alex beamed at each other as warmth unfolded in her chest.We did it—

“Fools!” Henry thundered over the nobles. “You want Philip’s son as king? Philip was weak! Slow to act, overly reliant on his wife, and—”

“And you are too quick to act and overly reliant on yourself!” The barrel-chested lord strode to Alex’s other side. “You are a villain, Carbrey, with a history of underhanded tactics. I would crown Prince Alexander if I have to arm every man in my demesne to fight for the rightful king.” Several lords shouted their assent.

“A compromise,” Henry bellowed. “I will abdicate on the condition my son is crowned and wed to the Eynlaean princess, as she agreed. Or we will have war.” Raelyn eyed Tristan as her heart thudded in her chest. He sat still, not even glancing her way.

Alex motioned toward the Court, his chain jangling. “With what armies, Uncle? The crown may be on your head, but my lords stand with me.”

“We will force you to abdicate,” the gray-haired lord said.

“I could kill you all!” Henry snarled. “There are other lords. I could call my guards in here—”

“Please,” Father said as he stood. “Enough. My daughter will never wed your son. Not after everything I’ve heard today. Can you fight your lords and Eynlae?”

If she hadn’t been so anxious, Raelyn would have cried with joy. Instead, she offered Father a shaky smile. The tension in the room felt like the air before a thunderstorm. On edge, dangerous. Ready to strike and set everything ablaze.

“The guards are not yours,” the lord with the braid said. “They serve the crown. And that crown is no longer yours to wear.”

“So be it!” Henry snarled. Something metallic clattered loudly on wood behind her.

Raelyn peered back around the side of her throne. Henry stood, his face red. His crown spun on its rim in front of his feet, glinting in the light from the windows before it settled onto the dais.

“I abdicate!” Henry’s murderous eyes locked on Raelyn. “You. You single-handedly ruined everything!” He pointed at Tristan. “And you! This wouldn’t have happened if you had used that love spell like I told you to!”

The lords gasped. Gareth cursed, and Alex snarled.

“I don’t steal what isn’t mine.” Tristan stood, facing his father with crossed arms. “I try to earn it.”

“Useless,” Henry growled. “If you had half the oration ability and charm of your cousin, we wouldn’t be in this mess.” His boots thundered as he descended to the lower dais. He drew the small, jewel-encrusted dagger from his belt. Tristan held up his hands and stepped back, his face pale, but Henry whirled on Raelyn. She screamed as he put the tip against her throat.

“No!” several voices cried at once.

“Nobody moves or she dies!” Henry shouted, and spittle landed on her face. She pressed back against the throne, focused on the sharp point of the dagger against her skin. Every jagged breath felt like it might be her last.Why is he doing this?

“Give me the stone, girl.”

Raelyn opened her sweaty hand. Her heart beat frantically, and she clenched her teeth, trying to control the violent quivering of her jaw.

Henry picked up the talisman and held it toward Tristan. “Use it.”

“Father—”

“When you’re madly in love with my son, I imagine your father will feel differently about how to use his armies.” Henry’s cruel grin was as sharp as his blade.

“I won’t support your son just because Raelyn is enchanted,” Father said unsteadily. “Stop this.”

“Shall I kill her, then?”

Raelyn held her breath as a tear fell from her eye.

“You’re mad!” Gareth shouted.

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