Page 50 of The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King

“Yes. You are.”

“And why is that?”

“Because we’re supposedly allies again, and allies don’t lock each other up every night.”

“I have some allies I certainly wish I could lock up,” I remarked.

“You can frame it as a concession you had to make to get me to do this willingly. That’s reasonable. And true.”

My brows rose. “Is it?”

“It is.”

Leaving Oraya unguarded was a bad idea for a lot of reasons. The obvious ones, of course—because she was the Hiaj Heir, and had acted against me less than a week ago, and had every reason to sneak around gathering information and finding ways to pass it off to the people who were trying to kill mine.

But none of those reasons bothered me as much as the others—not protecting my crown from Oraya, but protecting Oraya from my crown.

“This castle isn’t a safe place, princess,” I said. “Not even for me.Especiallynot for me. And that goes double for you. You sure you really want that?”

“You keep telling me that I’m a queen, not a prisoner. So prove it. No one locks queens up in their bedchambers.”

Neculai had locked Nessanyn up.

That was a sudden, unwelcome thought.

I pushed it away, deciding that this was a fair point. Besides, everything with Oraya was a risk. Always had been.

“Fine,” I said, with a half-shrug. “Done. No more locks.”

Her shoulders lowered slightly with relief. I liked seeing that.

“Then I’m going to bed,” she said.

“Good. You’ll need the rest before we get started.”

She went to the door and opened it. And before I could stop myself, the word was coming up my throat.

“Oraya.”

She turned back. Even from across the room, her steel gaze cut deep. A pang pulsed in my chest.

I didn’t even know what I’d intended to say.

Thank you?

You won’t regret this?

The former was patronizing. The second was a promise I couldn’t make. I’d lied to Oraya enough. I didn’t want to do it again.

Finally, I settled on, “I always meant it. The offer I made you.”

There is no one I would rather have ruling this kingdom beside me than you.

I saw in her face that she knew exactly what I was talking about.

“I know,” she said, after a long moment, and left.

* * *

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