Page 71 of The Scarlet Star

Ryn wasn’t sure what to ask next, if she should even speak. Xerxes turned, angling himself away from her. His hand found the balcony rail, and Ryn realized he was trembling.

“I swear, I never went near her. She wasn’t even allowed to enter my room. That’s why it didn’t make sense when I awoke that morning and found her beside me…” His eyes glazed over, like he was seeing something Ryn couldn’t. “I don’t remember doing it.”

Ryn exhaled softly. “Maybe you didn’t,” she said—the first words she was able to utter in response.

Xerxes cut her a look. “I did. I know I did. It’s not the only time I’ve lost control of myself,” he said. “And I knew full well she was sent here by the War King of B’rei Mira to spy on me, and that she was cruel, and that she only wanted to see Per-Siana citizens die. I had reasons towanther dead.” He moved from the rail and took a step toward Ryn. She fought the impulse to move and stay out of his reach. “You should be more careful around me, Ryn,” he said.

The wind blew the storm against them, and Ryn tasted rain.

Xerxes’s story wasn’t what she expected. Based on the rumours, she thought she’d meet a king who went on killing rampages, who was a poison to the kingdom, and who lacked a heart. But Xerxes wasn’t any of those things. Even if his heart had been burned a few times, it was there. It was beating.

“I trust you,” she said, surprising herself. “I think I trust you with my life, King.”

His lips peeled apart, a bewildered and horrified expression finding him. He shook his head slowly. “You foolish maiden,” he whispered.

Somewhere in the distance a temple bell rang over the streets. Ryn stared at Xerxes. Xerxes stared back.

Finally, he swallowed and dropped his gaze. “If you ever see me and my flesh is deathly pale or gray and my skin glimmers with moisture… Run. It doesn’t matter what I say to you in that moment, even if I try to convince you to stay, just run.”

“Why?” Ryn rasped.

“Because I need you alive. You’re the only one who can silence my voices.”

The words rattled in Ryn’s mind, eating their way through her, slowing her heart to a dull beat.

He needed her alive.

He needed her… for his voices.

She realized she’d crossed a line in asking about his wife. She’d already been foolish enough to tell him she liked him in the Abandoned Temple, only to have him invite Calliope to spend the night with him shortly after. Only to watch him give smiles to all the maidens—which was his right as King. As a young man searching for a wife.

Ryn linked her hands together, feeling more foolish than ever. She looked at the stone floor as it dawned on her all over again that he was a powerful King, and she was just a maiden he needed. The shattered cookies on the ground reminded her howeasily things were broken. How fast something sweet could be ruined by reckless thinking. That pain was just a consequence of carelessness.

Suddenly his warning for her to be more careful around him felt reasonable.

The three months he’d given her for their deal were dissolving quickly. After only a few more weeks, Ryn would have either cured him or failed. Either way, she’d probably never see him again—unless he decided she needed to stay at the palace for some other reason, which would be horrifying if she was forced to watch him parade through the atrium each morning with his new wife.

“Will you still need me once the voices are gone?” she asked.

Xerxes’s brows pulled together. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. “No,” he seemed to realize.

“So, you’ll let me go? Once you’re cured?”

He had no response ready for that. Seconds passed before he said, “I suppose I will. If that’s what you want.” His jaw slid to the side.

Ryn nodded.

She had to focus on saving her people. The only reason she came to the palace in the first place was for them. “I want to add something to our deal,” she said. “I want you to promise me no harm will ever come to Matthias.”

Xerxes looked at her blankly. Then he asked, “Who’s Matthias?”

Ryn folded her arms and huffed. “The extra Folke guard you stationed outside my door,” she told him, baffled Xerxes hadn’t even learned Matthias’s name when he’d been threatening him. “Matthias is an old friend. And if I’m going to help you, I need to know my friend is safe, no matter what. He’s the only friend I have here.” The corners of Xerxes’s mouth tightened when she said that. “And I want you to send him on an errand—somewhere far away from the palace—during the Heartstealer senses trial.”

Xerxes raised a brow. It didn’t look like jealousy. Curiosity, maybe. Even so, all he said was, “Fine. I’ll keep your guard safe.”

“With your life?” Ryn pressed.

Xerxes made a face and folded his arms too. Ryn knew she was making a preposterous request. But to her surprise, Xerxes said, “Yes, with my life, I shall keep that fellow safe for you.”

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