Page 34 of Upon the Riven Throne

“I had considered my options. It could have gone other ways.”

“Indeed,” Mireille whispered. “For I was not even the first princess to agree.”

His expression went hard. She did not care. She was not the only princess under threat by the queen, she was simply the last who had managed her way into his palace. There were more, surely, perhaps in the wing with Lord Cadby. Perhaps many more. It was apparent that her wince did not go unnoticed. Every moment, the possibility of preserving her kingdom felt further away. She said, “Then I have no choice at all. The only way to save Norcliffe is to agree to your ruse.”

He leaned closer, voice low. “Had you another choice, would you take it?”

She bit back her initial response, because of course the safety of her kingdom, freedom for herself, and the defeat of the fae queen would be worth it. But it seemed unlikely that he would see it done. After all, he hadn’t in all the time he’d spent cursed. The boundary wall was ancient, just like the Rive. No one had yet restored it. “I prefer to be told why and how our engagement will force her to act.”

“As I’ve said, I am unable to reveal details. But know that my history with her is long, and you and I are not the only ones with something to lose.”

She drew a shuddering breath. If she could not have his confession, then she would not give him hers. They would merely have to work together, doing all they could do drive the wicked queen off a cliff of her own making.

“Then let us bring her down, once and for all,”—she gave him her gaze— “husband.”

CHAPTER14

When Mireille opened her eyes, it was not to a moonlit canopy of leaves. It was to Thomas, staring down at her with a perplexed expression.

She groaned and rolled to her side. “Why must everyone suddenly stand over me in my sleep?”

“You are sleeping half the morning away, that is why.” He poked her shoulder. “Tell me, for the household will not.”

Mireille pressed her eyes closed very tight. She did not want to know what Thomas had heard. She did, however, have a very good idea. And it was a problem, because she’d vowed—been forced to vow—not to tell Thomas, or anyone else, of the prince’s plan. And the prince’s plan was very different from the one Thomas and Mireille had arrived with. “What do you mean?”

He spoke slowly, carefully enunciating each word. “Engaged to be wed.”

She drew the blanket over her head.

“It was my understanding that you could barely tolerate him. And yet, one night, one dance, and the entire palace has practically broken into song. They’re hanging decorations, I hope you know that.”

She mumbled a reply under her breath and could feel Thomas lean in. “What was that?” he said. “Didn’t quite hear you, what with all the cowering in shame.”

Mireille flipped the blankets down. “I said it wasn’t only one dance.”

The shock that crossed Thomas’s expression was not put on. He rocked back onto his heels, ran a palm over his chest. “So, it’s true.”

“The prince and I have come to an understanding. It seems, unfortunately, that this is our best course of action.”

He sank down on the bed and then, abruptly, appeared to recall she was no longer merely his friend. She was betrothed to another man. A fae prince. He stood, sidling awkwardly toward the foot of the bed. “What happened between last night and this morning to change your mind?”

She pressed up on the massive pile of pillows. “Honestly, Thomas, I told you about the dreams.”

“Yes,” he drew out the word. “And what, precisely, happened in last night’s dream to alter your course so thoroughly?”

She could not tell him the truth. Not because he could not be trusted, but because Alder had told her that the only place that was truly safe to speak of secrets was in her dreams. They could not allow their plan to be foiled. It was too great a risk.

Guilt twisted inside her. But it would not be forever. Thomas would understand everything soon. Whether they managed it, or not. “He convinced me. We share a common goal. We both care about our people. And once she sees we are to be wed, the queen will turn her attention elsewhere.”

Thomas’s brow pinched. “Will she? Or will she go after your father?” He crossed his arms. “And Alder? What about him? What does a prince stand to gain when he doesn’t even know?—”

She cut him off with a raised hand. “That is enough, Lord Holden. I’ve made my choice.”

He slid his hands into his pockets. “I see. Very well, then.”

It felt horrible. Cruel. Unconscionable. She was definitely going to live with regret for eternity.

He said, “What shall I do today? For the cause.”

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