Page 103 of A Storm in Every Heart
“Notyou, darling.You,like your court. It was about Vernallis.”
My head spinning with questions, I turn to Kastian, who hasn’t said anything. “What do you think?”
He blinks at me, as if coming out of a stupor. “I believe him.”
“Really? Why?”
“This is exactly the kind of thing Magnus would do. The bastard is incredibly opportunistic and cunning, but he’s also patient. He waited years to find the moment to usurp my father.”
And he made multiple plans when his original ideas got foiled.I think, wishing desperately I could say it out loud.
“He did?” I ask, as it’s the only thing I can physically force from my throat.
Unaware of the war I’m waging inside my head, Kastian nods. “He’s been lying low for a while because conquering Hydratta was destabilizing.”
“And he won,” Jett adds. “No offense, Kas, but it’s not as if you’ve been much of a threat to him. He’s likely thought he was untouchable until now.”
“Hang on,” Connell says, glancing from Kastian to me to Jett and back. “Just to be sure I have this straight, you’reKastian. LikePrince Kastian? The one who was supposed to have died years ago?”
Looking resigned, Kastian just nods.
Connell’s eyes widen in apparent delight as he nods from Kastian to me. “And you’re with her?”
“No,” I say flatly at the same time as Kastian says: “Yes.”
Connell grins. “…and she was going to marry the king who killed your family and stole your throne?”
“Yes, sort of.” I answer at the same time as Kastian says: “Absolutely fucking not.”
Connell cackles with laughter. “Oh, that is absolutely poetic. I wonder if King Magnus knows or if it’s a coincidence. Gods, I wish I could be there when he finds out. I’d pay real money for that.”
“Alright, shut the fuck up,” Jett snaps.
Connell turns his attention to Jett. “Wait, who are you then? What’s your role in this deliciously tragic little drama?”
“I’m the guy who you’re really fucking lucky you didn’t meet on that train. If I’d been there like I was supposed to be, then we wouldn’t be sitting here now having this conversation.”
Connell cocks his head. “You know, I actually believe that. Unlucky for me then that you weren’t. I could have avoided so much unnecessary suffering.”
“Can we get back to the actual point?” I grumble. “All I want is for this conversation to end so we can go to sleep.”
Kastian nods tightly, his brow furrowing with exhaustion. “If Magnus wanted your kidnapping and death blamed on Solistine, he must have had a reason. I’m guessing that the reason is Daemon.”
“What do you mean?”
“Magnus knows Alix and Daemon are new rulers, but they’re building an army. They’re only a few years away from being extremely dangerous if they wanted to be. My guess is he wants them as allies in case they wake up in ten years and decide to conquer the entire continent.”
“They won’t,” I say confidently.
“Yeah, but Magnus doesn’t know that,” Jett chimes in. “I think Kas is right. Magnus is covering his own ass, and he’s willing to sacrifice Solistine to do it. Ashwater would go to war with Solistine if he thought they ordered your death. He and Alix already said as much in our meeting the other day.”
“Was that really only a few days ago?” I sigh. “I feel like I’ve lived years since then.”
“Hang on,” Connell says. “I never said anything about death. He didn’t want us to kill her, just kidnap her.”
“What was the endgame of that?” I ask.
Connell shrugs, but Kastian interjects. “That makes sense too, actually.”
