Page 111 of The Inadequate Heir (The Bridge Kingdom 3)

Keris lifted his head, seeing his brother fall backward, arms pinwheeling as he tried to catch hold of the window frame.

“Otis!” He reached, his fingers brushing the leather of Otis’s boots as his brother plunged from sight.

Thud.

Cold shock rippled through Keris as he stood.

No. It wasn’t possible. Otis hadn’t fallen.

He took one step. Then another. Gripped the window frame and looked down. His stomach twisted, the contents rising.

Otishadfallen.

On the pale paving stones below, his brother’s body was sprawled, blood pooling around him in a great dark pool.

No.

“Keris.”

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

“Keris?”

He slowly turned to find Valcotta behind him, her eyes wide.

“It wasn’t your fault,” she said. “It was an accident. Serin drove him to this moment. The Magpie wants you dead, and he goaded Otis into this. It’s his doing.”

If only that were the case.

The fog of shock disappeared, reality rushing over him. Guards would have seen Otis fall. It was only a matter of time until they came up to Keris’s room to investigate.

Grabbing Valcotta’s arm, he pulled her hood forward to conceal her face and then dragged her to the door. “Hurry.” They raced down and down the stairs. “React like one of the harem wives would, and then get back to their quarters. If you’re caught here, both of us will be dead, and all of this will be for nothing.”

He burst through the door to find the four guards bent over Otis’s still form, bubbles of blood rising from his lips.God, he was still alive.

Behind him, Zarrah let out a bloodcurdling scream that echoed through the gardens, then clutched at his arm, sobbing.

“Go!” He gave her a shove. “Fetch Coralyn. Tell her to summon the physician.”

She gave a jerky nod, then hurried down the path as fast as she could without breaking into a run, none of the guards paying her attention, their eyes on him.

“He fell from your window, Your Highness,” one said. “What happened?”

“An accident.” His throat was tight, the words strangled. “He…”

Otis moved, turning his head, his mouth forming Keris’s name, though only a gurgle came out.

On leaden feet, Keris approached, dropping to his knees to grip his brother’s hand, seeing that it wouldn’t matter how fast the physician came, for these injuries weren’t survivable. He lowered his head, keeping his voice soft enough that only Otis would hear, his heart aching. “I’m so sorry. This was the last thing I wanted. You’re my brother, and I love you.”

Otis tightened his grip, the force of it grinding the bones of Keris’s hand, the look in his brother’s eyes one that would haunt him forever. Not pain. Not fear.

But betrayal.

“I’m sorry,” he repeated, because no other words would come. “I’m so sorry.”

But Otis’s chest was still, the spark fading from his eyes and leaving behind nothing but a corpse.

A female scream split the night air, and Keris turned to see Lestara with her hand over her mouth, his father standing at her arm, expression unreadable. Beyond, Serin lurked in the shadows.

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