Page 127 of A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty

“Why have you brought me here?” I asked.

“The better question is, why did you come?” Gavros asked.

I explained about the fae king and his request for allies. They listened silently. When I was done, no one spoke.

I’d seen Lorian use the same tactic, and I refused to break the silence. Finally, Sylphina tilted her head. “You’ve told us what the fae king wants and the benefits of allying with him. But you haven’t told us whyyouhave come.”

This was awkward. “He told me to” didn’t seem like a good enough answer, even if it was the truth.

“And do you always do as men tell you?” Ysara asked, clearly still reading my mind.

I bared my teeth in a humorless smile. “Delve a little deeper and see for yourself.”

She stared at me, clearly unimpressed. I took a deep breath. “We have close to eleven thousand hybrids in the fae lands. More of them are arriving every day. We’re trying to save as many of them as we can, but Regner is on a murderous rampage. The fae king will ally with me if I can find others who will join us. Will you help us?”

“You don’t want to rule,” Ysara said. “You chose to look to your cousin instead. Even now, you wonder if when all this is over,wewill continue to rule in your stead.”

How could I be polite with someone who could read my mind?

“It’s not that I don’t want to rule,” I said carefully. “It’s that I know I’m not the best person for the position. I was raised in a small village. I only recently learned that I have any claim to the throne. I will do everything I can to help our people. I will lay down my life for them. But I have seen what happens when someone who is unfit to rule sits on a throne.”

Rivenlor raised one eyebrow. “You compare yourself to the mad king?”

“He not only believed he was the best choice at the time of his rule, he believes he is the best choice to ruleforever. Power corrupts.”

“And you believe yourself corruptible?” He glanced at Ysara as if I’d proven his point.

I smiled at his attempt to bait me. “Everyone is corruptible at their core.”

“It’s not just that you are afraid of being a tyrant,” Ysara said, her tone biting. “You don’t believe you would be a fit queen.”

“No,” I said. The certainty of it ate away at me every day I had to pretend to be someone who wanted to rule. “I don’t.” Being forced to admit the truth was a relief.

“And instead of choosing tolearnhow to rule, you’re giving it up before you truly try.”

“Ruling a kingdom is not something youtry,” I snapped. “Would you prefer I bumbled my way on to the throne and put everyone at risk?”

“They’re already at risk,”Tymriel intoned. Everyone went silent. “Such cowardice would shame your mother if she could hear it.”

Getting to my feet, I strode toward the door. I’d find my way back to Lorian and the others myself.

The door slammed closed, and I whirled. “You want a puppet on the throne? Pick someone else,” I hissed.

Ysara smiled, and it was terrible. “The woman who stole you has damaged you irreparably,” she said. “But never mind that. We can fix you.”

Agony engulfed me. I dropped to my knees and screamed.

CHAPTERTWENTY

Someone was speaking in a low, melodious tone. I was…floating.

A chill slid over me. Where was I?

“You’re safe, Nelayra.”

“Who…” My voice was hoarse, my throat sore. As if I’d been screaming.

Because I’d been burning alive. At least that’s what it had felt like.

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