Page 88 of My Noble Disgrace

“Why would you be concerned with his well-being?” asked Cael. “He was personally invested in your capture. He contacted us by radio and informed us of your coup. He’s the very reason we were able to ambush Keane and the other Ash Island criminals.” He smirked, as if pleased to inform me that I was hated.

I wished I could tell him Dominic was the reason Cait and I escaped, which would help sell my lies, but if I revealed Dominic’s act of defiance, Cael would be more interested in punishing him than rescuing him. “I’m the one who forced him onto our boat instead of letting him drown. I saved his life when the others wanted to kill him. And now he’s their prisoner, and I feel responsible.” I looked at Graham pointedly, hoping he’d stop looking at me like I was a monster if I shared one positive truth. “He’s only my age. And he’s Keane’s son. I don’t want him to remain their captive.”

“You saved an Enforcer’s life?” asked Graham, his voice incredulous.

“Yes.” I nodded. “And I should’ve made sure he got off the boat when I did.” I looked at Cael meaningfully, trying to appeal to a mutual sympathy. “I have regrets too, and I want to go back for him.”

“So you thought you’d appeal to Pearce to get to the weapons in order to retrieve his grandson?” asked Cael, his brow twitching.

“That was the plan,” I said, glad he’d neatly summed it up for me. It actually seemed believable.

“Then why did you poison him?” asked Graham. “Was the gun not enough of a threat?”

“Cait and I had conflicting ideas about how to best persuade him to listen, but I swear I didn’t want to kill him.” My voice rose in authentic passion. “I accidentally left behind the poisoned brandy.”

“Well,” said Cael, his tone sardonic, “at least you killed him for a noble reason.”

I leaned forward and picked up another croissant. I had to take another mouthful to keep myself from telling Graham that Cael hadorderedme to kill Pearce. I stuffed down my anger as I ate, determined to use my next words to steer the conversation where I needed it to go.

“Pearce’s death will have been for nothing if we don’t rescue his grandson,” I said. “And we must take the weapons out of the hands of the outlaws. Leaving them on the loose is certain to end with more lives lost.”

“The radio,” said Graham, his eyes shifting behind my back. “Can you use it to contact Dunn and get any hints as to their whereabouts?”

I leaned into the sofa, hiding the radio I was sure he’d just seen. I couldn’t let Cael take it from me.

“Now is not the time, Sir Brennin,” said Cael. “We should focus on absolving you of any suspicion of complicity in your disappearance before we take an ocean voyage. Let’s get you on the throne, and then we can find that boat.”

“Dominic is well-liked by the Academy,” I said. “Bringing him back and retrieving those weapons would be a point in Graham’s favor, evidence that he’s an effective and compassionate leader and that he will prioritize members of the Academy above his own interests. Yes, they want to know that he’s innocent, but what they’re trying to decide is if he’s the best possible leader.”

Graham listened intently, his eyes fixed on me, so I continued.

“Your disappearance doesn’t need to be a black mark on your record, Graham. It can be your defining moment, a catalyst that has made you capable and decisive.”

Cael paced behind the armchairs, stroking his chin. “It’s all a tactic,” he said.

My hands started to sweat. Had he seen through it?

“It seems you’re under the impression that this rescue mission would keep Graham from speaking out against you,” Cael continued, “but he must do so to prove his innocence. He’s been reluctant to blame you for reasons I can’t begin to fathom, but it cannot last.”

“He has already spoken out against me,” I said. “I read the news.”

“Not againstyou,” said Graham. “I’ve only censured your father when speaking to the press.”

My heart warmed. The fact that Graham had tried to keep me from blame reignited my hope.

“As I said,” Cael repeated, angrier than before, “that cannot last.”

I rolled my eyes. Graham was also staying silent about Cael’s involvement in his abduction, but it seemed Cael had forgotten he was guilty.

“But now you’ve killed Pearce and I don’t know how to keep this secret,” said Graham. “You told me you’d turn yourself in if he died, but it seems as if that was nothing but a bluff.”

I took a breath, bracing myself. “I meant it,” I said. “I’ll testify to the Academy. I’ll confess what I did and I’ll admit I abducted you. I’ll clear you entirely of blame.”

Graham looked back at me, incredulity written all over his face. “You’d do that?”

“I would,” I said, knowing I was telling him the very thing he wanted to hear, “on the following conditions…”

“Of course there are conditions,” said Cael, pulling his gold quill out of his pocket.

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