Page 91 of Claiming Glass

“When they chased your father’s men from the birthing suite, Mariska pleaded for me and the child. Maybe it was not even necessary. The healers swear to preserve life—few would hand over a babe to be killed no matter royal orders. Another woman bore a stillborn boy that morning, and the body had yet to be given over to the Temple. That’s who they brought you while hiding Dasha in the nursery.

“Your father never questioned it, neither did you, and we could not say anything that could give it away… He would have killed her, Dimi. The threat never went away. Instead, you did, and I was alone. I thought she would be safe if we married when you returned.”

“I’ve been back two months.”

She nodded, passion I had mistaken for insanity glowing in her eyes.

“But the Roja was always watching, and you were still powerless. I couldn’t risk anyone finding out. The first year, I did nothing but hide with Dasha in my rooms. Each day, I prayed for the Goddess to stay away and your return. Then she got a cough that would not ease. Mariska healed her, but she could only come in secret, and it was almost too late. Holding her as she gasped for breath, I decided I needed to do something.”

“That’s why you still insisted to marry me when we saw each other in the garden?”

“Unless we married, do you think your father would have ordered any different just because she was older? If anything, my daughter had become more of a liability. A way to circumvent the line to the throne. A tool for usurpers—that’s what he called her before she was even out of my belly.”

“I would have stopped him—done anything.” I ground my teeth. She had no idea how I’d grieved. The pain that never went away after losing a child.Shehad never felt it.

Eki scoffed. “You only had eyes for the fake princess. Your father could have lived another twenty years. Perhaps without the fake princess we—you—could have had a chance.”

Perhaps there was an apology in there for what she had done to Vanya. Once, I admired how fiercely Eki fought for her own.

“What else have you hidden?”

“I continued taking care of the plants.” She swept her hands around her. “One night, I stayed almost until dawn. I guess I was very still because the priestessdidn’t notice me until she was inside.”

“After how we were betrayed, you asked for their help?”

“Living is more important than revenge. In exchange for the Goddess’s own seedlings, she swore to give us a place to hide would we ever need it. And she offered revenge on the king.”

Eki pointed toward the end of the greenhouse, where moss covered the ground and delicate white flowers burst up like stars.

I had seen them before—in Bersig’s drawing, in Koshka’s hand, under the city surrounded by undead.

The poison that killed mages, that created the plague, spreading fear and death through the whole of Tal, came from the royal gardens.

“How many of the cuttings have you given them?”

“Over two years? Hundreds.”

For the first time, Eki lost some of her self-righteousness. “Twice, they also demanded I cover the Tower sigils from the inside. They want to remove the monarchy, I’m not blind, but that seemed the only way. They promised me and Dasha safety when the Goddess rises.”

I remembered the night Vanya found me in the courtyard, how something spooked the griffons, and I thought I saw Spirits inside the palace walls. I had been right. The stable lay not far from here.

“Who is behind the conspiracy and poison?”

Eki shook her head mutely and for a moment I saw a woman in a cell equally unable to answer. Whoever they were, they knew about my daughter.

I did not push. Instead, I focused on the flowers that killed my father and grandfather.

“Destroy them, every last one, then pack your and Dasha’s things.”

“Where are we going?”

“To safety—until this is over, we tell no one else.”

Eki stood close but for once, there was nothing romantic or contrived affection between us. “And you?”

“I’ll ensure Dasha has a crown when she reaches adulthood. I’ll do whatever is needed.”

“Leave with us,” Eki said, already removing her apron and gloves. “Let us gather what gold we can carry and fly far from here. No one could command you back anymore.”

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