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I got up to pace. “I’m scared, Asinia. I’m scared to want him this much.”

“A little fear is good for you, Pris. Just don’t let that fear steal your happiness.”

Telean opened the door. “It’s time.”

* * *

It wasn’t my job to debate the political ramifications of murder.

Usually, I left those kinds of musings to my brother.

However, if the Gromalian king didn’t stop sneering at Prisca—in between the glances he stole at her breasts—I would gut him. Perhaps then, his son would be more open to an alliance.

Currently, the king was using this time to taunt Prisca. It would be so, so easy to remove his head from his body. And yet, it would simply create more complications.Thiswas why my brother didn’t send me for these kinds of political maneuverings. And why I was the weapon he pointed at our enemies instead.

Something dark settled in my gut at the thought.

“We have an alliance with the Eprothan king,” Eryndan was saying, and I lifted my head, watching as he took a hefty bite of creamed potato. “An uneasy alliance, but an agreement not to wage war on the other.”

Prisca stared at him, condemnation gleaming in her eyes. “Tell me, Your Majesty, do thegodstake your people’s power in this kingdom?”

Eryndan’s expression turned sly. “No, I didn’t make any such agreements with the gods.” His lips twitched, and Prisca’s hand tightened around her knife. “However,” Eryndan continued, “while there have been some…distasteful aspects of Sabium’s great lie, there is no denying the positive outcomes.”

The table went silent. Even Rekja placed his fork back on his plate.

“The positive outcomes?” Prisca breathed, and I had to fight the urge to reach for her hand beneath the table. I wanted to pull her into my arms. Right after I speared Eryndan with enough lightning to make him dance as he died.

“Sometimes, great power is found in the most surprising places. Why should that power be wasted in tiny villages by small-minded peasants when it could be used for the greater good?”

The blood had drained from Prisca’s cheeks. Anyone who looked at her right now would assume she was exactly what she appeared to be. Weak.

And yet I recognized the wrath in her eyes. Eryndan didn’t realize it yet, but he wasn’t long for this world. Someday, no matter how long it took, Prisca would see him dead.

I hoped I’d get to see it.

“And how many hybrids did you send back to Regner?” Her voice was lifeless now.

“Countless,” he hissed. “What could your people do for me, except die in new and unusual ways and keep Regner occupied?”

Her eyes glittered with a restrained wrath. “Was that why the Gromalians didn’t step in when Sabium attacked my kingdom?”

“You’d have to ask my grandfather, who sadly passed not long after that little skirmish.” He wagged his finger at her, obviously enjoying himself now. “If I were you,Hybrid Heir, I wouldn’t go counting your thrones before you’re sitting on them.”

I’d promised Prisca I would leash my temper. So far, this conversation was going the way we’d anticipated. But I looked forward to the day Eryndan took his last breath.

Prisca gave Eryndan a cool smile that made me want to kiss her. “You’ll forgive me if I don’t take advice from a man who is waiting to drop to one knee for Regner.”

The smile fell from Eryndan’s face. Across the table, Rekja sent me a warning look.

“Why don’t you ask yourself where the fae were?” Eryndan suggested. “Those with such similar life-spans and power to your hybrids? Those who once shared a kingdom with you?”

Prisca’s eyes met mine, and I held her gaze, keeping my voice carefully neutral as we’d agreed. “Not helping our hybrid cousins remains my people’s greatest shame.”

The messenger I’d bribed slipped into the room, whispering in my ear. I didn’t so much as glance Prisca’s way. She knew what this meant.

“If you know what is good for you, you will disappear.” Eryndan smiled at Prisca. “Run, and hope that time magic of yours keeps you safe for at least a few years. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to pop out a few heirs of your own, and perhaps one day, they’ll have more success swaying allies to your side.”

Fury flashed across Prisca’s face. But her eyes flooded with tears. Even knowing her reaction was planned, I wanted to slit Eryndan’s throat.