Page 148 of Esperance

She couldn’t let him find her knife. She might be able to use it later.

The man who held her spun her back to face the room.

Samuel was beating out the flames with a lap blanket that had been thrown over a couch.

Tam’s chest rose and fell quickly in the silver moonlight, her shock, pain, anger, and betrayal all twisting together as she stared at Amryn. “You would have killed me.” She actually looked surprised.

“Please, Tam. You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to kill anyone. Argent is not the enemy—”

“Spare me your delusions,” Tam ground out. “Everything is already in motion. Esperance will be the most noteworthy failure of the emperor’s life. This whole place is going to be a tomb. Everyone who doesn’t walk out with me is already dead. They just don’t know it yet.”

The malice, the sick cunning, the glee . . . it made Amryn’s stomach heave. “What have you done?”

Tam’s eyes glittered in the silver light that streamed through the windows. “I hope you enjoyed the wine, Amryn. I’m afraid I didn’t get a chance to sample it.”

Amryn’s stomach dipped. “Youpoisonedus?”

“I couldn’t leave anything to chance. You’ll probably start feeling the effects of it soon.” Tam’s slow grin was chilling. “Carver will die, waiting for an assassin that will never come. And while I want to kill Jayveh with my own hands—andoh, do I have plans for Argent—it really doesn’t matter if something stops me from personally killing them. Because regardless of what happens next . . . they’re already dead. You all are.”

Samuel’s breath caught. “Sadia.” He jerked toward the door, but one of the guards pulled out a wicked-looking knife. Samuel stilled, his empty hands clenching at his sides. He turned on Tam. “You lied,” he hissed. “You said Sadia would be safe if I did everything you asked—”

“That’s not exactly what I said,” Tam said, lifting a finger. “I said I’d let you be together. And you will be—when you’re both dead.”

Samuel’s devastation was crippling. “You said only a few people had to die. That’s all you ever said!”

“Hmm . . .” She tapped a finger against her lips. “You know, I think you’re right. I did say that. I guess Ididlie.”

“You’re a monster.” Samuel vibrated with hatred and fury and terror. “You’re insane—the Rising wouldn’t wantthis!”

Tam’s eyes sharpened. “Don’t youdarepresume to tell me what the Rising would want. You’re as much a traitor as Amryn is!”

“He’s right,” Amryn said, her lungs feeling crushed beneath the arms banded around her. “The Rising had a methodical plan. Copying the seals—”

“My plan is better,” Tam cut in. “In fact, I wish I would have deviated sooner. I might have killed the emperor while he was still here. But he did have a heavy guard, and I suppose this works better in the end. I’ll still get the seals, and I’ve taken a few other things as well. It doesn’t matter that the Rising didn’t ask me to killeveryone—they can’t argue the fact that this will be a blow to the empire. Families will revolt after so many nobles and heirs are slaughtered here, and the kingdoms will fracture further apart. The Rising will be perfectly poised to destroy the empire once and for all. But enough talk.” Tam swept a hand over her skirt. “It’s time to end this.”

Samuel lunged for her, his empty hands clawed.

A guard rushed forward before he could even touch Tam.

A knife flashed in the moonlight before it was buried in Samuel’s gut.

Amryn doubled over from the pain, a shudder wracking her as Samuel fell, clutching the knife still lodged inside him.

His breaths were sharp, panicked, and filled with agony.

Tam sighed. “I suppose you’ll be the first to die tonight. Don’t worry. Sadia will join you soon.” She looked to the man holding Amryn. “Bring her. I want her to witness the end.”

Chapter 38

Carver

Ford stood beside Carver, sipping wineas he tried to look taller than he was. He wore Argent’s scarlet and gold mask, and he’d re-entered the room dressed as the prince only moments before.

It was almost midnight.

Music still played. The roar of conversation and laughter rang against the high ceiling. The crowd was as lively as ever, despite the lateness of the hour.

“I don’t see Samuel,” Ford murmured. They were both doing their best to be seen, but not look overly approachable, as if they were attempting a short reprieve from the celebration. This would hopefully keep anyone from discovering that Ford wasn’t Argent.