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He let out a laugh. The warmness of it startled me.

“And you?” he asked. “What will you get out of this?”

Freedomwas the wrong word. It felt cheap and coated my tongue with bitterness.

The truth was, I got nothing out of this. When I was sent back to my family, there was no telling what my punishment for breaking the prophecy would be.

But for Aurelia…I would risk it all.

I had watched her destroy herself over the time I had been her guard. I thought the magic poisoning was the worst that could happen, but no. It was the steady deterioration of the light in her eyes.

And she had fully given into her fate.But not me.

I hated the prophecies. Hated the witches who thought they could scam people with them. Worst of all, I despised the people who followed fate blindly. Notoncetrying to change it.

But I wouldn’t hold it against the princess. She was cornered, never having seen a way out for the entirety of her existence.

I could forge this path for her, but I wouldn’t be able to see her through it.

Maybe if I had just taken her up on murdering him, she would have it easier.

“I want to be discharged from Prince Icas’s service,” I said. “I want to be sent home. That is all.”

He leaned forward, his eyes searching my face.

“You just brought to light one of the greatest betrayals this kingdom has ever seen…and you want to go home? No riches? A position in my ranks?”

Never.If I truly had my way, I would want nothing to do with the Castle family. But the damage had already been done since the first time my prophecy was uttered.

“It’s as simple as that, sir,” I replied, keeping my expression ice cold.

Believe me. Please.I didn’t know who I was sending a prayer out to, but I hoped even just one god was listening.

A smirk spread across his face.

“And you, handmaiden?” he asked, his gaze falling on her. “What do you have to say about this? Have you been helping the prince steal people right from under my nose?”

I turned to Melia as well. Hesitantly, she lifted her gaze to him.

“Don’t look at me,” he spat, all warmth leaving his voice. “If it’s true, you’re a traitor. I don’t want you to even look at me.”

She quickly looked back down, her shaky breathing filling the room.

“Your Majesty, I wouldn-neverattempt to harm the family?—”

His fist slammed down on his side table, and the sound, along with a pained squeal from the woman at his side, echoed throughout the room.

“Don’t try to placate me,” he growled. I looked up just in time to catch him getting out of his bed and crossing the room to stand over Melia.

I thanked whatever god was listening that he was wearing loose pajama pants.

His hand shot down to her hair, and he yanked her face up.

Jesus.I didn’t want to see him hurt her, but it was even harder to look away when I knew that she had played a part in Aurelia’s possible demise.

I hated her almost as much as the prince.

“She may never have meant you harm,” I said. “But she listened to the traitor. She did his dirty work. All under your nose. They tried to play you for a fool.”