Page 5

The man bowed and spun away, but it wasn’t relief in his eyes.

It was calculation.

* * *

Ria frozeat the king’s words, and her attention locked on her father as he strode her way. His lips were pinched in a thin line, and his piercing gaze would have incinerated her on the spot if he’d been capable. Oh, she was going to hurt later. He wouldn’t kill her, of course, but she would wish he had. If she were lucky, the kings wouldn’t cancel their commission over this, since her father would need her skill for the task. That might save her some agony.

Belak gripped her upper arm and tugged her to the side of the room, as far from anyone else as he could get under the circumstances. He leaned close, his hand still on her arm as though offering comfort. But with his back to the others, he gave his fury free reign across the landscape of his face.

“What have you done?” he demanded in a low, terrible voice.

“Nothing,” Ria answered, although she knew that was partly a lie. “You’ve been with me the whole time.”

Belak’s nostrils flared. “I knew there was something strange about your interaction with Enry. You planned this, didn’t you?”

Her heart pounded hard in her ears, and her hands went cold. “No.”

She had, of course, but not in the way he likely thought—which he confirmed with his next words.

“You let him bed you,” her father snarled. “He was far too familiar with you. But if you think to see me imprisoned so you can be together, then I promise you will pay. And if he got you with child, they’ll pay, too. You’ll both be mine until you’ve repaid me the indignity of having a human-blooded child.”

Ria sagged in his hold. How had her plan gone so awry? She hadn’t considered a spell that could detect such small amounts of dangerous herbs when she’d taken the bundle from Enry. She should have risked a second trip. Now, all would be lost. At any moment, the healer would identify the herb Enry had included beneath the dye.

“I’ve found a small amount ofelek terin, Your Majesties,” the healer said, just in time to seal her doom. “It is not usually included with royal green dye, and there is not enough to cause death. Unconsciousness near to death, perhaps.”

Her breath expelled in a rush, but the sound was buried beneath her father’s harsh curse. “Was that for you or me?”

“I would never harm you or anyone,” Ria said, well aware her words weren’t a true answer.

“When we return home—”

“Silence.”

The king didn’t shout, but the word was delivered with such authority that even her father complied. Belak spun around to face the kings, his fingers digging into her arm until tears gathered in her eyes. Now, she could see High King Toren’s hard expression as he pinned them both with a glare, and any hint of hope died.

Then again, if they didn’t believe in her innocence, at least she would be imprisoned away from her father. Being stuck in an iron-barred cell sounded like a blessing compared to the beating she would receive at home. Even death would be better than centuries more of that.

* * *

Toren had heardevery word of the foul man’s diatribe, and it was all he could do to keep his power leashed. He wanted to rip Belak away from Ria with one quick flex of magic, but he resisted. This had to be handled the right way. No good would come of being hasty.

“I will give each of you permission to plead your case,” Toren said, struggling to keep his tone even. “And I warn you not to offer me falsehoods.”

Belak swung his daughter around until she was nearly in front of him, almost as though he meant to use her as a physical shield. “I believe Ria intended to use that herb to harm or kill me so she could leave with her lover.”

Toren lifted an eyebrow. “There was not enough of the substance to kill. Do you have other evidence of this plot?”

“She and the dye merchant exchanged heated glances when the package was handed over, and their words were overly familiar.” Belak’s hold tightened, and the woman winced, prodding Toren’s fury to new heights. “She would love nothing more than to ruin me.”

“Need I remind you,” Toren began smoothly, “That no one is required to serve another in this kingdom? Your daughter may take any lover she wishes, and she has no need of poison to leave if she so desires.”

Belak hesitated, no doubt searching for some new lie to weave. Or perhaps he realized how much he had revealed—and to whom. “She owes me a debt that must be repaid.”

At Toren’s side, Mehl stirred. “Physical service to satisfy a debt is not allowed.”

“She is willing.” Belak turned a strange, angry-but-pleading look upon his daughter. “It is our tradition. Right, Ria?”

The woman in question went still, her gaze on Toren instead of her father. Fear radiated from her so strongly that Toren could feel it despite the grip he held on his power. What would she do? Belak gave her the slightest shake, and her eyes grew so wide and her breath heaved so harshly that he was certain she was about to give in.