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How could Ria be so matter of fact? Toren glanced between the women, only to find Tes studying Ria with equal surprise. Clearly no one, including the princess, had expected Ria to become the woman’s champion. Then again, Riahadbeen caught carrying poison into Toren’s and Mehl’s private rooms on their first meeting. Perhaps it inclined her to examine the undercurrents of any supposed wrongdoing with more care.

“Your plan has potential,” Toren allowed. “But I’ll hear the full tale from the princess before I decide.”

Her teeth tugging at her lower lip, Tes squirmed in her chair. “So you’ll not be executing me and then delivering my body to some mysterious ‘family’ before the day is out? You did make the offer to Lord Aony.”

He lifted his brows. “I did not. I asked if that was what he preferred I do, but I never said I would follow through with his demand. In truth, your ‘body’ has already been delivered to family.Us.Even if you prove treacherous after all, I will not have you executed.”

A squeeze on his shoulder heralded Mehl’s movement a heartbeat before his husband slipped around him to claim a seat near Tes. Toren longed to ease his own tired body in much the same way, but family or not, he couldn’t bring himself to relax in front of the princess. Not until he knew the truth of her plan.

“Will you reveal the whole story now?” Mehl asked Tes. “Or should I activate the terms of the oathbinding?”

Tes flinched. “Please don’t. I’ll tell you everything. Upon my word.”

Dread filled Toren at the quiet but insistent statement. He already knew he wasn’t going to like what she revealed.

Chapter37

Storytime

“It isn’t as sordid a tale as you might expect,” Tes said softly, the heavy sadness in her voice pinching Ria’s heart. “Not considering the way it has turned out.”

But it was likely to be a long one, Ria suspected. She moved back a little and sat on the arm of Mehl’s chair. Thankfully, this seat was as comfortable as Tes’s, so it was no inconvenience—and when Mehl’s hand circled her waist to keep her balanced, it became a pleasure. Only Toren remained standing, his posture as stiff as his expression.

Toren’s lips pinched together. “That is difficult to believe.”

“I understand, but I give my word that I’m telling the truth,” Tes replied. “And the truth is, this began centuries ago when Ber first came to Centoi. We were both quite young, and I saw…or thought I saw…a kindness in him that everyone else overlooked. He was the first person to view me as something beyond a remote, precious ‘jewel’ of the kingdom. Because of him, I learned ways to cloak myself from others well enough to explore the palace more freely. Without expectations. And he taught me to defend myself.”

Mehl’s fingers tensed against Ria’s waist. “He trained you in combat?”

The princess nodded. “As best he could. We were friends. I was devastated when he returned here after his fostering. Then he came back to Centoi a couple of centuries ago when he was banished from here. He said little publicly, but he told my father and I that High King Toren was at risk of going mad from too much power. My father offered him quarter while he determined what to do.”

Ria could see the scene clearly enough to anticipate where her story was going. The prince had used Tes’s loneliness to gain sympathy, and then he’d drawn her into his plans. She suspected poor Toren had guessed the same, for he had such an air of lonely, painful anticipation around him. If he hadn’t been likely to rebuff comfort in front of Tes, Ria would have gone to him.

“I do not believe he was in Centoi the entire time,” Toren said tightly.

“That’s true.” The princess’s fingers picked at the thin, plain fabric of her borrowed gown. “He did travel around, but for the most part, he’s remained in our palace for the last decade or so. Our friendship grew. And deepened. We fell in love. I…I thought.”

Ria’s heart twisted. “I’m sorry,” she couldn’t stop herself from saying.

Tes gave a quick, sad smile. “Thank you. As am I. It brings me deep grief to see the depths of the deception. He told me so many things about High King Toren, but mostly that his magic was a danger to anyone who came in close contact with him. Ber claimed to worry for King Mehl, and he was certain that Toren would kill any woman he ordered to bear his child. That’s why Ber waited until it was nearly too late to issue his challenge for the throne. He hoped you either wouldn’t bother or would be unable to find someone suitable in time.”

“And in the event he was wrong, he sent you as some kind of savior for any woman I might have trapped?” Toren demanded.

The low hum of Toren’s magic thrummed against Ria’s shields in increasing waves, and Tes squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. “Could you…could you sit? Your magic alone is making me nervous, but to have you hovering…”

Ever so subtly, Toren flinched, but then his face went so cold and remote that Ria expected him to refuse. But to her surprise, the High King eyed the closest chair, a less comfortable looking but lighter seat, before sliding it nearer. He sat stiffly, almost as though passing judgment from his throne, but at least the waves of his magic receded.

“I’m not sure I really knew the plan,” Tes finally continued. “Only what was disclosed. You see, when I told Ber that I was pregnant, he was adamant that we should wed in secret, and because of the baby, my father agreed. Ber claimed that you would interfere in our wedding, possibly even by harming me, but despite the stories, I thought that sounded rather extreme. I wanted to issue the invitation in person. Maybe even see if the two of you could make amends. But Ber said you would have him executed if he accompanied me. Thenhesuggested I disguise myself as a herald for Lord Aony while the invitation was delivered so that I could judge you for myself.”

A small V appeared between Toren’s eyebrows. “I can’t imagine that my response to the invitation confirmed such terrible rumors about me.”

Ria felt a pinch of regret that she’d been packing up her former home when Tes’s group had arrived. “What happened?”

“Nothing,” Toren bit out. “I accepted the invitation and offered lodging.”

“But your magic…” Mehl began.

Tes nodded sharply. “Yes, that. Your voice turned frigid, and your energy pulsed through the room like the side of a blade slapped against a palm. Ready to cut at any moment. It was exactly what Ber described happening before one of your rages.”