Page 9 of A Promise of Lies (Shadows of the Tenebris Court #3)

8

Bastian

A s the group on the balcony dispersed, my mind was already racing ahead to my report to Braea, though I dared a glance at Kat. The tension ratcheting her polite smile mirrored what was running through my body.

“Well, that went worse than I expected.” Asher sighed.

“Absolute shit-show. Let’s go home.” I turned to go.

“Home?” Cyrus chuckled, and for a moment I thought he’d overheard us, but he was looking from the register to his brother. “You’ve written your home address in here. You’re not planning to leave the palace, are you?”

Catching Asher’s arm, I lingered.

Sepher stiffened in that way only a prince who’d rarely been denied could. “Why not?”

“Despite what you are, until I have a child, you’re my heir.” Cyrus canted his head as if this was all obvious and expected. “And we can’t have any harm befalling my dear brother , can we? We need to consider safety more than ever after Father’s tragic demise.”

The shapechanger’s shoulders strained against his shirt as he started towards the king, when another voice rose.

“Surely Sepher can go home.” From the far side of the balcony approached their mother, Dowager Queen Meredine. She gave an appeasing smile, though her cheeks were pale. Her deep green hair didn’t seem as smooth as usual, as though it missed the crown she’d worn for so long. It had been removed after Lucius’s death and sat somewhere in the Dawn coffers, awaiting Cyrus’s consort. “No harm is going to befall him in his own palace.”

“ No harm ? The man was almost assassinated there mere months ago. Or have you forgotten?” Cyrus shook his head, beckoning Adra.

Sepher huffed like the whole thing was ridiculous.

“It wasn’t that serious,” Meredine tried to argue, but Cyrus’s attention was on his assistant.

“She had an iron blade, Mother.” He turned back to her with a slow, sad smile and patted her shoulder. “But I can’t blame you for not understanding. Adra, kindly ensure my mother is escorted back to her rooms. I’ve overlooked her care. After all, her husband has just been brutally murdered. The poor woman mustn’t be strained with such affairs of state.”

A sickly feeling rose in my stomach as Meredine opened her mouth and managed a “but” before guards flanked her. She exhaled, shoulders sinking, and let the guards escort her away.

Fucking hells. Not only was the peace between Dusk and Dawn tenuous, but Dawn was nowhere near as stable as it had been under Lucius. At least he’d known to put on a united front within the royal family and keep their problems private. That was why he’d sent Sepher away when he’d lost the ability to hide his gift. The undesirable trait swept under the carpet.

What a fucking mess.

All we needed now was for Sura to make her move and then we’d have a full house of disasters. It would be perfect timing for her and the worst for us.

Ironic that a fake Hydra Ascendant attack might be the thing to pave the way for the real thing.

“What did you do that for?” Sepher towered over Cyrus now the guards had moved away. “It wasn’t ‘almost.’”

Cyrus eyed Zita, scoffing. “An earnest attempt, though. I’d much rather have you here when I can watch over you personally. For your own safety, of course.”

This could be a chance for me to get Sepher out of the way—and owing me a favour.

I sidled over, gritting my teeth as coming face-to-face with Cyrus made my blood simmer. “Your Majesty’s concern is commendable, but his palace’s remote location makes it easy to secure. He’s safer there than he is wandering through Luminis.”

Sepher’s eyes narrowed as his attention slid from Cyrus to me.

“We believe we’ve cleared the city of attackers,” I explained, spreading my hands, “but there’s still the possibility some are holed up within the walls.”

Smooth smile in place, Cyrus turned to me. “Marwood, you misunderstand,” he said louder than was necessary. “I’m confident your attempts in the city have driven away any such threats. However, we’ve all heard today how one of his kind is responsible for the murder of our beloved father. Anti-shapechanger sentiments are running high. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were reprisal attacks. You see, the register isn’t just to keep innocent folk safe—it also allows us to keep an eye on shapechangers.”

Sepher’s jaw went solid, and his hand found its way to Zita’s shoulder.

“It would be a shame if something were to happen to you or your lovely wife because a well-meaning but misguided subject thought they could curry favour with me by avenging their late king upon your kind.”

It was only then I realised why he was speaking at such a volume. This was a continuation of his announcement.

Sure enough, the three of us were on display, close to the balustrade, and below, the crowd had stopped filing from the square. Hundreds of pinpricks of attention were on us.

The sickly feeling doubled, a knot in my stomach tightening.

This arsehole had just given the idea of attacking shapechangers to anyone who wanted to win his favour, making it even more dangerous for Sepher and Zita… and for every other shapechanger living in the city.

And the register would give them a checklist of names and addresses to work through. It only took one corrupt official or a guard with a grudge—they’d gladly give anyone a look through the pages.

Sepher had gone very still. He understood the barely veiled threat. Zita watched the crowd below, seeming to pick up that this was still part of the show.

“There’s no need to worry. I’ll take care of you.” Cyrus slapped him on the shoulder, a broad smile making his teeth flash in the sunlight as he turned to the city. “I’ll take care of you all .”