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Through all of Edward’s speech , Ahnna clung to her composure. But as the masses of nobles lifted glasses and voices to shout “Huzzah,” her control fractured, because she sensed that Edward’s alliance with Cardiff was but the tip of what would be revealed tonight.

You will be queen, she chanted to herself. No matter what he does, you will one day be able to undo it.

Part of her wanted to flee. The other to lash out in violence. Yet all she did was stand frozen as Edward again held up his hand for silence.

What more could he possibly have to say?

“James is not the only son of my blood whose efforts will yield great dividends for Harendell,” Edward said. “Which, as you all suspect, is why we have gathered here tonight.”

Chin up, Ahnna screamed at herself. As queen, you will have the power to remedy this. You need only bide your time.

“I am so pleased to announce that this morning, my son William took a bride,” Edward said.

What?

Ahnna’s blood turned to ice even as Alexandra gasped out, “Edward, what have you done?”

He ignored her and said, “Allow me to formally announce the union of hearts that forms the final piece of our alliance with Cardiff. Please welcome Harendell’s heir and his new bride, Princess Lestara of Cardiff.”

Only willpower kept Ahnna on her feet, her knees shaking violently beneath the leather of her skirts as everything fell apart.

You failed Ithicana.

Again.

William entered the ballroom with Lestara on his arm, the Cardiffian princess no longer dressed in the garments of her captors but in a gown of watered silk trimmed in fur and a headdress from which dangled charms and bird skulls.

Bird skulls just like the one she’d found in the throne room.

William ignored Ahnna as he walked past, but Lestara turned her head, mouth silently moving with the words, I’m sorry.

A knife to the chest would have been better.

They stepped onto the dais, William’s face a self-satisfied smirk and Lestara’s unreadable, but it was not at them everyone was staring.

It was at Ahnna.

Every eye in the room was on her, every goddamned one, not an ounce of sympathy or guilt in the lot of them. Only the predatory gleam of those who smelled weakness like sharks smelled blood in the water, all of them waiting to see if she would flee or fight back.

The very same question Ahnna asked herself.

Edward’s expression was faintly irritated, as though he’d hoped his people would merely forget about her. As though she were dirt easily swept beneath a rug.

Ahnna refused to be so easily dismissed. “I did not realize Harendell was so faithless,” she said. “Nor that its king’s word was worth no more than that of Silas Veliant, for I am coming to discover that you are two of a kind. Ithicana has long been a true and faithful ally of Harendell, our alliance allowing safe and profitable trade for both our peoples.”

There were murmurs of agreement from the masses of nobles, and Ahnna’s heart quickened with the certainty that Alexandra was right. That the people would side with Ithicana and force Edward to end this agreement with Cardiff. So she added, “You signed a treaty with my mother, and reaffirmed those terms with me.”

Edward’s gaze was frosty as he answered. “Circumstances have greatly changed in the years since that treaty was signed, and Ithicana is no longer the power it once was, courtesy of your brother’s ill-considered choices. Harendell seeks alliances that are mutually beneficial, not those that will bleed its people of their hard-earned profits and offer nothing in return.” Edward drew in a deep breath. “I hold you in the highest of esteem, Ahnna, but your worth is not commensurate with my son’s, whereas Lestara’s most certainly is.”

She wanted to scream that Lestara was a faithless traitor who’d caused the death of thousands. But the Cardiffian princess wasn’t the villain here. Wasn’t the one who’d lied to her face time and again, pretending to be her friend while he conspired behind her back.

Yet all around her, the nobles were nodding as though the king spoke sense, and Ahnna knew that she would not win this battle of words. Squaring her shoulders, Ahnna said, “It is your right to make this decision, Your Grace. But do not think for a moment that you won’t pay for it.”

Lifting her skirt hem with one hand, Ahnna turned and strode from the ballroom.

The second she was clear of the doors, her stoicism crumbled, her breath coming in too-fast gasps as she headed to her room, every part of her wanting to run.

“Ahnna!”

His voice was a punch to the gut, and her control snapped. Snatching her skirts up higher, Ahnna broke into a sprint.

“Ahnna, wait!”

She reached the grand staircase, taking the steps two at a time, then she was racing down the corridor. Her room was no haven, yet she ran for it anyway, needing to be away from everyone.

Needing to be away from him.

Then hands caught her around the waist. James lifted her off her feet and pressed her against the wall. She shoved him away, nearly falling as her heel caught on the gown.

“Ahnna, I didn’t know.”

“Liar!” she screamed, then pulled her arm back and punched him in the face. Pain blossomed across her knuckles, but though she might well have cracked his cheekbone, James barely swayed on his feet.

“Would you listen to me?”

“You listen to me!” Her hands remained in fists, blood dripping off the knuckles of her right hand. “I trusted you with everything, and you used that information against me by telling your father Ithicana was weak. You knew how important this was, not just for Ithicana but for me. You knew, and still you—” She broke off, unable to say it. “You watched me make a fool of myself trying to be everything William wanted while you fuckers secretly conspired to wed him to Lestara!”

“I didn’t know about his plans to wed Will to Lestara,” he replied. “I was as much in the dark on that as you.”

“You think I’m such a fool to believe that you didn’t know there were plans for William to marry your cousin ?” She pressed her hands to her face. “Of course you think that. I believed every other bloody word that came out of your mouth.”

“Ahnna, I didn’t want this.” James caught hold of her wrists, pulling her hands from her face. “This wasn’t what I was trying to accomplish. My father…He’s more obsessed with avenging my mother than I knew. He doesn’t care about trade or any of the things I fought for, only for destroying Amarid, and he’s giving my uncle everything he wants in order to achieve it.”

She jerked her wrists out of his grip. “Maybe that’s so,” she hissed. “But it doesn’t change that you made me yours with lies on your lips. If you come near me again, if any of you come near me again, I’ll kill you all. I swear it.”