“It’s not possible,” he said, hands involuntarily squeezing her hips.
“It is. And I killed them for it.”
Breicher’s eyes flared, and Caroline spun in his arms, so she was facing him, leaning against the vanity. “You killed the Gods?”
Instead of answering, she said, “I know how deeply ingrained your hatred of Everstal, of my family is. But everything we’ve been taught is a lie. If you would believe that we could change things for this world. Together.”
“What are you saying, Caroline?” A sick sinking feeling rooted in his gut, and he stepped back.
She took a ginger step forward and placed her outstretched palms on his stomach. “Yes, I made the monsters who created the rift between our kingdoms pay. They are no more and I’m not sorry. I know you’re conflicted about me. Trust me, I feel the same about you, but we could set all that aside.”
“So what? You’re planning on being some type of savior now?” Breicher scoffed. “I know what you’re up to and I won’t be another pawn in one of your games.”
Breicher’s rebuff was practically a growl and Caroline started at the aggressive tone. She had to make one more effort, for her own sake. She didn’t like the weak sound of her own voice as she practically begged him, but if there was anyone she’d lower herself for, she supposed it should be him. The man she would make her king.
“I know it isn’t what you want. That they’re your family, but as long as they want me dead and continue to keep our kingdoms at odds, then I must do this.”
“What you are suggesting is a worse betrayal than marrying you. You’re crazy if you think I’d agree to it.”
Caroline ran her hands up his chest and threaded them through the hair at his neck, which had grown out since she imprisoned him. The deep, rich brown a juxtaposition against her cool skin. His pulse throbbed under his warm skin as he warred with himself. If the fates had charted a different course for them, they’d have been so good together. She craned her neck up toward him and stood on the tips of her toes to press a soft kiss into his chiseled jaw and he sucked in a breath. “Please, Breicher. For me? For what could be?”
He wrapped his long fingers around her wrists and yanked her hands from around his neck, shoving them at her. “As if I’d do anything for you.”
The hopeful facade melted from her gaze, and she let her ire replace it, free for him to see. And by the narrowing of his eyes, he did see it. “Fine. Have it your way. You should have been smart enough to know I’d take Veetula anyway, with or without your consent. I guess how gentle I’ll be doing it is the only thing to be decided now.”
Her future king’s wheels turned, expression flipping from disgust, to fear, regret, then rage as the opportunity drifted away from him. At least if he’d allied with her, she’d have let him have some say. Storming over to her wardrobe, she grabbed a pair of low heels, slung them on and headed out the door, not waiting to see if he followed.
Once in her war room, she stole a glance back to see the man trailing after her. Angus was already inside and a few other advisors. “Prince Breicher has elected not to have any say in this council meeting in favor of loyalty. He is here to provide us with information only. Shall we begin?” She jerked a hand toward the seat next to the one she’d taken, urging Breicher to sit. He obliged.
Angus had a barely concealed,I told you so, scrawled across his serious features. Rarely were she and her commander at odds, but the subtle expression made her blood churn almost as much as the indolent man next to her. Breicher was still reeling from the vindictive way she’d thrown their engagement at him, but he had tried to kill her. Why did the men in her life have to be so impossible? Though she supposed being surrounded by a bunch ofYES menwouldn’t have pleased her either.
“This would be a lot smoother if I’d have been right,commander,” she hissed, and Angus flinched. She wasn’t sorry. “Now I’m going to have to either use threats of violence or compulsion to get my future husband to talk. Which shall it be, my love?”
It wasn’t how she’d wanted it to go, but that didn’t stop her from the giddy elated feeling that chittered up her spine as all the eyes in the room focused on the blanched prince.
He glared at her. “You wouldn’t…”
She huffed a laugh. “You know I would,” she lied. But he didn’t need to know her bluff. And she’d rather not compel him. Keeping the Veetula royal family alive served two purposes. A wedding gift to her husband to be, and an offering of good faith to the people. The Ivanslohe’s were well liked enough, certainly more than her though she didn’t see why, and she’d use their surrender. The way she planned to make it seem like they were working together would endear her to Veetula’s citizens.
He crossed his arms, and for a moment, she thought she was going to have to do it. “Breicher, stop being tiresome.” She shoved a stack of drawing paper and a few pieces of charcoal over to him. “The first thing we need to know is the layout of the entire castle. When you’re finished and Angus is satisfied, you’ll detail the location of every last Rosenwood tree.”
Her prince leaned forward and picked up a stick of charcoal, studying it. “What do you plan to do with the information?”
“Pity, Breicher. You’ve lost the right to that knowledge, too. And I gave you a choice. Now draw.”
Angus repressed a grin. The man had it coming. Prince Breicher had frozen, waiting for the compulsion to trickle across his flesh. But none came. In her own way, his queen was giving the man a choice now still. The prince’s face was screwed up into a calculating expression. He thought there was still a chance for him to change the tide. To get Caroline to change her mind. He obviously didn’t know her that well. Once she decided something, she didn’t alter her course. Angus shook his head, looking between the two royals—at the battle of wills they were engaged in. It was futile. Caroline would win. She’d beaten the Gods. The foolhardy Johnneth didn’t truly understand what he was up against.
Breicher, Angus corrected himself. He should have known the characterJohnneth’smotives weren’t true. Particularly when he’d seemed a little dissenting and weak in the knees at that last Petition. But Caroline wouldn’t listen. If he’d never presented the man as an option for her selection, none of this would have happened. But maybe it was a good thing. He didn’t know if the god-like woman sitting before him was invincible, but he figured she was as close as a human could get. And she was on some mission to join the two kingdoms after what she’d learned. At least they didn’t have to take the threats against her life as seriously anymore. But the truth was his queen’s entanglement with this foreign prince was his fault, regardless of whether what had happened to her had been a good thing, and now he’d bear the consequences of this guard, this assassin prince, being elevated to be her king.
Breicher leaned over to her, and Angus perked up. What sure to fail request was he going to make? “Caroline, can I talk to you in private?”he asked.
“Draw, I said,” Caroline demanded, and Angus grinned, loving his friend’s ruthlessness. Her hands were white knuckled around the wooden arms of the chair she occupied.
“Caroline, please. We can work something out,” Breicher whispered, flicking an annoyed glance his way. Then the prince reached for Caroline’s wrist, but she batted his hand away.
This was getting old already. “Just compel him and let’s get this over with,” Angus groaned, running his hand down his face, squeezing his eyes shut with the gesture.
“Promise me you won’t kill them?” Breicher asked, and Angus almost felt sorry for the man.
