“I beg your pardon—I meant no offense.” She rose quickly, then sank back, remembering the king’s presence.
“He claims he wanted to go through with it?” His thigh flexed beneath my touch. “That he wanted to wed her?”
“It was his duty.”
Fallione groaned, eyes closing in despair.
“Hisduty,” Kallias repeated. “That boy has never known the weight of duty in his life.” He rose, chairs rattling as guests scrambled to stand.
“Sarai, I am uncertain where your loyalties lie. Until proven, Elwood shall rule Lon at your side. When I return, if you cannot swear allegiance to the Chosen of the Gods, you and Mai will be removed from the Lon lineage.”
No one breathed as he offered me his arm, anger flashing across his face. I’d never seen him so unguarded in public—always so cold and calculating. The only time I witnessed him lose his temper was when Tallon almost struck me.
Me.
He was upsetforme.
Gripping him tight, I let my husband lead me from the hall without a parting word.
Chapter Fourteen
Kallias
He dared to twist my faith against me, pit my gods against her dragons. Now the thing meant to protect my kingdom stood as a monument to my perceived doubt.
“Kallias.”
And then he announced his intent to wed Nienna, as if it were his duty! Which it had been—but that somehow made it cut deeper. Guilt gnawed at me. He used seeds of truth to sow discord across my nation, and my own actions watered them.
“Kallias.”
My eye twitched, and I hauled my queen down the hall and out onto a balcony, scrubbing at the involuntary spasm. A hand dragged down my face as I leaned over the balustrade. The world tilted. I straightened, fixing my attention on the horizon until it steadied.
“You knew he would lie.” Nienna’s voice was hushed, a balm to my inner torment as she guided my gaze to hers. Small hands slid up my chest, the chains of my mantle catching the light against her skin.
“It isn’t the deceit that bothers me.” I jerked my chin toward Greaves, and he shut the door, granting us a fragile semblance of privacy. “It’s the truth buried beneath it.”
Her gaze dropped to my collar, teeth worrying her bottom lip. “For any lie to hold, it needs a grain of truth.”
I couldn’t shake it. In Draconia, I fought for her hand—proved my honor. We were accepted, or at least those who disapproved learned to hold their tongues.
Perhaps that was the wound. My own people couldn’t seem to trust me. Draconis insults slid off easily—but harsh words from those I loved and cherished cut far deeper.
And it hurt more than I wanted to admit.
“What are you afraid of?”
My brows slammed into a hard frown, and my body locked beneath her hands. “Afraid of?”
“They cannot hurt me.” She stepped closer, her chest pressing to mine as her arms circled me. “I can fend for myself.”
No, fear for her was not the issue. She deserved respect, yes, but she would earn it as any queen must.
“You’re the Dragon’s Heart. I’m hardly concerned for your safety among nobles whose sharpest weapons are whispers.”
“Then what is it?” She studied my face, head tilting. “You never lose decorum when you mean to be gentle. I know you. When kindness and strength are required, no one can provoke you. Yet something shook you. Tallon’s lies were expected.”
A breath pulled deep into my lungs. An ache bloomed behind my eyes, smoke or strain or both.
