Chapter Twenty-Four
Valeris
Iknew my uncle wouldbe angry.
But I hadn’t anticipated the ferocity of a polar bear to hit me full force.
“You let them go?”he roared.
I threw a side glance at him.“Calm down, Uncle, getting upset like this can’t be good for your heart.You could have an attack.”
His red face shifted into a deep purple.
I held up a hand.“Let me explain myself before you grow horns.”
He clenched his jaw, but I suspected it was more to keep himself from exploding than it was to let me get my explanation out.I was replaying the conversation in my mind, picturing the uncertainty hiding behind her blue eyes, the fluttering pulse at her neck exposing her nervousness.
“Analleia Kallistar’s family was murdered by an ambassador after the last Paravellian Balls.She is here to kill that man, but isn’t certain of his identity because of how young she was when it happened.You were nearly poisoned because she was told you had information about the identity of the killer.”
“Whotold them I had information about the killer?”
I shrugged.“She didn’t say.”
“That didn’t seem like an important question to ask?”
“You’re the brother of the king,” I said.“You would have more knowledge about attendees than most.”
“She openly admitted she came here to murder someone and you let her go?”
“You should know better than anyone, Uncle, that the court will do anything but dole out justice—especially if a reputation is on the line.”My voice hardened.“Sometimes an individual has to take justice into their own hands to make sure a person reaps the consequences of the crimes, either through imprisonment...”I swallowed.“Or execution.”
Remorse overcame the anger encompassing his face, and I questioned if I’d taken it too far.
“I’m having the incident from five years ago looked into,” I continued.“We keep records from every Paravellian Ball.If her parents were here and she’s telling the truth, it shouldn’t be difficult to figure out.That would also increase our chances of finding who it is she is looking for that committed the crime.”
“The guest lists are not consistent every five years.It’s possible whoever killed her family isn’t even in attendance this time.”
“It’s possible,” I said.“But that will be difficult to determine until we have more information.”
“And you’re going to remain casually acquainted with this girl to help her figure it out?”
I laughed.“Oh no, in exchange for allowing her to attend the final three balls, she is now my personal spy.She’s going to do whatever I ask and help me undermine my siblings.”
He stared at me.“Please tell me you didn’t make an alliance with your enemy, someone who freely admitted they were attending the balls to commit a murder.”
I threw him a confused expression.“You’re the one who has always told me keep your friends close and your—”
“Enemies closer.I know my own words, boy,” he snarled.
“You seemed to have forgotten them a moment ago.She’s a conundrum, one I’m not sure is being entirely honest with me, and I plan to figure out what it is she’s hiding.But enough of that for now.”I sank farther into the couch, letting my eyes drift closed for a short rest.“Have you any news of my siblings or the late Rivero?”
“Nothing on Rivero.”Disappointment filled his voice.
From what I understood, Rivero was the only other sibling who had held any kind of respect for my uncle.Most of what I knew of him were the letters the two of them exchanged every few months.
“It’s been weeks.”A question hovered in my statement.Weeks implied we should have had time to find at leastsomething.
Analleia had also promised me information she had yet to deliver on.
