Page 100 of To Save a Kingdom

Sorisana raised her hand and cleared her throat. “Forgive me, Your Majesty.” She paused, waiting for Aliya’s nod before continuing. “You’re planning to expel the one ally from your land who may best guarantee your subjects survive the coming winter?”

Calling the sun elf king an ally was a stretch. Aliya studied Sorisana’s face. The similarities between it and Elessan’s tugged at her heart. “Roland isn’t going to help unless we give him more than the realm can afford.”

Zadé nodded, her face contorted into a grimace.

“I’ll just have to figure something else out.” Which she would, because there was no other option. “And if I don’t, then we’re all screwed and you elves won’t have to worry about the humans come spring.”

Three pairs of eyes stared back at her, round with disbelief.

Elessan opened his mouth. “Aliya, I—”

She held up a hand, interrupting him. “No, El. I can’t do this with you right now.” Her chest burned in impotent fury at the way her voice wobbled. Swallowing, she took a deep breath and waited for her heartbeat to settle. “I want Roland gone. Someone, anyone, please go escort him from the palace. That’ll be one less person I’ll need to worry about stabbing me in the back.”

Elessan froze as if she’d slapped him. “Can we have the room?” Elessan asked a moment later, glancing at his mother and Zadé.

Wait, what? “No,” Aliya said as the other two women backed away and slipped out the door, pulling it closed behind them.

The air hung heavy as Aliya buried her fists in her skirts to hide how tightly she was clenching them. “Whatever you have to say, El, I don’t want to hear it. Not right now.” She wasn’t ready, and truth be told, she might crumble to powder if she got one more thing piled on top of her.

He took a step closer. “Well, that’s too bad, because you need to.”

“I don’t have to do anything!” She had to fight to keep from screaming. “I am the queen, and you are in my realm.”

His face crumpled as he reached for her.

Jerking out of his reach, she stepped around the chair, placing it between them.

“Aliya.” He licked his lips and swallowed, taking another stride forward. “I know a lot has happened in the last few days.”

She held back a snort. “That’s putting it mildly.”

He nodded. “But this isn’t you. You’re pushing everyone away, and pretending you don’t need anyone because I hurt you, and I’m so sorry for that. But there are…” he paused, “extenuating circumstances you have to know before you do something you can’t undo.”

She frowned, clenching her jaw. “You mean like dissolve the human-elf alliance?” Shaking her head, she scowled. “Newsflash, El. That crumbled the instant your father-in-law tore the contract in half.”

Lunging, he grabbed her upper arm. “But that’s the thing about diplomacy. There’s always a way forward if both parties want there to be.”

She jerked out of his hold. “Bold of you to assume I even want a partnership with the elves when everyone except Zadé has betrayed me.”

“I know it seems that way, but let me explain—”

“No!” She backed away, pointing a finger at him. “I already told you I didn’t want to hear it. Don’t make me call the guards.”

Glancing at the door, she frowned. Elessan had managed to position her against the wall, putting himself between her and the exit. Valek.

He stalked toward her, and she stepped back until the hard stone pressed into her. Bracing a hand on either side of her head, caging her in, he leaned forward so their noses were almost touching. “The shapeshifter was blackmailing me. She threatened to banish my mother. Sorisana would’ve had nowhere to go.”

“She could’ve stayed here!” Aliya’s voice was getting louder, but she didn’t care. “That’s no excuse. You should’ve trusted me to take in your mother, because I love—” Her words caught in her throat. “Because I loved you, and I would have done anything for you.” Putting both hands against his chest, she pushed him away. “By the mages, El. Do you have so little faith in me?”

Brushing a hand down his face, he let her shove him backward. “You had so much to deal with already. Besides, as a brand new queen of an unstable realm, harboring exiles from a kingdom you are in the middle of negotiating a peace agreement with would have huge political ramifications. Not to mention Roland would take your doing so as a personal insult.” He shook his head. “It would weaken your ability to negotiate now and ruin any potential future relations. I couldn’t do that to you.”

He caught her hands with his, bringing them to his chest. “What I could do was agree to marry Tsara. It didn’t just ensure my mother’s safety. I also got her to convince her father to honor the trade agreement and provide enough resources to get your kingdom through the winter. I had everything all worked out so you wouldn’t have to face a marriage you didn’t want.” His throat spasmed as he swallowed. “But before I could tell you what I’d done, Roland trapped you in the exact same deal. I’m so sorry I couldn’t get to you first, and that you found out the way you did. I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you.”

She barked a laugh, the sound coming out hard, brittle. “Yes, you should’ve talked to me first. What makes you think I’d ever be okay with you selling off your happiness for mine? You idiot!” She went to lift one hand so she could smack it against his chest, but Elessan held her tight.

His muscles clenched like he wanted to punch something. He released her hands and stepped back. “You don’t understand the power dynamic between me and the royals!” Spinning on his heels, he stalked to the far side of the room.

“Oh, I don’t?” She followed him, the backs of her eyes burning. “Look at me when I’m speaking to you, Elessan Svialto!”