Page 155 of Fate of the Sun King

I shake his hand, and he looks at Lor.

“And you are?”

“I’m Lor,” she says, and he narrows his gaze.

“Why do you look familiar? Have we met?”

She presses her lips together. “You might have seen me during the Trials.”

It takes Erevan a moment, but when he puts it together, his eyes go wide.

“The Final Tribute.”

Lor nods.

“What on earth are you doing here? I thought you disappeared.”

“Well, it’s a long story, and that’s part of the reason we’re here today.”

Erevan hesitates for a moment, but whatever he sees in Lor’s face must convince him that she’s telling the truth and, more importantly, that she’s worth hearing out.

“Have a seat then,” he says. “Can I get you a drink?”

“No thanks,” Lor says, settling into the spot where Erevan directs us.

I drop down next to her, and Erevan sits down and waits.

Lor exchanges a look with me, and once again, she launches into a loose version of the truth that recounts the events of the past few months, keeping Erevan on a need-to-know basis when it comes to divulging all the facts.

When she’s finished talking, Erevan perches on the edge of his seat, his legs wide and his hands clasped between his knees, hanging on her every word.

“So, you need to get to the Mirror without being seen,” Erevan says when she finishes talking.

“We need a diversion,” I say. “Something big enough to draw everyone’s attention away from the palace and out of the throne room.”

“And you want me to do that?” he asks, looking between us.

“We heard a rumor that you plan to start a riot during the presentation festivities tomorrow,” I say, and his eyes darken.

“You expect me to put my people in danger so you can get inside the Sun Palace? Why would I do that?”

“I’ll offer whatever I can,” I say. “Money to fund your cause. Whatever resources you need.”

“End slavery in The Aurora’s mines,” he says immediately, and I knew this would be his ask.

“Done. As soon as it’s in my power to do so. I would have done that anyway, though, so I’d still owe you another favor at some point.”

He studies me as if reading the truth in my words.

“That could still be centuries from now,” he says, and I nod.

“It could be,” I say with a smirk. “But one doesn’t get a no-strings-attached favor from a future king every day.”

Erevan tips his head in a gesture that seems to say Good point.

“If we get what I think the Mirror might have, then it won’t be centuries,” Lor says. “The only thing I’ve ever wanted is to destroy the Aurora King. We have many reasons to ensure he’s gone much sooner than that.”

Her gaze slides to me, and I know that, along with everything else, she’s thinking about my mother and the way she’s trapped inside her empty existence. I squeeze her hand.