Page 114 of Tale of the Heart Queen

“They want him,” he says, gesturing to the wall. “They want justice.”

I blink, knowing this was inevitable.

“What would you have me do?” I ask. Please. Someone tell me what to do.

“I would have you release him to me. Let those who suffered the greatest under his rule have him.”

I open my mouth and then close it. It would be a neat and tidy solution. Atlas would get what he deserves, the people would get a scapegoat, and I wouldn’t have to figure out what the fuck to do with one of my oldest friends. Erevan is practically handing me an out on a silver platter. But even if it might be the easy escape, I can’t let them just tear him apart. I could never live with myself.

“You fucking traitor!” Atlas roars, finally stumbling to his feet as he lunges for Erevan. “You always wanted this, didn’t you?”

He crashes into Erevan, his large frame knocking into one of the guards. With his hands bound, his weight lurches, and they all go down in a heap. Atlas thrashes on top of Erevan like a wild beast.

“You wanted my crown!” Atlas roars.

“I never wanted it!” Erevan shouts. “You know that!”

“Why did the Mirror choose you?” Atlas screams, a broken, anguished sound in it.

Several members of the council have arrived to witness the false king’s capture, and at that, everyone in the courtyard stills. Atlas just blurted out the final secret we’ve all been dragging around like a sack of hammers for a hundred years. But he’s oblivious, still bucking and thrashing against his restraints.

“Someone get him off!” I yell, seizing Atlas by one arm as Rhyle grabs him from the other side.

Erevan raises his hands as he struggles to his feet. Atlas snarls and lunges uselessly for him.

“Atlas. Stop this!” I say, and he turns to me, his eyes practically rolling in his head.

“You’re planning to give him the crown,” Atlas accuses. “He’s spent years fighting against the peace of Aphelion, and you’re just going to give it to him!”

“I wouldn’t have needed to fight anything if you weren’t a tyrant—” Erevan shouts, but I get between them, pushing out my hands.

“Stop it!” I yell, my voice rising over the shocked drone of everyone witnessing this pitiful spectacle. “Both of you fucking stop it!”

Finally, they both go quiet.

“I’m not doing anything,” I say to Atlas. “I have no power over who will rule Aphelion. Besides, its rightful king still lives.”

Atlas glares at me.

“Take him back to the dungeon,” I say to Rhyle. “Don’t remove the cuffs under any circumstances. And put a round-the-clock double watch on him. No one sees him without my permission.”

I see Lor and Nadir appear at the edge of the crowd. They took the ark to Cloris Payne, hoping to fool her into a bargain. Her gaze catches mine, and she tips her chin imperceptibly, indicating they were successful. At least something is going right.

Atlas catches the direction of my stare, his gaze falling on Lor. He blinks like he can’t quite believe it. Slowly, she approaches, looking down at him, her expression giving nothing away, but something passes between them. No matter what Atlas did, I know Lor believed in him for a short time.

She takes in the measure of him, the arcturite cuffs around his wrists, the defeated look on his face, and I don’t think that I imagine the glimmer of satisfaction that shines in her eyes.

Atlas’s gaze narrows as he studies her before turning back to me.

“What do you plan to do with me?” he asks as he dismisses Lor. Clearly, his fate is his main concern.

I shake my head. “I don’t know, Atlas.”

“Gabriel—”

“Take him away now,” I say to Rhyle, cutting off whatever Atlas wants to say.

I can’t stand to look at him a moment longer.