Page 23 of The Heart Trials

“I—I did, sir.” A Mercyenforcer steps forward. “She, uh, spit on Commander Dreth.”

The Benevolent studies me. “And if you were locked in a cage away from everything that mattered to you, about to be led to your death, wouldn’t you want to spit on someone too?”

He shuffles on his feet. “I suppose so, sir.”

“She was only responding as she naturally could: with anger and desperation.” The ambitious gleam in the Benevolent’s eyes sends a shiver up my spine. “Caelus.”

The prince gestures at a Mercyenforcer in the back of the room, who then marches forward to stand beside the man who hurt me.

The Mercyenforcer lays his palm on his chest, across his heart, rigidly still.

A beat passes.

The room is silent.

I tense at what’s coming.

Then, the random guard pummels the man who hurt me across the face.

He falls to his knees, lips bloody. The pounding doesn’t stop. I watch him fold into a beaten pulp on the ground, unable to look away. Dreth watches, unmoved.

“Does it feel good to see that?” the Benevolent asks me.

“I don’t feel much of anything,” I say.

His smile flickers. “You were off to sentencing, but my son says you can be of use to the Citadel. Before we get into that, I know you did not kill my nephew. His weakness did. Lucent was always a tortured boy, scared of what he could be under my guidance. You have to surrender to fate, Axira. Not fight it. I’ve issued an edict. No charges will be held against you. At least not for that.”

My heart stops. “Then why am I being sentenced?”

“The Mercyenforcer who you left to rot in your cell nearly died of the Heartfiller double dose. Murder of a Citadel servant is a serious offense, Axira Merreri. And as I have just demonstrated, I am a just ruler.”

There is nothing just about letting people in the districts die when you could save them.

“What was that?”

Did I say that out loud? “Nothing. I said nothing.”

“You are a bad liar,” he says. “That is a good quality in a candidate for mercy. Son?”

“She can work off her sentence as a servant, here,” Caelus says, avoiding looking in my direction at all. “That would hone any talents she does have into something we can use. She’s skilled. Killing her is a waste.” He was icy earlier. Now he is unrecognizable, pure steel.

“She’s a thief,” the Benevolent says. “She’s stolen thousands of Heartfillers if my reports are correct.”

Caelus doesn’t flinch. “Yes, but an honest one. Her pride won’t let her lie.”

“Her pride. Ah, yes, pride is useful. There is no greater patriot than a prideful one. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.” The Benevolent leans forward, eyeing me like I’m something he could devour in a single bite, but he prefers to play with his food instead. “So you want to be a servant here?” The question is addressed to me. Caelus watches me closely, and I can feel him willing me to agree.

“I don’t,” I say, unwilling to lie. I can’t be trapped here. If that’s Caelus’s plan to get me out of this, no thanks. I will find another way. “Like Caelus said, I’m prideful.”

The room explodes into chatter. Caelus pales.

Agreeing to a sentence of servitude won’t get me off this island, but twisting the leverage I have over the prince will. He wants something from the tournament. He made that clear. I can get inside the tournament and smuggle out whatever it is that Caelus wants. Then, he will have to give me a ship.

“I want to enter the Tournament of Hearts,” I call over the din. “Let me prove I’m worthy of being here freely. If I don’t win, then sentence me for my crime. You have nothing to lose.”

“Ha!” The Benevolent beams, slapping the arms of his chair. “A true patriot. It is done.” He signals for the horns to blow. Revelry rings out from the halls, trumpets sounding in celebration. “Ready her for the early festivities that kick off tomorrow. And fix her face.”

I’ve just signed my life away. Now, I just have to convince Caelus to take my deal.