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“Yes, I suppose I am ruthless. If I weren’t, I never would have survived this long.” The king turned to Cleo, cocking his head. “You have caused me extraordinary misery in your short lifetime—more than you will ever realize.”
“Me?” she said, sternly incredulous, refusing to show this monster a glimmer of fear. “It has never been my intention to cause misery or difficulties. I only want to live the life I was meant for.”
“Amara is very angry with you, you know. She’s asked me to bring you back so she can deal with you herself, but I don’t think I will. Grant that girl too many wishes and she might start to think she has some power over me. No woman will ever have power over me. Not ever again.”
King Gaius stood before her now, glaring into her soul with eyes like two black bottomless pits of hatred.
Finally, he tore his gaze away from her and looked back at Magnus. “Amara believes I should have you executed for treason.”
“And what do you believe?”
“I believe in family. And I believe in second chances for family—if they are earned.”
“And, pray tell, how could I ever earn this second chance from you, Father?”
The king nodded, and a guard shoved Cleo to the ground, sending her to her knees, hard.
“You will earn it with a blood sacrifice. To the goddess Valoria, and to me. This girl is a threat—to both of us. She will lead you to your demise if you let her. I also had a choice once. To give my life for someone else or to sacrifice her and live in prosperity. When I made the wrong choice, your grandmother stepped in, vanquished my love, and saved my life. Should you make the wrong choice today, I will do you the same favor. But you will still not have earned your redemption. After all, falling in love is not the only crime you’ve committed for which you’ve yet to pay.”
Cleo sought Magnus’s gaze, but he remained focused on his father.
“You want me to kill her,” he said.
“Quick, painless. A sword through the heart. Or perhaps a simple push off this cliff. But choose one, or I will choose for you.”
Magnus stared at his father, his steely expression unreadable.
“I refuse to accept that this is the only way for me to redeem myself.”
“But it is, son. I know this is difficult—the most difficult thing I’ve ever asked of you. But that’s why it has so much value. Do this, and I will forgive you your past transgressions. You can rule the world at my side.”
“I thought you meant to rule the world with Amara.”
“That’s what she thinks, too. And I’ll let her keep thinking that for now. Do what’s right, Magnus. Don’t risk your life, your future, for one stupid girl. It’s not worth it.”
“I would have risked my life, my future, for Lucia.”
After all that had happened, Cleo thought, all that his adopted sister had put him through, did Magnus still love her?
“Lucia is different,” the king said. “She was worthy of your sacrifice. She was powerful. This Bellos girl”—he sent a venomous look at Cleo—“is only a pretty package containing nothing of value, a glimmering weight that will drag you down to the bottom of the sea.”
“You’re right. I know you’re right, yet I still struggle. I know she’s become the ruin of me.”
Cleo couldn’t find her next breath.
“A few unpleasant but necessary moments will fix all of that,” the king said. “Whatever you think you might feel for her is only an illusion—all romantic love is only an illusion. And illusions fade. Power doesn’t fade; power is eternal.”
Magnus nodded solemnly, his brow furrowed. “I thought I’d destroyed my chance to rule. I’d tried to think of other ways to reclaim any power at all, but . . . you’re right. There is no other way. I’ve risked everything, lost all of my potential because of my stupid decisions.” He raised his gaze to meet the king’s. “Yet you would still give me the chance to redeem myself for this.”
The king nodded solemnly. “I would.”
“Your capacity for forgiveness is both surprising and humbling.” His jaw tensed, then he, too, nodded. “If this is what I must do to reclaim my power, my life, my future. Then so be it.”
Cleo watched them both, stunned. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t happen.
The king nodded at a guard, who handed Magnus his sword. The prince studied it in his hand, as if assessing its weight.
“Look out at the lake, princess,” Magnus instructed her. “I promise this will be swift.”
