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It was the truth, but it wasn’t the sum of it. Because during that time, she’d grown to care about him and his kingdom, to understand their plight, and still she’d chosen to destroy them. Had written every detail she’d learned on those pages, a strategy for invading Aren’s homeland and stealing away the bridge his people so desperately needed. It had only been sheerluckthat one of those pages hadn’t made it into her father’s hands.
“Did you care at all?” he demanded.
“Yes. More than you know. More than I can explain.” She shoved the hair that had blown into her face out of her way, grasping for words to make him understand. “But I didn’t think there was another way. I believed the only chance my people had was for me to win them the bridge. My whole life has been dedicated to giving them a better future, no matter the cost to me. Surely you of all people can understand that?”
“It’s not the same.” His voice was cold. “The better future you envisioned was built on the backs of Ithicanian corpses.”
Lara closed her eyes. “Then why didn’t you just kill me once you knew? Why did you bring me to Vencia, if you suspected? Why did you risk so much?”
Aren scuffed his boot against the bridge, staring at Midwatch. “I realized that you’d been misled. And if the truth gave us a chance, then it was a risk I was willing to take.” He let out a ragged breath. “I followed you that night when you walked up to the palace gates. I pointed an arrow at your back, and I . . . I almost did kill you. If you’d taken one more step, I would’ve.” His hands were shaking, the tremor of movement holding her attention like a vice. “But then you turned around and came back. Back to me.”
“I couldn’t do it.” Lara closed her hands over his, needing to stop them from shaking. “And I won’t. Not ever. Not even if he tracks me down and kills me for betraying him.”
Aren went very still. “Did he threaten you?”
She swallowed hard. “He told me on the ship to Ithicana that if I failed or if I betrayed him, he’d hunt me down.”
“If he thinks—”
A scuffle of sound interrupted him, causing them both to jump. Seconds later, with a muttered oath, Ahnna pulled herself out of the hatch, her face a storm cloud.
Aren stepped in front of Lara, walking toward Ahnna even as his sister closed the distance with rapid strides.
“What the hell were you thinking?” Ahnna snapped. “Going into Maridrina yourself? Have you lost your bloody mind?”
“I’ve been dozens of times before. What of it?”
“Not as king you haven’t. You have a responsibility to our people. Plus, you nearly got caught. What the hell would’ve happened if you had?”
“Then you’d have your chance at the crown.”
“You think that’s what I want?” Her eyes went past her brother, landing on Lara. “And there stands the worst of it. Bad enough thatyouwent, but you took the daughter of our enemy, the woman who, if all the rumors are true, you’ve been supplying with all of Ithicana’s secrets, back to her homeland?”
“I took mywifeto her homeland for reasons that are none of your goddamned business.”
Ahnna’s face took on a ghastly pallor, but she balled her hands into fists, and for a heartbeat, Lara thought she’d strike her brother. Strike her king. But all she said was, “There is no reason good enough. She knows enough to allow Maridrina to bring us to our knees, and you practically delivered her to its king. She could’ve run straight into the Magpie’s arms.”
“She didn’t.”
“But what if she had? This wasn’t the plan. You were supposed to—”
“I was supposed to what?” Aren lunged forward, looming over his sister. “Keep her locked up here forever? She’s my damned wife, not my prisoner.”
“Wife? In name only, from what I hear. And don’t think thateveryonedoesn’t realize that you’re risking your entire kingdom just to get between her legs.”
No one spoke. Not Aren or Ahnna. Not the soldiers who’d come topside and were now looking anywhere but at their leaders. And not Lara whose heart felt like it was about to burst from her chest. Because Ahnna’s fears were valid. Yet Aren was defending her. Despite knowing she’d come to Ithicana with ill intentions, he was defending her right to a life. Her right to a home. Her right to freedom. And she didn’t deserve it. Didn’t deserve him.
Before Lara could think through the consequences of what she intended to say, she stepped forward, her boots sliding on the slick surface of the bridge. “Ahnna—”
“Stay out of this.” Without looking, the other woman swung an arm to block Lara’s path.
The blow caught Lara in the chest and she stumbled back, feet scrabbling.
She was falling.
“Lara!” Aren reached for her, but it was too late.
She screamed, arms flailing as the air rushed past her, but there was nothing to grab. Nothing that would stop the inevitable.
