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Keris didn’t bother answering, only kicked the door shut behind him, the damp scent of earth filling his nose even as darkness closed in around him. Turning up the lamp, he called out, “Coralyn? Auntie?”
No answer.
Heart in his throat, he moved down the stone corridor, bypassing the wine cellar and storerooms, heading to the door at the very end. As his hand pressed against the wood, Keris hesitated.What if she was dead? What if those men had been told to guard her corpse?
His breathing came in too-fast pants, his hands clammy as he prepared himself for the worst. The hinges creaked as he pushed, holding the lamp ahead of him as he swallowed hard. “Auntie?”
Silence.
“I suppose it was too much to hope that you’d leave well enough alone.”
Relief shuddered through him, sending the shadows from the lamp dancing across the mildewed walls. Keeping his voice low, Keris said, “You told me that Lara swore to kill him or die trying. So which is it, Auntie? Is my sister a liar? Or are you?”
“You know the answer.”
She’d lied to him.
Hurt lanced through his chest because other than Valcotta, she was the only other person living whom he trusted.
“I’d never have agreed to this plan if I’d known you intended to take the blame.” Not even the opportunity to save Valcotta was worth the death of his aunt. He’d have found another way. A way that protected everyone he cared about.
“I’m aware, Keris. There’s a reason I didn’t tell you the truth.”
Moving toward the dark opening in the earth, Keris looked down. About six feet in diameter and eight feet deep, the hole smelled of wet earth and decay, the light from the lamp only faintly illuminating his aunt’s face. Her cheek was bruised and her lip split, but knowing her as he did, she was likely more aggrieved that her gown was soiled by dirt. “How badly are you hurt?”
“Your father got in a few blows, but I’ve weathered plenty of that over the years from him.” She gave an annoyed sigh. “Since there isn’t a chance of you leaving without some form of chatter, go fetch me two bottles of wine.”
“Wine?”
“Yes. Be sure to pick something expensive. If I’m going to die in this hole, I might as well cost Silas money while waiting for him to do the deed.”
Keris had no intention of letting her die, but he also knew arguing would be futile. So Keris hurried back down the corridor, stopping in front of the well-stocked cellar. Picking out two bottles that he knew she favored, he all but sprinted back to the hole, closing the door behind him.
Setting the lamp next to the edge of the hole, he said, “Make me enough room that I can jump down.”
“Having to share my accommodations won’t improve them,” she said, but did as he asked.
Gripping the bottles, Keris jumped, ignoring the ache in his knees from the impact. Pulling out one of the corks, he handed her the bottle and watched as she drank from the neck. She downed half of it.
“Have they been caught?” she asked.
“Judging from the noise of the drum towers, no.”
She gave a tight nod, then drank several more gulps of wine. “You need to leave. All of this will have been for nothing if your father believes you complicit.”
“I’m not leaving you down here, Auntie.” He fought the urge to ball his hands into fists. “Not a chance.”
“You will do precisely that.” Setting down the bottle, Coralyn gripped him by the shoulders. “Already you stand on precarious ground, because you were seen speaking with Aren twice, and it is no secret that you and I are close. Don’t for a heartbeat believe that Serin won’t suspect you were involved in my scheme and use that angle to try to turn your father against you.”
“It was my scheme!”
She huffed out an amused breath that made him feel like a fool for ever believing that was the case.
“It doesn’t matter whose plot it was.” His mind raced for solutions. He’d smuggle Valcotta into the city. Would contact his supporters and take the crown by force, as he’d originally planned to do. “I’m not letting you die for me.”
“Any good mother will willingly die to spare her child such a fate.” She pulled him against her, her familiar perfume filling his nose. “More than any other child of this harem, you are my son, Keris. And I would die a thousand times over before allowing harm to come to you to spare myself pain. Besides, it’s done. Nothing you say or do is going to save me from your father.”
“You won’t need to be saved from him if he’s dead.” Pushing her back, he met her gaze. “I’ve thousands of supporters in the city. I can take the palace by force.”
