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Keris shrugged. “She’s collateral we can use in negotiations with the Valcottans. With her, we might see an end to the blockades on Southwatch, but the Empress won’t negotiate for the return of a corpse.”
Gods, no. Zarrah blanched at the thought of being used in such a manner, and the other princeling appeared equally horrified as he blurted out, “But—”
Keris leveled a finger at his brother. “I am in command here, Otis, which means she ismyprize. If I personally deliver her to Father in Vencia and she proves as valuable as I believe, it will be me he thanks.”
The princeling’s jaw tightened. “He’s only going to kill her. This is a waste of time.”
“Perhaps, but that’s his decision to make, not yours. And to that end, from this moment forward, I want her treated with theutmostcare and consideration. The last thing I need is one of you heavy-handed pricks accidentally killing her and ruining my chance to win my father’s favor.”
It had all been lies. If he wanted Silas Veliant’s favor, every single thing he’d said to her had been a lie. Blood boiling, she lunged at him. “You fucking Maridrinian bastard!”
The men caught her shoulders, slamming her into the ground with enough force that her eyes glazed.
“Enough!” Keris ordered. “Stand down!”
But instead of listening, one of the men kicked her several times in the ribs, each blow drawing a gasp of pain from her lips. It only ended when Keris snarled, “Did I or did I not just give an order that she was not to be harmed?”
“But Your Highness—”
“Did I or did I not give you an order?”
The man swallowed hard. “You did, my lord.”
“I don’t give you lot many orders.” His tone was frigid. “But when I do, I expect to be obeyed. And there are consequences to doing otherwise. Otis, have him whipped.”
The princeling’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. “How many lashes?”
“How should I know?” Keris straightened his coat. “Keep count, and when he stops breathing, bring me the number.”
Zarrah stared at him in horror, unable to reconcile the man she’d fallen for with this creature. With thismonster.
“Keris—”
“I want this win,” he interrupted. “See it done. And then put the woman somewhere safe and keep her under close guard. If anything happens to her, the man responsible will consider this one’s fate”—he jerked his chin at the pale-faced soldier—“merciful. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m in need of both bath and breakfast.”
And then Keris turned on his heels and walked away.
Everything was blurry and distant, though whether it was because the blow to her head had concussed her or she was in shock, Zarrah couldn’t have said as she watched Keris disappear down the corridor.
“You heard him,” Otis snarled. “Put her in one of the cells, and for the love of God, don’t let anything happen to her. Veliant blood runs through Keris’s veins, and not one of you should ever forget what that means.”
The blood of her mother’s murderer ran through his veins, and she’d just seen proof of it. She’d slept with a monster. Given herself to a monster.
Otis turned to the soldier who’d been sentenced to die. “Do you submit yourself to your fate willingly?”
The soldier was blanched of color, clearly terrified, but he nodded before turning his gaze on her. “My only regret is not aiming for your face, you Valcottan bitch.”
“I’d say next time,” she forced a smirk onto her face, “but it doesn’t look like that’s in the cards.”
Fury flashed in the man’s gaze, but Otis hauled him backward, voice cool as he said, “I’d temper your optimism, General. Just because His Highness believes your life holds value does not mean His Majesty will agree. And when our father hands you over to Serin to see what secrets that pretty little head of yours holds, you’ll be cursing Keris’s name for not handing you over to me.”
Serin. The Magpie.Zarrah’s blood chilled. The Maridrinian spymaster was infamous for his skill at torture, andmanyof her countrymen had died from his ministrations after telling him everything he wished to know. As trained as she was, Zarrah doubted she’d fare any better. “I already curse your brother’s name.”
The expression on Otis’s face as he led the condemned man away suggested she wasn’t alone.
Two soldiers caught her under the arms, hauling her upward, but the motion was more than her rattled brain could take, and she vomited on the floor, barely hearing their muttered curses of disgust. The corridor swirled around her, a blur of color, and Zarrah struggled to remain conscious as they dragged her forward.
I curse you. She silently sent the words to where she imagined Keris bathed and dined in all the luxury befitting his station. But the true words, the ones in her heart, were,How could you?
