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“Yes, Your Highness.”
I draw a long breath. I know why.
But it’s too soon. We should wait. Last night was too tense, too close to real conflict for my comfort. She could be seen, and all of this would unravel around us.
There’s no way for me to tell her all of that without going after her—and the only thing worse thanTessagetting caught breaking in would be her doing it with me at her side.
So I nod, leave my quarters, and head for the main deck. Rocco and Kilbourne both fall in behind me to follow.
They’re both wearing more weapons than they were yesterday. I understand it, but I don’t like it. The presence of more weapons rarely convinces anyone to let down their guard.
As we pass Lochlan’s door, it swings open, and he strides out so brusquely that he almost walks right into Rocco. He quickly falls back, irritation plain on his face. He looks like he wants to slam the door on us all, but he’s not sure he should dare.
Last night, when things went sour between me and the captain, Lochlan spoke up to defend Tessa—and me, in a way. Well, he spoke up to defendKandala, at the very least. I might not shed a tear if he fell into the ocean, but I can appreciate that he spoke up when it was sorely needed.
And Tessa is right. We’re never going to build trust between the palace and the populace if the King’s Justice can’t get along with one rebel.
“Going up to the main deck?” I say to him. “Join us.”
He scowls. “Is that an order, Your Highness?”
He all but spits the words at me, and I see Kilbourne draw himself up. I put up a hand before he can slam the man into the wall again. “No,” I say with every bit of courtly patience I can muster. “Join us,if you please.”
I watch the emotions play out on his face as he deliberates. He wants to refuse, but I’ve surprised him. I didn’t mean for the words to sound like a challenge, but I can’t really help it.
“Fine,” he eventually grinds out.
But a moment later, we’re ascending the steps together, and his movements are tight and forced. His shoulders are rigid, his fingers twisting together. His jaw is so tight that I can see his throat jerk as he swallows.
I’m no stranger to people being afraid of me. But that’s usually in the Hold, where someone has been imprisoned for committing a crime.
Lochlan told Tessa that I only brought him on this journey with the intention of throwing him over the railing if I found a convenient moment. When she told me about it, I brushed off his words because it was so obviously untrue.
Until this moment, I didn’t fully consider thathebelieved it.
The wind catches my hair and tugs at my jacket as we reach the top and step onto the deck. I expected Blakemore, but there’s no one here. I glance over at Lochlan. “It really wasn’t an order,” I say to him.
He doesn’t look at me. “You’re the King’s Justice,” he says, as if that explains everything.
And maybe it does. I frown. “And I really didn’t invite you along with the intent to kill you.”
“That’s reassuring,” he says flatly.
I do have a limit. I round on him. “You tookmeprisoner and encouraged a mob to beat me to death, and then you took consuls and citizens hostage, killing them when you didn’t get your way. Yet Harristan still invited you and the rest of the rebels to negotiate—”
“You putmeon a stage,” he says. “With a sack tied over my head, and a crossbow pointed at my back.”
I’ve changed my mind. Now I do want to throw him over the railing.
Not really.
But maybe a little.
“You resorted to violence and death when you had no other choice,” I say to him. “But somehow you mean to hold me to a different standard?”
“Yes,” he says.
“Why?” I demand.
