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Cora shook her head to clear it and tried to summon a smile. All she conjured was a subtle flicker of her lips. “It’s all right,” she whispered. Then, with a deep inhale, she took her brother’s arm and allowed him to escort her to the desk. Her breath caught when she felt how slim his arm was. Her momentary resistance drained, leaving only sympathy in its wake. She looked up at him, this time managing an almost-full smile. “I’m glad you’re well. You seem to have recovered from the wounds you sustained at Centerpointe Rock.”
“I have. As have you, I presume?”
“Yes,” she said, and they separated to take their seats.
Verdian’s expression remained hard, unmoved by their reunion.
Queen Bethaeny spoke first. “My son has done much on your behalf, Princess Aveline. He’s been tireless in proving your identity and corroborating your story. I was curious to meet the woman who had my son so transfixed that he’d delay both his coronation and the burial of his father.”
Heat flooded Cora’s cheeks, her heart flipping in her chest. It took no small effort to keep her voice level. “I am grateful for everything Prince Teryn has done, and for Your Majesties’ willingness to listen.”
She meant every word. Trusting Teryn had been another gamble. He knew her secrets, knew she was a witch. Knew that she’d poisoned an entire camp of hunters and that she had a dark history with Morkai. The things he knew could have condemned her. She’d put blind faith in him the last few weeks, trusting he’d say only what the royals needed to hear and nothing more. She knew from firsthand experience how convincing he could be, even to someone who could sense emotions. She’d been on the receiving end of his lies when he betrayed her to Morkai. If anyone could keep a secret, it was him.
“Have you been treated well?” Bethaeny asked. “I was told my son demanded that you were.”
Cora paused, debating her answer. “My accommodations have been fine, but I much prefer the freedom to leave my room.”
The queen gave a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “You must forgive us for the lengthy questioning period you endured. Even with my son so invested in your plight, precautions were necessary.”
“After what we've been through, we weren’t willing to take any chances,” Verdian said, his tone far brusquer than Bethaeny’s. “Lives have been lost. We couldn’t risk the possibility that either of you posed the same threat the duke had.”
“I assure you,” Dimetreus said, speaking slowly, carefully, “I hold none of the ambitions the former Duke Morkai held, nor do I believe any of the lies he once fed me. I only wish to return to Khero and set everything to rights. As I’ve promised, I will do whatever it takes to secure the trust of Selay and Menah.”
“Yes, we’ve heard your promise,” Verdian said, “but now we need the princess’ word as well.”
“I feel the same as my brother,” Cora said. “I will support him in any way I can.”
Verdian leaned back in his chair, pinning Cora with an icy look. “First, I must remind you what is at stake. Even though we’re willing to believe Dimetreus was not acting of his own free will, those who fought at Centerpointe Rock saw him as a traitor. Rumors have spread, and even citizens of his own kingdom have reasons to doubt him. It would be no difficult task for me to seize control over Khero during this time of unrest for the kingdom’s own good. If you and your brother fail to agree to our terms, I will enact this plan, and you will remain hostages here. Any resistance from you as hostages, and you will be executed.”
Cora clenched her jaw. This was the first time she’d been referred to as a hostage. She’d known that was what she’d been all along, but it was one thing to know it and another to hear it stated outright. Not to mention his threat to seize her kingdom as his own. A fiery rage sparked in her chest but she breathed it away. “What are your terms?”
“Your brother will be allowed to resume his place as King of Khero, but his council, staff, and military will be selected by me. All positions will be filled by men from Selay. Dimetreus has already agreed to this.”
Cora met her brother’s eyes. He gave her a resigned nod, and her muscles began to uncoil. Those terms weren’t terrible.
Verdian continued. “But we need something from you too. Based on the widespread belief of your death, as well as your questionable…history…we’ve struggled with how best to secure trust with you.”
He glanced briefly at Cora’s forearms where a hint of black ink trailed over the tan skin above her silk gloves. Lurel had wrinkled her nose when she’d first caught sight of the tattoos during Cora’s bath, her feelings made clear despite how she’d insisted she thought they werepretty. Cora hadn’t argued when Lurel dressed her in gloves before leaving her room. She tugged the silk a little higher now, pursing her lips against the indignation that colored her cheeks.
Verdian didn’t know that the tattoos wereinsigmora, a Faeryn tradition meant to convey what level of the magical Arts one was practiced in. Hiding her tattoos—and her magic—felt like a betrayal, but these were secrets she needed to keep. She’d already drawn enough suspicion when she’d admitted to having lived with the Forest People. Even though they’d fought against Morkai at Centerpointe Rock, there was no denying their use of magic. Everyone on the battlefield had witnessed them wielding roots and vines like weapons. During Cora’s questioning, she’d sensed the inquisitors’ fear and disgust for all things magic. That was when she’d decided to bury that side of her. Hide it. Ignore it. Pretend she was just a princess. Just a girl eager to restore her title and save her brother’s crown. It was the only way to convince them she was who she claimed to be.
Verdian spoke again. “While our current terms have established trust between Selay and Khero, you and Dimetreus owe Menah a debt as well. It is imperative that we forge an alliance between all three of our kingdoms, so that true peace can be secured between us.”
“My son has come up with a proposal,” Bethaeny said. “A solution that will bind you to Menah and forge that trust we seek.”
Sweat slicked Cora’s palms. “What proposal would that be?”
“Marriage,” Verdian said.
Cora froze. She repeated their words in her mind to make sure she understood them correctly.Teryn has proposed…
“Marriage?” she echoed.
Verdian and Bethaeny nodded in unison.
“To me.”
Another nod.
