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For once, Flavian’s expression and body language were opaque. “I would like a private word with my betrothed.”
Lio’s power was a tide pressing against the confines of the room. Cassia felt herself flush in response to her Grace’s magic, and she was more grateful than ever for Mak’s veil spell. “There is nothing you cannot say in front of my sister, my lord.”
“I haven’t seen you in months, my dear. Would you begrudge your betrothed a moment alone with you?”
What was he playing at? Whatever it was, two could join in this game. A conversation alone was the opportunity she needed to convince him to break their betrothal.
“If my sister can spare me,” she agreed.
When Solia did not hesitate, Cassia took that as a vote of confidence in her plan. Solia gave Flavian a stern look. “Do not go far.”
“Of course.” Flavian opened a door at the back of the room, letting in the night air, and gestured for Cassia to precede him.
Mak blocked the doorway and inspected what lay outside. Then he posted himself just inside the solar. “Call to me if you need me. I’ll hear you.”
“Thank you,” Cassia said. “Would you veil our conversation from everyone else, please?”
Mak hesitated. “As long as you remember what I said about being part of a delegation.”
“I promise.”
Lyros was standing beside Lio. To keep him in check, Cassia knew. She hated to put her Grace through this, but she would do what she must to free them from this mess.
She joined Flavian outside on a small parapet. With her hound between them, he didn’t try to hold her hand again.
A lone torch sputtered in the gloomy twilight. Rain misted her hair, but the surrounding towers mostly blocked the weather—and enemy archers. Well designed, if one wanted a breath of air without the risk of assassination. Poorly thought out, if one wanted a vantage point.
Even so, she took the opportunity to reach out with her new, awkward magical senses. She could feel Mak’s veil spell, but nothing out of the ordinary. She had known the letting site was unlikely to be at the castle, but she couldn’t help a wave of disappointment.
But what was that crackle, somewhere in one of the high towers? It left a burnt taste in the back of her mouth. Well, well. After all the times she had worried about an Aithourian fire mage sensing Hesperine magic on her, could she sense Dexion Chrysanthos now?
“Cassia…” Flavian began, pulling her back to their confrontation. “What happened in Orthros after Ben came home?”
“I made a life for myself there,” she said.
“Why?” he asked, a simple, but dangerous question.
“I’m sure Ben has told you of my intentions.”
Flavian gave her a look as if she had made a clumsy bluff at cards. “The night of our promise dance, you told me we should not share a marriage bed so I can pursue my illicit affair with Sabina. You are no Kyrian missionary.”
Thorns. She really had shown her hand that night. “Very well. You know a holy calling isn’t my reason for wanting to dissolve our betrothal. Sabina is. I will not be an obstacle to your happiness. Considering that we are in the process of deposing King Lucis, I think it’s about time we did away with his arranged betrothal for us, don’t you?”
“I have come to know you through your plot much better than I ever did during those inane horseback rides while I was supposedly courting you. The woman who positioned me to take over the kingdom is no romantic. What is your real reason for wanting out of the betrothal?”
It was both gratifying and dangerous that Flavian no longer underestimated her. But it sounded as if he still did not suspect her darkest secret—that love was indeed her reason for everything.
“You stayed in Orthros with a plan,” he said. “Was it about finding your sister all along?”
A safe assumption. One that would deflect suspicion from her and Lio. Cassia was tempted to allow Flavian to persist in this notion. But then he would believe she had used him. At least, used him worse than she actually had.
“No,” she said. “When I made it possible for you to pursue the kingship, I had no idea Solia was alive. I never would have laid this upon you if I had thought she was returning.”
“Right. All that time I thought I was romancing you, and you were actually polishing me up to become king. I was merely the most convenient potential monarch, since you couldn’t find a better one.”
“Flavian—”
“First you agreed to a betrothal when you had no intention of being my wife. Then you ran off to Orthros and left me to manage the king. Then Ben comes back with all but a diagram of how to take over Tenebra, and you expect me to rise to the occasion. Well, I have. I’ve done everything you asked of me for the sake of the kingdom—and now you wish to discard our promises. And you expect me to simply throw away all my blood, sweat, and tears and let your sister parade into the palace.”
