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Though my eyes want to dart to Liam as he starts to tell me off, it’s the newly crowned Hatt Leader that demands my attention—allof our attention. “I’m glad to know you think so highly of me. Let me make it perfectly clear I’m not my dad, and I. Do. Not condone this kind of cavalier trading of human lives.” I feel scolded and ashamed as Arthur’s now icy-blue eyes lock onto me. “I’m not holding anything back here. Rather than use the information I have, I’m freely giving it to you. Perhaps I was naïve in hoping this would make you look more favorable on me, and maybe I’m foolish to still cling to that hope.”
I watch, slack-jawed, as he gets out of his seat. With his hands entwined behind his back, he paces behind the chair he just vacated. Try as I might, I can’t conjure the words to make this right, or to even voice my thoughts.
Why? Because I don’t know what I’m even thinking. It’s as though I’m running in quicksand and getting nowhere.
“Arthur…” I sit up straighter, nervously wringing my hands together beneath the table. As I inhale deeply, I decide to fuck it all, to hell with tradition. Archaic rules, traditions, and misplaced ideas are all the very foundations of why we’re sitting here, unable to accept a free gift. “I’m willing to try,” I say.
Gus nods his agreement, and we both ignore Liam’s curled fists.
“What do you need from me?” Kai asks, sounding genuinely confused.
“Do you know why I fought in the Tournament back then?” Arthur asks. His face morphs into a mask of incredulity and disappointment when Gus and I answer that it was expected since he’s Uther’s son. “No! I did it because I want to leave my mark on the world. I want to make things better, not worse. All these riches… I couldn’t care less. What I care about is that my sister feels she has to hide who she is. Do you think I’m so blind I don’t know she’s in a relationship with Lupa Russo? Yet, my own twin doesn’t feel comfortable sharing that with me.”
Since it’s not my place to say anything, I just nod along while Arthur continues to explain how he doesn’t just want to see the wheel broken, he wants it so thoroughly shattered it can never be put back together.
“Bold words,” Gus says, his gaze firmly on the middle of the table. “It’s going to take time, though. Like my cousin, I’m more than willing to try, but I won’t make any promises that I don’t know if I’m able to keep.”
My cousin’s words seem to be what the Hatt Leader needed to hear, because he sits back down, looking calmer.
I don’t know how long we spend talking, but Apollo’s chariot that pulls the sun across the sky in Greek myths has long since done its job for the day, now replaced by the luminescent rays from the moon.
We’ve just finished eating dinner when I reach a decision. Arthur has been so open and honest, leaving us with no real reason to be suspicious of him, and I want to offer him something as well. “Arthur, there’s something you should know.” While I wipe my mouth and wet my throat with one hand, I squeeze Gus’ leg with the other. “There’s another Drákon out there. My mom, who was looking into it before she died, seemed to have an interest in you and Morgana.”
While I’m not exactly rejoicing in the lie I feel like I have to tell, it’s not my place to tell Arthur that Morgana isn’t his sister—she’s mine.
It’s with morbid fascination I watch as the crystal glass slips from Arthur’s hand, spilling the blood-red contents all over the tablecloth. “What?” he gasps, not noticing the mess he just made. “What are you…” As he trails off, he gets this look on his face like he’s looking at something only he can see—something in his mind’s eye.
Pulling himself together, he says, “It’s Morgana.” Although he says it more to himself than to us, there’s no trepidation or hesitation in his conclusion. Then he clears his throat. “After I fought in the Tournament to become my dad’s Heir, I was gravely injured. One night in the hospital, I overheard the doctors speaking. Morgana had donated blood for me, but they thought someone had mislabeled the blood bag. Apparently, it’s custom for the medical staff to run genetic DNA testing on the blood, and Morgana’s didn’t match mine as closely as it should have. I’ve known for a long time that she isn’t my sister biologically.”
I open and close my mouth countless times before saying, “You should talk with her, Arthur.” Then I think better of it, and add, “About all of it. Her blood ties don’t change who she is to you. Once the two of you were practically inseparable, don’t let the Society tear you apart.” I don’t mean to shoot a glare in Kai’s direction like he’s solely responsible for everything caused by the Kronos Society.
Holding him responsible isn’t fair. This isn’t even just about the Society we all belong to, it’s more about what it has come to represent. It’s pitching siblings against each other, all while condemning us if we don’t behave like perfect pawns.
“We need to talk to Remus,” Gus interjects. “If we are to stand a chance at making any real changes, all the families need to be onboard.”
Throughout our talk, Kai has mostly remained quiet, so I’m surprised when he speaks up. “For what it’s worth, I agree the wheel needs to be obliterated. We need to bring the Kronos Society into the twenty-first century. I won’t pretend it will be an easy feat, but I believe it’s needed. I don’t agree with the archaic, narrow-minded rules.”
As soon as Kai stops talking, Gus and Arthur immediately hurl question after question at him. Even though I have questions of my own, I don’t voice them. I’m too busy feeling proud of the man I get to call my husband.
“Once we’re settled back home, I will arrange for a meeting between all the Heirs and Leaders, since I believe it’s going to take all of us to find a way to bring the changes,” Kai says, the finality in his voice making it clear that’s all he’s going to say for now.
We take our leave a few minutes later. As Arthur opens the doors for me, Gus, and Liam, while Kai stays behind, we come face-to-face with two of the Hatt guards, or Knights as they call them.
“Leader, we have someone who’s demanding to talk to you,” the burliest says, shifting nervously, like he isn’t sure he’s doing the right thing.
Arthur doesn’t have time to say anything before there’s a clang. I look down and find a… the gauntlet that’s right in front of my feet.
“Is that what I think it is?” I ask, mildly amused by the ancient tradition.
Turning my head, I look at the Hatt Leader, expecting him to say something—anything—to explain the gesture. Perhaps it’s part of some kind of entertainment he has arranged. But what I find on Arthur’s face isn’t amusement, far from it.
“What’s the mea—”
Before he can finish his question, a feminine voice speaks up. “I, Elena Hatt, challenge the Drákon Heir in single combat. The challenge will take place the day before Christmas.” My spine becomes rigid and my palms clammy. I chance a look back at Kai, who looks like he wants to tear her apart. “To the death.”
“No!” Gus breathes as all color disappears from his face.
“Andwhythefuckdid you accept?” Liam thunders.
