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“Zoei.” A sigh wracked my frame. “You may think the worst of us, but enchanters aren’t stupid. If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn’t arm an assassin with such obvious weaponry. In fact, I would think…”
A sudden thought made me pause, devious and underhanded and heavily deceitful.
“Think what?” Zoei prodded, her gaze distrustful as she continued to hold my wrist firmly.
I swallowed. “In order to confuse you and turn your attention, I would use another kingdom’s symbol.”
She huffed, nostrils flaring in anger. “I wouldn’t put it past your people—”
“No.” I stopped her with my free palm. “Listen to what I’m saying, Zo. If I were truly the person who ordered the assassination, I would use another kingdom’s insignia to confuse you.”
Our gazes clashed.
“I would wait until the palace was full of strangers to act,” I continued. “There would be too many potential suspects.”
When she said nothing, I pressed forward. Her grip loosened enough for me to slip my wrist free. “You must know that enchanters were not the only ones present last night. Other kingdoms were in attendance as well—ones that haven’t been Agnivale’s greatest supporters.”
“Why would they pin this on you?” she demanded, absently touching the sheathed dagger. “That is an absurd theory.”
My mind whirred with possibilities, but one thought stood out more prominent than most.
“What if it’s a mutual enemy?” I wondered aloud. “A kingdom that wishes to see both Vetri and Agnivale crumble to dust.”
“Agnivale and Vetri,” Zoei murmured under her breath.
“What?” I questioned, straining to hear her.
“You saidVetri and Agnivale,but chronologically, Agnivale comes first.”
I closed my eyes, praying to the Goddess for patience not to strangle Zoei this evening. At least, not until I was out of this tower.
“Zoei, focus,” I said, snapping my fingers. “We could be dealing with enemies unknown.”
She crossed her arms, biceps bulging against the leathers. “And who would that be?”
“I don’t know!” The words burst from my lips. “Who didyouinvite to the coronation?”
“Ididn’t invite anyone,” she insisted. “I didn’t want a big party, precisely because of the security threat. It was the council and my mother that decided the guest list.”
“Okay,” I said, drawing a large breath. “Could you get your hands on the list? We can use it to narrow down some possible suspects.”
She nodded slowly, as though letting the idea settle in.
“What are you thinking?” I asked when she didn’t respond right away.
Her eyes sparked as she glanced back at me, the deep green flashing with a darkened red hue.
“I’m thinking that I’d enjoy flaying the skin from your bones if you’re lying to me, Olly,” she whispered, the threat obvious in every word.
Despite my clear conscience, my throat worked in the silence that followed.
Her gaze dropped to the skin she had marked with the dagger, lingering with interest.
“If I am lying, I will gladly accept whatever punishment you deem fit.” I hated how breathless my words sounded.
Her fingers ghosted over the throbbing wound on my neck, and I fought the quiver that wracked my frame.
“You won’t have a choice.”
