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“Why did he want an audience in the first place?”
“Haladay claims that Almanera is pushing for self-governance for Boroville. Almanera insists that he alone knows the unique make-up of the borderlands and would make a more effective leader for his people.”
“The borderlands has the same make-up of people as Agnivale or Vetri,” I said, interrupting Cam.
“Exactly! I believe he means to sow discord between our two kingdoms. It is commonly known that the relationship between us is already strained.”
“Or, perhaps, he wished to kill us off altogether so he could swoop in and push to consolidate both kingdoms under Boroville rule.”
“What do you mean?”
Cam glanced up at me in confusion as I stood with a scrape of my chair.
“If Vetri was blamed for the assassination of the Agnivale king, there would be little to no chance that they would be allowed to rule Vetri again. Not after an act of high treason. The Brimwoods would see to it that justice be served. While both our clans were in flux, who else would know exactly how to rule a mix of neomen, fire sorcerers and earth enchanters? There would be no other candidate but Almanera.”
“This is a long con.” Cam nodded in agreement, his expression reflecting a growing understanding of the complexity of the situation. “I don’t know if I admire Almanera’s boldness, or fear his foolishness.”
As Cam spoke, only one thought crept into my mind: Olympia was innocent. After everything I had put her through—the false accusations, the relentless interrogation, the horrifying ordeal of her kidnapping, and the hurtful mistrust I had shown her in the bedroom—she had deserved none of it. Not in the least.
A wave of guilt and self-loathing washed over me, and bile rose in my throat at the realization of the pain I had inflicted upon her. I had allowed my suspicions and paranoia to blind me to the truth, and now the consequences of my actions weighed heavily on my conscience.
Fuck. I needed to make amends. I needed to find a way to rebuild the trust that I had so recklessly shattered.
But was that even possible? Could I mend what I had broken?
“Your Majesty?”
Cam’s voice muted my self-loathing for the moment, and I glanced over at him.
“Prepare the hovercrafts for a visit to Boroville,” I stated, gathering the papers back into the folder and tucking it into my tunic. “I need a word with Almanera.”
Cam stood with a click of his bootheels.
“Of course.”
Chapter Nineteen
Olympia
“You’re letting me go?”
I stared at the open doorway, filled almost entirely by the breadth of Zoei’s shoulders.
“Just like that?”
“Notjust like that,” she rebutted, crossing her arms. She seemed to have trouble meeting my gaze head-on. Instead, she chose to peruse the view from the window.
“You are still my prisoner until we confront Almanera,” she continued.
“Why do I have to be your prisoner?” I queried, tugging on my boots in quick motions. “Why can’t we confront him as equals?”
“Because,” she said easily. “You and Almanera could be in cahoots for all I know. I won’t risk it. You will be under my watch until I have the truth.”
I stepped forward, mirroring her stance. It was monumentally hard to ignore the sting of offense her words invoked.
I thought we had bridged this misunderstanding last night! How could shestillsuspect me of any wrongdoing when I had given her everything without restraint? She had touched and tasted each inch of my skin until she was satisfied, and I had simply laid on the warm stone ground, watching as she growled how beautiful I was from the very depths of her soul.
And when she had let me into her body… Goddess, time had seemed to stretch and bend, as if it were trying to accommodate the depth of our desire. There had been no past, no future—only the exquisite present where our bodies and souls danced as one.
