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“I thought it must be difficult, being the king’s son. Not a person, but a thing, a tool, something to hang a crown on.”
His brow furrowed. “You didn’t know our father. He fucked your mother. You were never anything more than an ejaculation to him.”
“I didn’t need to know him. Mother told me enough. He was cold, heartless, more stone than man. I don’t blame you for being what you are. You were made this way, made to be his tool.”
Razak shook his head and grimaced. “You don’t know anything.”
“You’re as much a victim as you’ve made me.”
He shot to his feet and lunged, thrusting his arms through the bars. I danced back, out of reach, and grinned. “Under all that…” I raked my gaze over him. “You’re nothing. Just the same as me. We’re so fucking alike, it’s almost poetry.”
“I’m not like you. You’re mine.Mytool!”
“And you were his. I see that now. I see you. You’re worthless.” I tossed him a dismissive laugh. “Justice will hang you, and nobody will care. Not a god yet, are you?”
He grasped the bars, thrust his face against them, and hissed. “When I come for you, I will kill Arin first, cut him to pieces in front of you, make him scream as he chokes on his own fingers—”
I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Goodbye, Brother.”
I had my hand on the iron door loop when his laugh bubbled up. That laugh was so rich, so confident. He’d won, it said. But I’d caught him. I just needed to reel him in.
“You think you’re special?” he asked. “You think I’m defeated?”
Keep on talking, Brother, spill your little secrets for me.“What are you going to do in there, behind bars?”
“You forget, dear brother, nothing happens by chance. I’m right where I need to be.”
Wait. He’dwantedto be captured?
I didn’t need to look back to know he was smiling. I couldn’t look back, couldn’t let him see how I cared. “I hope that Justice’s noose is made too long, and you swing for days,dear brother.”
I left his cell and walked so fast down the corridors Draven struggled to keep up.
“Well?” he asked, once we were outside and back in the relentless heat.
“Razak said…”He was right where he needed to be…
“What, what did he say?”
I glanced at dusk’s sky, so red with the setting sun and swirling winds that it appeared to be ablaze. “We have to stop Justice.”
CHAPTER37
Lark
“I don’t understand,he planned to be arrested?” Arin asked, face pinched in confusion.
I paced his chamber while Draven glowered nearby. “Razak wants Justice to take him. Justice has the last crown.” It made sense now. Razak had no plan to escape. He’d expected to get caught. Once in Justice’s hands, we wouldn’t be able to get to him. “He was never going to walk out of War a free man. We have to stop Justice.”
“What about Noemi?” Arin shot to his feet. “If we go to her, explain how Razak cannot be taken… she’ll listen. She’ll make the others listen too.”
“No,” Draven’s tone rumbled. “If you try and stop them taking him, they’ll think you’re working with Razak.” He wasn’t as dimwitted as he made himself out to be. And he was right.
“Doesn’t matter…” Outside every window, the red sands howled. The heat of the day had vanished under a furious storm. We were out of time. “If he leaves, he’s won.” I strode for the door. Justice had to be stopped, by any means. “Let’s try Noemi.”
“Wait,” Arin said, jogging after me. “She’s more likely to listen to the both of us.” But as we neared the door, his steps slowed, and he turned back to Draven. “We need your help.”
Draven sighed and gave his braided head a shake. “If I do this, I’m done here. We’re both done here. Ogden will never allow us in his court.” Arin took a step back toward the warlord, and a tender knowing passed between them. Draven responded immediately and came forward. He skimmed his fingers down Arin’s cheek, and some fragile piece of me cracked open, making my heart ache.
