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He released me immediately, wiping his bloody nose on the sleeve of his tailcoat, his green embroidered lapel splattered with red.
I sank to the ground, struggling for breath. The moment I had it back, a laugh escaped my throat, taking me over. I laugheduncontrollably until I was gasping again. “That’s . . . that’s the second time today you’ve had to say that.”
My father didn’t seem to think it was funny. “What have you done to her?” He pulled me to my feet. “She’s out of her mind.”
“She hit me first,” said Cael.
“Oh, shut up,” my father said. “You sound like children. You will never touch her again.”
The attempt to suffocate me was worth it if it meant hearing my father speak to Cael with loathing for the first time in his life. I hoped my father would forget his anger for the man who kissed me and direct it at the one who tried to kill me instead.
“Why did you hit him?” my father asked.
“He lied about Pearce,” I said. “Cael killed him, not me.”
“That is rather disappointing,” my father said.
I wasn’t sure which part he was disappointed with, but I chose not to ask.
Cael looked either sorry or angry—I wasn’t sure which. He wiped the last of the blood from his nose, leaving his coat thoroughly stained. “Let’s finish this conversation so I can change out of this mess.”
“Are you willing to give me what I asked for?” I said. “I will no longer take the blame for killing Pearce, but if you agree to take me to the arsenal, I’ll still confess to Graham’s abduction. You’ll end up with a city to rule.”
“Confess?” asked my father, his voice wary. “What exactly are you planning?”
“Don’t worry,” I said flatly, “I’ll leave you out of it.”
“Fine,” said Cael. “I agree to all your terms.”
I tried not to look too pleased. “Does Graham agree?”
“He will do whatever I suggest,” he said, “which will make him the perfect king.”
I wanted to punch him again.
“I’ll be back in an hour with a uniform for you,” said Cael. “We’re paying Keane a visit.”
Chapter
Twenty-Six
Cael’s carriagebrought us to the base of a tall and foreboding prison, its roof melding with the slate-grey sky.
I wore a new Enforcer uniform Cael had brought me, complete with a gold rank card. I didn’t know where Cael had gotten it and I didn’t ask. My hair was neatly combed, and I made sure my mustache was properly glued on before stepping from the carriage into the street.
I followed Cael inside the prison, avoiding eye contact with the guards as I showed them my card.
Cael didn’t have to provide a thing. His laurel-adorned coat and recognizable face got him straight in, no explanation needed.
“Don’t speak unless I tell you to,” Cael said as we passed under the doorway.
Inside the murky prison, I tried to avoid taking deep breaths. Though it wasn’t the one I’d been locked up in, the smell was the same. I followed Cael down a hall, up a flight of stone steps, and through another corridor, ending at a wooden door with a guard in front of it.
“Is the prisoner chained?” asked Cael.
“He is,” said the man, “as ordered.”
“Good. Unlock it, please.”
