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“Your faith is admirable, little Valtain,” Sephone replied. “Though I fear it may be misplaced.”
“If only you shared it,” I said bluntly. “Especially as you claim Kairos as your son. But it’s clear where you’re laying your bets.” I nodded towards Avriel, then stepped aside to let them pass.
Avriel bared his teeth and hissed as he stepped past, then whispered something in the queen’s ear that sent her into a peal of laughter.
I let out a breath I hadn’t known I’d been holding.
Then I realized I wasn’t alone.
Lyrastra was standing before me with a curious expression. She must have been trailing behind at the back of the group.
“I hadn’t realized you were part of the procession. Hoping for another chance to freeze me to the wall? I warn you, you’ll meet with resistance if you try. I won’t hold back.”
Now I was really bluffing. I had absolutely no desire to let my powers loose, even on Lyrastra. Not after what I had dreamed last night.
The snake-eyed woman shook her head slowly. “It wasn’t cheating, you know. What he did to Pearl. Just poor form.”
“So I’m told,” I said bitterly. “What merciless rules you all play by.”
She looked at me strangely. “Do you really care?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” I snapped. “Perhaps more of you should.”
She glanced up the hall in the direction the queen’s procession had taken. “Pearl was Ulpheas’s cousin, you know. The queen doesn’t believe he didn’t know Celeste was a traitor in advance. But he’s too stupid for Celeste to have taken into her confidence.”
“Aren’t you all cousins?” I said tiredly. “Besides, I thought you were friends with Ulpheas.”
“We are.” Lyrastra looked surprised. “It’s still the truth. As for Avriel.” She shrugged wearily. “It’s how it’s always been done. His cheating will be more blatant, just wait and see. Once the real thing begins. And why shouldn’t it?Shecertainly won’t care.”
I knew she meant the Queen Regent.
“They’re sleeping together, aren’t they?” I said bluntly. “The queen and Draven’s cousin?”
Lyrastra gave me a small smile. “She’s his aunt, too, you know. His father was Sephone’s brother.”
She was obviously trying to shock me so I tried not to let my revulsion show too plainly. “Well, you Siabra really are something, aren’t you?” I said as blithely as I could manage. “Keeping the royal bloodlines nice and tight, I suppose.”
“Something like that.” Lyrastra looked down the hallway where the royal procession had disappeared. “Still, he’s the top contender. He and Kairos.”
“What about you?” I said, surprising myself. “You seem fairly... competent.”
“I am. But I’m no match for Avriel. I won’t cheat, you see.”
I snorted. “You did the other day.”
She looked at me. “That was different. We were playing.”
“And you’re not going to play when it comes to the Blood Rise, when your very life is on the line?” I shook my head. “Forgive me if I don’t see you as particularly honorable. Why are you even telling me this?”
“Kairos already knows his cousin. What Avriel is capable of. And he knows me, too.” She lifted her chin. “Tell him I don’t need his protection when it all begins. I can hold my own. Tell him not to get himself killed trying to save me. I’m not Pearl. He can’t save us all.”
I stared. “That’s what this is about? Weren’t you supposed to be trying to kill me the next time we were alone? Aren’t you wasting your chance?”
“Just fucking tell him. If you even talk.” She gave me a look of derision that reminded me it was the same old Lyrastra. “And there’s plenty of time.”
She turned and marched away.
