AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Fading sunlight slants across the floor in wide beams, and dust sparkles in the air. The scents of leather, woodsmoke, and tobacco linger, as they always do in this room. As a boy, before my father and I grew to resent each other, I loved the smell. Now, it carries the suffocating weight of his expectations.
My father’s chair scrapes across the stone floor. He steps around the desk. One hand remains on the edge of it, unmarred fingers trailing along its polished surface. “Have you come to tell me that you’ve chosen? Or do I need to remind you that you’re down to hours?”
“I’m aware.” I straighten my spine and follow him with my eyes as he meanders toward the windows. “And yes, I have.”
“Oh?” The glance he shoots me over his shoulder mirrors the surprise in his voice. Like he truly thought I’d fail to do so. Perhaps he wanted me to fail so he could choose for me. “Good, good. What’s her name?”
“Alia.”
He stills mid-stride. I don’t move or breathe. He doesn’t seem to either. Then a cold gleam overtakes his eyes. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“Then my ears deceive me.”
“No. You heard correctly.” I cross the room and stand in front of his desk, mere paces from him. With the arched windows at his back, he’s little more than a silhouette. But nothing disguises the wrinkled exasperation on his face. “If you wanted me to choose a specific woman, you should have arranged it and not given me the choice.”
“You cannot —sheis not —” He sputters and shakes his head. In a rush, his demeanor calms, and he returns to the desk. “She is ineligible, Kirran. You know that. She has no magic. No chance of magic.” Another glitter of frigid resolve fills his gaze. He braces his palms against the glossy wood. “You will choose another.”
I cross my arms. “No, I think not.”
“You will if I make it an order.” Golden eyes bore into me.
“No.” I don’t even hint at flinching under his glare. “I will not choose another, and you will not interfere with my decision. You don’t get to go back on your word simply because you don’t like my choice.”
“It is beyond being about your choice. This is the fate of our kingdom.” His nostrils flare. “By the forest, Kirran, you’ve squandered these days as if there’s endless time for the transition ritual —”
“I’m aware of the situation. Perhaps you would be interested to know that there is treason at work here. Which is far more pressing than whether or not my chosen bride has magic.”
His eyes widen. He turns his head, as if he isn’t sure he heard me. “What treason?”
I level my gaze at him. “We were severed on purpose. To what end, we don’t know yet. But her memories are coming back. And I promise you, I will find the traitor who tried to take her from me.”
Silence hangs between us as he studies me. Long enough that my skin chills.
If Father has been involved this whole time…
“What convinces you of treasonous motives?” His voice lowers until only a threatening edge remains. “What has happened?”
It takes a second to recognize the deeper concern in his tone. Genuine concern. Any remaining inkling that he’s responsible in some way melts away from me.
Even so, my magic ripples beneath my skin. Because someone is to blame. If it isn’t my father, there are still dozens of other possible suspects.
“Our memories don’t match, and hers indicate the touch of an illusionist. Likely a memorist as well. We haven’t been able to pin down the exact magic used, but we know someone did something.” I grind my teeth together. “Her stepmother misled her yesterday to cover for one of her daughters. They made her dress rot. And surprise — not one of them remained in the palace today when I tried to question them.”
His lips part, but he just watches me.
“Had we not separated, had Alia not left, I likely wouldn’t have gone to war. A war where two of my brothers fell and the third died trying to end it.” Images of battle blaze within me, scraping for a hold on my mind. I wrangle my focus back to him. “Don’t you find that even a little suspicious?”
“Soldiers often die.”
My mouth snaps open, but he holds up a hand before I can protest.
“I do not say that dismissively.” Something hardens in his eyes, and they pinch at the corners. “I mean only that your brothers dying at war proves no grand conspiracy.”
The scoff scrapes out. “And Farrid? You’re going to tell me that his assassination was, what, an accident?”
“Your brother —” He lets out a slow breath and dips his head. “Kirran, it is almost certain that Farrid was not the assassin’s target.”
