But Ashur"he glanced toward the door"is definitely not a girl.

Dont try to think too hard about it, rebel. You might injure your brain. Just know that its complicated.

Isnt everything? He came to sit next to her. Now that I know Ashurs little secret, and that its not a personal threat to you or me, I need to focus on getting my hands on the orb the king has hidden. Do you think its here in the inn?

I have no idea. I wish I did. I was going to tell you . . . to unlock the magic, we need Lucias blood and the blood of a Watcher.

His surprised gaze met hers. Thats the secret?

Cleo nodded.

That wont release the god?

I dont know. Thats why its so important that we find Lucia, to find out more from her and what went wrong with Kyan.

Jonass brown eyes got a faraway look in them. The prophecy . . .

What? she prompted when he fell silent.

He shook his head. Never mind. Ill tell you more when I figure out if its true or not.

The trouble is, I dont know how to find a Watcher. She bit her bottom lip. Sure, there may be a handful of exiled Watchers still alive, but I think it needs to be a full Watcher. Im hoping Lucia will be willing to help when the time comes.

Dont worry about finding a Watcher. He didnt speak for an extended moment. I have that covered.

Her gaze shot to his with surprise. How?

Olivia, he whispered. Shes one.

She gaped at him. Youre not serious.

Its another secret, but Im going to trust you to keep it. He gave her a half grin then, one shed always found equally charming and frustrating. Theres been so much thats been sacrificed on this road weve traveled together. So much loss for both of us. But I hold tight to the thought that it will all be worth it in the end.

She nodded. Me too.

I think you should know that Lys liked you.

Now youre lying.

She might not have even realized it herself, but I know she respected you more than you might think. You share the same thing: strength, Jonass voice finally broke. You just show it in different ways.

Cleos eyes began to sting at the sight of Jonas struggling not to let the tears welling in his eyes fall.

She took the rebels hands in hers, drawing him closer to her. Im so sorry for your loss, Jonas. I mean that from the very bottom of my heart.

He just nodded, his eyes trained on the floor. She loved me. I didnt even realize it until it was too late. Or maybe I did and I wasnt ready to accept it. But now I see . . . she was kind of perfect for me.

I have to agree.

We could have had a life together. A house, maybe even a villa. He grinned again, but it was sadder this time. Children. A future. Who knows what could have happened? I only know one thing for sure.

What?

Lys deserved far better than me.

I have no doubt about that, Cleo agreed, pleased that the surprised look Jonas gave her managed to erase the pain in his eyes. She gave him a warm smile. My sister believed that those who die become stars in the skies. So every night we can look up and know theyre watching over us.

His expression grew skeptical. Is that some Auranian legend?

And if it is?

A lock of her hair had fallen over her forehead, and he tucked it back behind her ear before leaving his hand against her cheek. Then I like Auranian legends.

Cleo rested her head on Jonass shoulder, and they sat there, taking comfort from each other. There was a connection between her and Jonas"something very powerful that shed never been able to ignore. And there was a time, not so long ago, that she could have loved this rebel with all her heart.

And she did love him, but not in the way that Lysandra had.

Come what may, Cleos heart belonged to another.

CHAPTER 18.

MAGNUS.

PAELSIA.

It was clear to Magnus that Enzo and Milo were holding back in their sparring session, worried about harming a prince. Magnus left them both bleeding as punishment for this and went back inside the inn, feeling the surprising need to sketch.

He paused at the doorway when he saw Jonas and Cleo in the meeting hall. They were sitting close together, their voices low. Magnus inched closer to hear, but instead he watched as the rebel stroked Cleos hair without protest from the princess, then stroked her cheek. Their eyes lingered on each others for a second too long.

Magnuss vision turned blood red.

Part of him wanted to storm in there, to tear them apart and kill the rebel before he cast Cleo out of the inn and away from him forever.

His more rational mind told him that not everything he saw was the truth and that he shouldnt jump to conclusions.

Still, if he went in there and confronted the pair, surely someone would die.

Instead, he stormed out of the inn and headed down the road directly to the tavern, growling at the barkeep for wine. He lost track of how many goblets hed drunk before he began to calm down.

He already knew the princess cared for the rebel, that the two had some romantic history he had not wanted to think much about. Why wouldnt she want someone like Jonas? Someone brave and strong"albeit poor and pathetic and a deadly jinx upon all hed enlisted into his command as a rebel leader in the past.

Magnus could still see how someone like Jonas, who openly gazed at the princess as if she were a shining star in the night sky, would be tempting. At least in comparison to Magnus, who was dark and moody and quick to violence.

He stared down into his empty goblet. With a million other worries and troubles upon me, I am now obsessed about where her true feelings lie. He glared drunkenly at the barkeep. Why is my cup empty?

Apologies. The barkeep quickly filled the goblet until the wine splashed over the side.

Someone came to sit on the wooden stool next to him. He was about to bark at the man that he needed his space and that if he valued his life he should go elsewhere, but then he realized who it was.

Wine never helps one forget their worries for long, his father said, his face as pale and gaunt as a corpse beneath the heavy hood of his black cloak.

Since the king had been sequestered in a private room upstairs at the inn with his mother since the night they arrived, it was a surprise to see him here. Magnus glanced around to see if hed brought Milo for protection, but he didnt see the guard anywhere. Perhaps he still nursed his injuries from their sparring session.

Magnus ignored the kings comment and drained his cup before speaking. Does Selia know youre here? I cant imagine shed approve.

She doesnt know. Her concern about my impending death has made me a prisoner. I dont care very much for the feeling.

The feeling of your impending death or of being a prisoner? No need to answer. Im sure both are vastly unfamiliar experiences for you. Magnus grabbed the flask of wine from the barkeep and shooed him away with a wave of his hand. He drank directly from the bottle now.

There was a time when I indulged in such sins, the king said.

Wine or intense self-pity?

Are you having trouble with the princess?

Im sure that would make you very happy, wouldnt it?

To know that you might wish to separate from someone who I believe will only lead you to your doom? Happy would not be the word Id choose, but yes. It would be for the best.

I will not discuss Cleo with you, not now or ever, Magnus mumbled, hating that his head was so unclear with his father nearby. Hed prefer to have complete control over his senses, but it was too late to worry about that after the amount of wine hed already consumed.

Wise choice, the king replied. Shes certainly not my favorite subject.

This hatred you have for her . . . He turned it over in his mind, this seemingly unrelenting loathing the king had for Cleo. It must have to do with her mother, yes?

Yes, actually it does.

A direct answer. How unusual"and deeply intriguing.

Queen Elena Bellos, Magnus continued, spurred by the wine loosening his lips. I saw her portrait at the Auranian palace before you had it torn down along with the others. She was a beautiful woman.

She certainly was. The king turned away from him and wistfully looked out the tavern windows at the dark city street outside. Magnus could see the faintest smile on his ghostly pale lips.

The realization hit him hard. You were in love with her, Magnus said, shocked at his own words but knowing it had to be true. You were in love with Cleos mother. This accusation drew the kings gaze back to him, his bloodshot eyes widening slightly as if with surprise. Magnus took a moment to absorb this silent confirmation and another sip of his wine to aid his suddenly dry throat. It must have been a very long time ago, back when you were capable of such a pure emotion.

The smile quickly disappeared from his fathers pale, sickly face. It was a lifetime ago. Such weakness nearly destroyed me, which is exactly why I wanted to watch out for you.

Magnus laughed at this, a loud bellowing sound that surprised even him. Watch out for me? Oh, Father, dont waste your breath on such lies.

The king slammed his fist down on the bar top. Are you blind? Utterly blind? Everything Ive ever done has been for you!

The force of his sudden anger made Magnus spill some of his drink down the front of his tunic. He glared at the man. How odd that I forgot that when you chose to end my life"and the life of my mother.

Death would be a relief from this world for many of us.

I will not forget anything that youve done, starting with this. Magnus pointed to the scar on his right cheek. Do you remember that day as clearly as I do?

The kings jaw tensed. I remember.

I was seven years old. Seven. Have you for one moment regretted it?

The kings eyes narrowed. You shouldnt have tried to steal from the Auranian palace. It would have caused great embarrassment had you been successful.

Seven years old! Magnuss throat hurt as he practically yelled it. I was a mere child making a mistake, tempted by something shiny and pretty when I was used to living a bland, gray life in a bland, gray palace. No one would have known that Id taken that dagger! What difference did it make?

I would have known, the king hissed. That dagger you wished to steal belonged to Elena. I would have known because I was the one who gave it to her, back when I was a foolish boy trying to woo a beautiful girl. I didnt know shed kept it, that shed cherished and displayed it all the time wed been apart. When I saw it in your hand six years after her death . . . I didnt think. I just reacted.

Magnus found he had no immediate reply. To have these questions answered after so long, he couldnt process it quick enough. That doesnt excuse what you did.

No, of course it doesnt.

Magnus tore his attention away from the king and tried to focus on something, anything else. It helped to notice that the world went on beyond this conversation. A large man walked toward the bar with an armful of empty cups, his tunic riding up high enough to show a hairy belly. A barmaid coyly slapped the hand of a sailor away. The musicians in the far corner played a lively song, and many clapped along. Several others danced on a tabletop.

Power is all that matters, Magnus. Legacy is all that matters. The king said it as if trying to convince himself of this. Without it were no better than a Paelsian peasant.

Hed heard these platitudes so many times theyd become no more than words that held no true meaning. Tell me, did Elena Bellos love you in return, or was it a sad and hopeless obsession that turned both your heart and soul to solid ice?

His father didnt answer for so long that Magnus thought he might have stood up and left. He turned his gaze away from the busy tavern to be sure the king was still beside him.

She loved me, he finally said, his voice nearly inaudible. But that love wasnt enough to solve our problems.

Magnus clenched his goblet. Are you going to tell me a tale of love and loss now"about a boy meeting a girl?

No.

The thought that his father would dangle this epic love story before him without sharing it fully was as expected as it was frustrating.

Then why are you even here?

To share the lesson I learned. Love is pain. Love is death. And love strips one of their power. Had I to do it all over again, I wish Id never met Elena Corso. Ive since come to despise her.

How romantic. Since she married Corvin Bellos, I assume she felt the same.

Im sure she did. And now, Im reminded of her every day of all that Ive lost by that deceptive little creature, Cleo. She has become your fatal weakness, Magnus.

The hatred had returned to Gaiuss voice. Magnus met his fathers cold eyes. Your ongoing hatred for Cleo seems incredibly misplaced to me. The witch who cursed Elena is the one you should blame. Magnus let out a breath in shock as he realized something. You do, dont you? Thats why youve condemned so many witches to their deaths over the years"to pay for that witchs crime. You might say you despise Elena, but you still love her"even beyond death. Why else would you have taken Grandmothers potion?

Think what you want. A muscle in the kings cheek twitched. The potion was the only way to burn away the grief, the pain, and leave only strength behind. But now that strength is gone, stripped away when I fell from that cliff. The pain and grief is back, worse than ever before. And I hate it. I hate everything about this life, what Ive had to do, how Ive spent all this time obsessed with nothing but power. But its over now.

So you keep promising.