Is that right? Magnus could feel his voice getting louder and louder. Action is what we need? Lets see . . . theres you, theres me, and theres Milo currently representing the once-great Limeros. That makes three of us against Amaras army. And we dont have Lucia with us, since you sent away the one person who could have found her! He swore under his breath. I need to find Cleo.

You need to do no such thing. That girl has been a plague upon us since the first moment she entered our lives.

Us? There is no us, Father. You think that anything is different now? A few encouraging words and pained looks do not make everything all right. You can try to stop me from leaving, but I promise youll fail.

Magnus went straight for the door of the inn, his head in a daze. Cleo must have gone to Auranos, he thought. Hed start there. Someone would know where to find her.

Thank the goddess shed been wise enough to take Enzo with her. But one single guard to protect her in the face of Amaras massive occupation wasnt nearly enough.

Magnus, dont leave, the king said. We need to discuss strategy.

Discuss strategy with Milo, he growled. Anything you have to say is utterly irrelevant to me.

Magnus flung open the door, ready to storm out of the room, but three men were already standing there, blocking his way.

Prince Magnus Damora, one said, nodding. He looked at his companions. See? I told you it was him. The prince of Limeros in the middle of Basilia. Who would have believed it? I remember you from your wedding tour. I brought my wife and children to see a pair of royals in their shiny, perfect clothing, to show them what we could never have as the lowly Paelsians youve always seen us as. And here you are, dressed like one of us.

So pleased to meet you, whoever you are. Magnuss eyes narrowed. And now I suggest you get out of my way.

Theres a price on your head"yours and your fathers.

Is there? Magnus gave them a thin smile. And what price is on your heads if I detach them from your bodies?

The stranger and his friends laughed at this as if it was the most hilarious thing theyd ever heard. All of us? Even the Prince of Blood couldnt take us all on.

Dont be so sure.

Kill them, the king suggested. We dont have time for nonsense today.

Thats the first good idea youve had, Magnus replied under his breath.

But before he could make a move to grab for a weapon, or say another word, three spears sailed through the air, impaling each man from behind.

The three dropped to the ground at Magnuss feet.

Magnus looked up. Behind the men, there was a veritable army of soldiers in green uniforms.

Amaras army.

Magnus slammed the door shut and staggered back into the inn. We have a problem.

Yes, I see that, the king replied.

I take it Amara doesnt believe whatever story you told her anymore if shes sent her army for you.

I assumed it would only be a matter of time.

Magnus glared at him. How can you sound so damn calm about this?

There was a banging on the door. Open up in the name of Amara Cortas, empress of Kraeshia!

Milo was there in front of them, sword in hand, as the front door splintered inward and Amaras guards came spilling into the inn. Magnus now had his sword at the ready, but all he could do was watch as Milo"the guard he still felt deep gratitude toward for intervening when his and Cleos lives had been threatened at the cliffside"fell after slaying only two guards.

With a roar of anger, Magnus moved forward, raising his weapon.

The king put his hand on Magnuss shoulder to stop him.

Dont, he said.

A tall, muscular uniformed soldier strode forward, the others making way for him. Drop your weapon. Surrender, or die here and now.

Magnus, his jaw clenched, looked down at Milo, blood pooling next to his body. Milo had wanted to fight, had wanted to kill as many of these Kraeshians as he could for the king and for Limeros.

But he couldnt kill them all. And neither could Magnus.

This fight was over before it had barely begun. Amara had won.

CHAPTER 26.

LUCIA.

PAELSIA.

I swear to the goddess, Lucia said, clutching her belly, this child wishes to be the death of me.

Shed never assumed that carrying a child would be simple. In the past, shed seen pregnant women whod complained about their backs hurting, their ankles swelling, and constant nausea. But she knew this was different.

The road Jonas promised would lead to her family was winding and rocky. Every time the horse-drawn cart took a turn too fast or hit a boulder, she wanted to cry out from the pain.

Do you want me to have the driver stop again? asked Jonas.

No. Weve wasted too much time already.

The rebel had been very quiet during the journey, which, due to multiple stops, had taken them nearly an entire day since leaving his sisters cottage.

She had to ask.

Does your sister hate you because of who I am? That you brought me to her home?

That would be more than enough, I think. I was wrong to bring you there thinking shed be willing to help you. But my sister hates me for other reasons. Valid reasons. I cant argue that I didnt abandon my family. Even though I thought I was keeping them safe by staying away, I see now that it was the wrong decision. I should have been there when my father died.

Im sorry, she said.

He eyed her. You are?

Despite what you believe of me, Im not utterly heartless.

If you say so.

She groaned. Please keep talking, even if its only to insult me. When youre talking, the pain seems to lessen a little. She scanned what she could see of the landscape, which had turned from rural to much more populated, with buildings closer together and roads that seemed smoother and well traveled. Is it much farther?

Not much. Ill talk to ease your pain the rest of the way. The last time I saw my father I decided that I never wanted to be like him. But I still should have been there when he died. Like so many Paelsians, he accepted life as it unfolded before him, never working to change it. He believed blindly in Chief Basilius. I suppose I did too, for a while. At least, until I saw for myself that the chief had none of the magic he claimed and that he allowed Paelsians to starve while he lived like a true king in his compound, thanks to his high tax on Paelsian wine. He made me so many promises of a brighter future"he even wanted me to marry his daughter.

It was odd"the sound of the rebels voice did seem to soothe her. At least until he mentioned that particular name. Chief Basilius wanted you to marry his daughter? Which one?

Laelia. He studied her. Why do you look so surprised by this? Because the daughter of someone like Basilius would have nothing to do with a wine sellers son?

Thats not why.

Trust me, she wasnt complaining.

My goodness, rebel, is your previous betrothal a touchy subject for you?

No. I barely think about it"or her"anymore. I have no interest in marriage. His jaw set, and he continued to mutter, as if to himself. That leads to children, and children . . . I just dont see myself raising one, no matter how important it might be.

She frowned at him. Of course not. Youre still young.

So are you.

I didnt choose this.

His expression remained grim. I keep wondering just how many of us actually get a choice in our futures, or whether theyre already set and were doomed to simply think we have control over our lives.

So philosophical. For your information, I looked surprised about your betrothal to Laelia only because I recently discovered that Gaius Damora isnt my father by blood. He had me kidnapped because of my prophecy. My real father was Chief Basilius. Laelia is my sister.

Jonas blinked. Im surprised youd share this with me.

Why? Were making conversation, and such a secret doesnt matter to me anymore.

His brows drew together. So youre Paelsian.

She laughed weakly. That is all you take from that revelation?

Jonas swore under his breath as he studied her face. You actually look like her, now that Im paying attention. Like Laelia. Same blue eyes, same hair color. Fewer snakes, though. And youre so pale right now. You really arent feeling well, are you?

Not at all.

So is it a sorceress thing, this quick pregnancy? All that elementia inside you?

I think it has more to do with my visit to the Sanctuary. The quickness happened only after I returned to Paelsia.

He regarded her with shock. Youve been to the Sanctuary? The actual Sanctuary where the immortals live?

She nodded. Briefly. A Watcher named Timotheus has been tolerating my existence because of my prophecy. Sometimes he visits my dreams. I knew I needed to see him, to ask for his help. To be honest, he wasnt all that helpful. Jonass shoulders had stiffened at the name. Whats wrong?

Nothing. Timotheus, you said?

He has visions . . . about me, about this world, and about his world. But hes secretive about the visions that have to do with me.

Im sure he is. Jonass expression was unreadable. She wasnt sure if he was fascinated by what she was saying or bored out of his mind.

Anyway . . . Lucia gazed around at the large village that the cart had entered, hopeful that this journey would soon end. He hasnt visited my dreams even once since I returned here. Either he cant do that anymore or hes leaving me to discover my fate by myself. As you said, it might already be decided without any input from me.

Jonas didnt reply to this, and it was some time before he said another word. The father of your child . . . was he good or evil?

She was about to say that that was a strange question, but given that she already knew Jonas perceived her as nothing but evil, she decided his question was valid enough.

I believe Alexius was good, but he was manipulated to do evil by another. He was commanded to take my life, and when the time came, he refused and took his own.

He sacrificed himself for you.

Bringing up memories of Alexius made the pain in her belly shift to her heart. She tried to think of him as little as possible to avoid any pangs of remorse or grief about the immortal.

He fought against the magic that forced him to move me from place to place like a piece upon a game board. He taught me more about my own magic. He even taught me how to steal the magic from others to weaken them. I didnt know why he did this at the time, but in the end . . . I understood. He was teaching me how to kill an immortal.

You killed an immortal by stealing all of his magic?

No, I killed an immortal by stealing all of her magic.

Jonas absently rubbed his chest. Do you think I might learn how to do that? Steal magic?

That doesnt sound like something I should teach someone who despises me. Besides, for all I know, that mark you showed me is the result of ink.

Its not. He looked down at his hands. I dont know . . . on the ship I was able to use the magic in me a little. Not much, but even now I feel it inside of me pressing outward. Its like its trying to get out, but I dont know how to release it"or if I even want to.

My own magic was difficult to grasp after it awakened within me. Perhaps you simply need to be patient.

Yes, of course, because theres plenty of time to be patient with an empress and a god of fire to contend with. Brilliant suggestion, princess. He stood up as the cart came to a halt. Weve arrived.

Lucia tore her glare from the rebel to realize that she recognized the city theyd entered: Basilia. She scanned the busy streets and could smell the foul stench of Traders Harbor from here. My brother and father are here?

They were the last time I saw them. Jonas jumped down from the cart and offered Lucia his hand. She glanced at it with uncertainty. Come now, princess, I havent brought you this far to let you fall on your face, especially not in your delicate condition.

Im not delicate.

If you say so. He shrugged but didnt lower his hand.

Grudgingly, she put her hand in his and allowed him to help her down off the cart.

Do you need a meal? he asked. Theres a tavern nearby where you can meet your blood sister, and I dont think youve eaten today.