The first person she came upon in the empty dining room was tall, with broad shoulders and dark hair. He wore a black cloak and, with his back to her, gazed out of the front windows toward the village center.

Magnus.

She quickly drew toward him and placed her hand on his arm.

Instead of Magnus, King Gaius turned to face her. Cleo yanked her hand back as if it had been scorched. She took an immediate step back from him, then managed to tamp down her initial shock and rein in her composure.

Good morning, princess, he said. His face was as pale as yesterday, still bruised and cut, with dark circles beneath his eyes.

Speak, she commanded herself. Say something, so he doesnt think youre terrified of him.

He raised a dark eyebrow. Has the wildcat lost her tongue?

Damn, but he looked so much like Magnus in the shadows of the inn. The very thought made her stomach roil with disgust.

Not nearly, she said evenly as she drew her cloak tighter around her shoulders. But shed advise you to keep your distance if you want to keep yours.

An empty threat, he said drily. How predictable.

If youll excuse me, Im going to go back to my room.

You certainly could. He moved to take a seat at the nearest table, which was soon to be occupied by hungry patrons, and sat down heavily, groaning as if the movement caused him pain. Or perhaps this is a good time for us to talk.

Theres no time thats good for that.

The king leaned back in his chair and regarded her silently for a moment. It was Emilia who was blessed with her mothers particular beauty. But you . . . you certainly inherited her fire.

Hearing this snake mention her mother again turned her stomach. You never did answer my question from before. How do you know my mother? Why was it her name on your lips in your dying moments?

His lips thinned in a grimace. It was a mistake, speaking her name.

Youre still avoiding the question.

I believe this may be the longest conversation you and I have ever had, princess.

Tell me the truth, she snapped. Or is that even possible for you?

Ah, curiosity. It is a dangerous beast that will lead you down dark alleyways to an uncertain fate. He scanned her face, his expression pinched. Elena and I were friends once.

Cleo laughed at that, surprising herself at the sharp sound of it. Friends?

You dont believe me?

I dont believe you have any friends, let alone that my mother was one of them.

It was a different time, back before I was a king or she was a queen. Sometimes it feels like a million years ago.

I dont believe you were friends with my mother.

It doesnt matter if you believe me or not. It was over and done with a very long time ago.

Cleo turned away from him, disgusted that he could even attempt to make such a claim. Her mother would never have chosen to spend time with someone as vile as Gaius Damora.

Now I get to ask a question, princess, he said, standing up and putting himself in between Cleo and the staircase.

She turned slowly to give him the haughtiest look possible. What?

What do you want with my son? he said, enunciating each word.

She stared at him. Excuse me?

You heard me. Are you planning to continue to use Magnus for your own gain? If so, then bravo to you. Youve done an exceedingly fine job turning him against me. His many weaknesses have long been a disappointment to me, but this" He shook his head. Do you have any true idea what hes given up for you?

You dont know anything about it.

Gaius scoffed. I know that not that long ago my son aspired to be a leader, willing to do what it took to one day meet his great potential. Im not blind. I saw how quickly his head was turned by your beauty. But beauty is fleeting, and power is forever. This sacrifice, the choices hes made lately surrounding the subject of you . . . I dont understand his reasoning. Not really.

Then perhaps you are blind.

He doesnt see everything thats at stake. He only sees whats happening in the moment, before his eyes. But you do, dont you? You know how you want your life to be ten, twenty, fifty years from now. Youve never given up on your desire to reclaim your throne. I admit that I underestimated your drive, which was a grave mistake.

Why wouldnt I want to reclaim whats rightfully mine?

Be careful, princess, he said.

This isnt the first time youve told me to do just that. This time, I cant tell if you mean it as a warning or a threat.

Its a warning.

Just like the warning about the curse that my mother passed to me?

Yes. Just like that. You dont believe it? He leaned closer. Look in my eyes and tell me if Im lying about something as important as this. Your mother was cursed by a hateful witch and she died giving birth to you because of that curse.

Cleo took a moment to study the king who spoke lies so easily. If he were anyone else, anyone at all, she would be concerned for his health. Even during their short, unpleasant conversation, his face had grown paler, his voice drier and raspier. His broad shoulders were now hunched over.

She celebrated his decline and would equally celebrate his death. If he expected anything else from her, he would be sorely disappointed.

But his eyes"clear, steady, cruel"held no deception that she could see.

You can see the truth, he said, his voice hoarse. Elena could too, all too often, when it came to me. She knew me better than anyone else.

You dont deserve to speak her name.

Thats quite an accusation, princess, especially considering it was you who murdered her.

Cleos eyes began to sting as the weight of the guilt shed always carried with her"that her life came at the price of her mothers death"rose up in her chest and crushed her. If what you say is true, the curse is what killed her.

It certainly helped. But it was you who stole Elenas life. Your sister didnt succeed, but you did.

Each word felt like a blow. Enough of this. I wont stand here for another moment and let you insult me, intimidate me, and lie to me. Listen to me very clearly: If you so much as attempt to harm me or Magnus again, I promise I will kill you myself.

With that, Cleo turned away and started toward the stairs, not caring if she had to wait another eternity for breakfast. She refused to be in the King of Bloods poisonous presence for another moment.

And you listen to me, princess. Gaiuss voice followed her like a rancid odor. This love you think you feel for my son? The day will come when you will have to choose between Magnus and power. And I know, without a doubt, that you will choose power.

CHAPTER 6.

JONAS.

THE SILVER SEA.

On the third day at sea, Jonas stood with Nic at the bow of the King of Bloods ship, its black and red sails catching the wind that would return them to Mytica in four more days. Olivia, in hawk form, kept a watch upon him from above as she did for most of the day, her large golden wings stretched out as she soared.

He wished he could turn into a hawk so he could be that much quicker in his return. Life aboard a ship was not for him; the constant rocking motion beneath his feet was disorienting and made his stomach churn. Although, he had to admit, he was doing better than some. Felix hung over the railing to their right, his face an ugly shade of green.

He wasnt kidding about his seasickness, Nic said.

No, he certainly wasnt, Jonas replied.

I feel bad for him.

Hell survive.

Fearsome assassin, you said? Didnt he hunt bounties for King Gaius?

Thats right. Former fearsome assassin for King Gaius. Currently fighting the good fight as he embarks on a long and arduous path to redemption. And also currently heaving his breakfast into the sea as an offering to any fish who may give assistance.

I can hear you, you know, Felix managed as he clung to the railing at the edge of the ship.

Jonas tried to repress a grin, the first one hed felt on his face in ages. Yes, we know.

This isnt funny, Felix growled.

Im not laughing. Not out loud, anyway.

Felix said something unintelligible but unmistakably unpleasant under his breath, then groaned. Can someone please kill me and put me out of this misery?

I volunteer, said Taran as he descended from the crows nest. Hed insisted on climbing up there, displacing a crew member, to keep a lookout for any Kraeshian vessels.

Shut up, Felix snarled. Then his face tensed, and he threw himself against the railing to be sick again.

Jonas grimaced. Anything I can do to help?

Just . . . leave me . . . to die.

Fair enough. He turned away from his sick friend to regard Taran as he picked up the sword hed left at the bottom of the pole. What are you up to now, might I ask?

Im going to sharpen my sword.

It seems like youve been sharpening that blade since we set sail.

Taran glanced at him. And . . . ?

Must be the sharpest blade ever, ready to kill those who deserve it, Nic said, sharing a knowing look with Taran. Well done.

Jonas sighed and took Nic by his bicep, directing him out of Tarans earshot. We need to talk.

Nic slipped away from Jonass grip. About what?

Your hate of Magnus is consuming you, and its becoming a problem.

Nic scowled. Really? How odd that youd say that, since I havent mentioned that bucket of scum in days. Besides, since when did you become his majestys personal bodyguard?

The thought was ludicrous. Im not. But the prince sent me to Kraeshia to kill his father. Were in an alliance with him.

You might be in an alliance with that monster, but Im not. Nics cheeks flushed as he jabbed a finger in Tarans direction. Magnus killed his brother. Your so-called alliance has nothing to do with either me or him.

Jonas had heard about the murder of Theon Ranus over the last few days and how the former Auranian guard had been involved with Cleo before Magnus had stabbed him through the back.

Yet another reason for Cleo to despise Magnus, he thought. Hed had no clue about any of this, but that Cleo had lost someone she cared about . . . just like Jonas had lost Lys . . . it only made him feel closer to her.

Taran had every right to seek vengeance on the prince, but it was nothing but a distraction from the larger problem of Amara and the king, of three magical crystal orbs imprisoning elemental gods, and of Jonass own need for vengeance against the fire Kindred for killing Lysandra.

Fine, Jonas said, absently scratching his chest. You and Taran can do what you want when it comes to the prince. But I want no part of it.

Agreed.

Jonas scanned the deck, seeing Taran and Felix and a few crew members, but one person was notably missing. Wheres that other prince we need to worry about?

Nic didnt reply for a moment. Likely in his quarters, being silent and meditating, or whatever it is prophesied phoenixes do to spend their time while at sea.

With each day that passed, Jonas felt more and more sure that allowing Ashur passage aboard this ship had been a mistake. At best, he was simply the misguided brother of the power-mad empress whod used and manipulated Felix nearly to death; at worst, he was completely insane and would get them all killed.

Jonas had never been much of an optimist.

Do you believe the legend is true? Jonas asked.

I dont know, Nic said, exhaustion and sadness in his tone. All I know for sure is that I watched him die, and now here he is, alive and aboard the very same ship we are.

Have you ever heard that legend before? Of somebody whos returned from death to be the savior of the world?