Instead, I walk through the cordon of guards and wonder if this hospital room will become Prince Kevon’s prison. With the Chamber of Ministers believing that he has proposed marriage to a rebel and an assassin, I can't see anyone coming to his rescue.
Two female guards at the front wearing black masks underneath their helmets step aside to let us into his room.
I take two steps inside and gape. The room isn’t as spacious as the one Prince Kevon occupied after Vitelotte stabbed him, but floor-to-ceiling windows on the left offer a far-reaching view of the Oasis, including King Arias’ giant solar trees.
Eight Noble girls sit in silence at his bedside. I don’t recognize any of them except for the short-haired girl whose chair is next to the footboard. I look away from Ingrid and rest my gaze to the top of the bed, where a paler-than-usual Prince Kevon reclines on propped-up pillows with long needles stuck into his chest. I swallow hard, wondering if this is his treatment or his torture.
“Leave us,” says Queen Damascena.
They rise and walk out into the hallway, each curtseying as they pass the queen. As Ingrid pauses at our sides, she shoots me a look that says everything. I should have listened to her. I should have accepted her offer. I should have known my place.
I turn my gaze back to Prince Kevon, whose chest barely rises and falls with his breaths. If I had formed an alliance with Ingrid, Mom, Dad, and the twins would be safe, but I would have opened up Phangloria to the control of her father and the Chamber of Ministers.
Dr. Ridgeback walks around his bed, extracts a syringe from a cabinet recessed into the wall, and injects its contents into Prince Kevon’s neck. “He’ll be awake in a few moments, Your Majesty.”
The queen turns to the open door. “Prepare the room.”
The women in black step inside and move all but one of the chairs to the walls. One of them forces me to sit at Prince Kevon’s bedside, and another stands at the foot of the bed and taps on a computer.
“Cameras are in place, Your Highness,” she says.
I don’t bother to look around for hidden cameras. Instead, I focus on the vital signs flashing on the wall screen.
“He’s waking.” Dr. Ridgeback walks around the bed and scurries toward the exit.
Queen Damascena and her henchwomen stream out of the room, leaving me alone with Prince Kevon, whose eyes remain closed. I drop my gaze to his hand and resist the urge to touch him. After saying the words I memorized on those cards, I doubt he’ll want to see me again.
Shallow breaths ease in and out of my nostrils, barely filling my lungs. Dad is because I delivered the lethal blow. Mom and the twins are still in the stadium, awaiting their turn with the new Scorpio. Prince Kevon is in this medical prison with artificial fibers in his heart that can cause him pain or death at the click of a button.
I lick my lips. The only way to save everyone is to destroy what’s left of Prince Kevon’s love.
“Zea?” he croaks.
My gaze snaps up to his face. “You’re awake.”
He reaches out his hand. I fold my arms across my chest and turn my gaze at his increasing vital signs.
“What happened?” he asks. “Why are you dressed like that?”
“I’m returning to Rugosa.”
“If it’s because of my mother—”
“It’s not her.” I exhale the tightness in my chest in a long breath. “All those things she said about me are true. I told Vitelotte to find a way to kill you. When that didn’t work, I decided I could try again after the birth of our first child, so I could become the regent.”
Prince Kevon draws his brows together and stares at me as though I’ve just said the words in another language and he’s trying to translate them before responding. I drop my gaze to the needles sticking out from under his collarbones, only noticing now the tiny threads that stretch up to a headboard that extends across the ceiling.
Silence draws out, and I realize that I’ve only mentioned two of the items on the queen’s list. She will use any deviations from her orders as an excuse for punishment.
I’m about to speak, when he says, “You’re saying that because I couldn’t keep you safe.”
“It’s the truth,” I reply. “My reason for joining the Princess Trials was to infiltrate the palace and find a way for rebels to slaughter the royals. When I talked about wanting to help someone lead the country, I was referring to Ryce Wintergreen.”
“What?” he whispers.
“I’ve wanted to be close to him ever since your father killed his father.”
Prince Kevon winces.
The tightness in my chest returns, as do the cramping pains in my stomach. If this continues for much longer, it will be me who needs the hospital bed. I’m sure Queen Damascena wanted me to weave these sentences into a conversation, but I blurt them out in a list.
“I’m grateful for our extra water rations, but I can’t continue this lie. You’re clingy, and you never listen. You bought my affection with wealth, but even that wasn’t enough to tolerate you. You weren’t enough.”
Prince Kevon’s face turns as hard as stone. “Why are you saying these things?”
I glance down at my clasped hands. “The queen has finally given me permission to leave the Princess Trials.”
“She’ll hurt you and your family if you leave my protection.”
“I’m giving her what she wants.” I recite even more of the queen’s words. “The chance for a happy life with a girl who doesn’t resent you.”
“You…” He pauses. “You resented me?”
The tightness around my chest loosens. I can’t tell if it’s because I’m nearly at the end of my list and he’s finally accepting my words or because my heart has shriveled and there’s nothing left to squeeze.
“I grew up never having enough to eat or drink. How
