I hit it and load another arrow before hitting it again. The movement becomes repetitive as Arix guides me to the next target, and the next.
A crowd gathers, but I tune them out, fury and frustration warring within me.
I can’t do this anymore.
The thought slams into me like an asteroid. I can’t look at this man, can’t kiss him while knowing I’m going to betray him.
There’s an animal in Australia called a quokka. When threatened by a predator, it’ll relax its pouch muscles, allowing its baby to fall out. The baby will lie on the ground, hissing and drawing the predator’s attention so the mother can escape.
Most people would agree that’s cold. But what if the sacrifice of those babies means the survival of the species as a whole?
Arix somehow snuck beneath all my defenses. But how do I give up the futures of the women who are so desperate to get home?
Strong hands take the crossbow from me, and I blink, realizing my face is wet. Arix’s eyes are dark, his face hard as he waves his hand, and the people gathered around us begin to thin out.
“It’s not as bad as you think it is,” he says, and I choke out a laugh.
He wipes my tears, and I open my mouth, ready to tell him everything.
“Your Majesty.”
We both turn at Bevix’s voice. Arix’s expression goes cold at the interruption, and Bevix bows his head.
“It’s Korzyn. He was attacked.”
Arix
Korzyn is unconscious but alive. He’s deathly pale, but he has traces of blue around his mouth. My knees go weak as I slump into the chair next to his bed.
“He was carrying cava berries,” I murmur, and the healer nods.
I resist the urge to slide my hand into my own pocket, where a few of the dried berries are hidden. Korzyn’s planning and paranoia have saved his life.
“The berries began the healing process, giving us enough time to get to him. Once again, we were detained,” the healer says, and I tear my gaze from Korzyn, meeting her eyes.
She nods at whatever she sees on my face. “The main door leading to the healers’ quarters was barred. Sevis—one of the younger healers—managed to climb out a window, reaching your commander just in time, while the rest of us were forced to wait for some of your guards to break down the door.”
She shivers and glances at the wreckage of the door.
“You did well,” I manage to get out, my hands fisting. Sevis will be rewarded for her quick thinking.
The traitors are getting desperate. My spies are up against their spies, and they know for sure that Korzyn would never betray me.
My mind flashes back to the moment I first sat on my father’s throne. I felt overwhelmed, horror and anguish warring within me, while I fought to keep my face blank.
Korzyn noticed, creating a distraction while I collected myself. He’d just lost his father, but he never held it against me, instead choosing to devote his life to protecting me.
We may not be brothers by blood, but we’re brothers by choice.
And someone just attempted to murder him.
“What do we know?” My voice is rough, and I don’t take my eyes off Korzyn’s face as Rachiv steps closer to the bed.
My hand lingers near my sword, and I can feel his surprise as he pauses.
He clears his throat. “He was on his way to the marketplace, Your Majesty. The other human female slipped past her guards and had not returned.”
The arm of the chair I’m sitting in cracks under my hand, and I realize I’m squeezing it.
Sarissa.
“Do you believe she is responsible for this?”
Rachiv sighs. “Korzyn does not trust her, but I find it difficult to believe she could take him unaware like this. His chest wound is high, making it an awkward strike for a female so much smaller.”
I ignore that. After watching the way Vivian can shoot a crossbow, I’m sure I’ve misjudged the human females.
The human females I invited into my home.
“If this is true, she will regret it.”
“Not…her.”
I focus my attention back on Korzyn’s face as his eyes open to slits. “What happened?”
“I was looking for her at the marketplace. A Zinta came out of nowhere and stabbed me.”
“A Zinta?”
He nods. “I didn’t recognize him. I was distracted or he wouldn’t have succeeded.” He looks disgusted with himself, and I attempt to hide my surprise. Never would I have imagined that Korzyn would allow himself to be distracted enough to almost be killed.
He lets out a pained chuckle at whatever he sees on my face. “She came back for me.”
He groans at something the healer does, closing his eyes as she cleans his wound. He takes several deep breaths before his eyes open again.
“Sarissa. She pulled the cava berries from my pocket and put them in my mouth. Then she took my sword and guarded me, warning everyone to stay back. As soon as help arrived, she went after the Zinta.” His eyes turn wild. “She’s alone.”
I turn to where Rachiz is standing with three of my most trusted guards. “Find her.”
He nods, and Korzyn seems to relax slightly as they leave.
I watch Korzyn as his blinks get longer and longer. First, my uncle, and now the warrior who is as close to me as a brother. I clench my teeth so hard that my jaw begins to ache.
Korzyn opens his eyes again, and they’re blurry with pain and exhaustion.
“Don’t do anything hasty,” he warns me. “Stick to the plan.”
I growl at that but nod. Thanks to his spies, we know the traitors are planning to kill me at the ball. We’ve already discovered many of the guards who are working for my enemies. However, attempting to torture one for the information we need was useless. Whoever is in charge is smart enough to keep their identity hidden from those who could be used to betray them.
I sit with Korzyn all night. At one point, Vivian creeps in,
