I’m so sorry, Theon, she thought, her heart twisting. I never planned to feel this way about Magnus. But I do. I can’t hold on to your memory anymore. I can’t hate him for what happened, what he did that day. He’s so different now.

Or maybe Cleo was the one who had irreversibly changed.

“If you ask me, I don’t think they’re fighting nearly as hard as they could.”

Cleo started at the sound of Jonas’s voice. She looked at him standing next to her, unseen until now, with wide eyes.

“Did I surprise you?” he asked, amused.

“That you’d sneak up on someone in a darkened room certainly isn’t a surprise, rebel.”

Jonas grinned, but his attention was on the trio outside. “I wonder if the prince would be willing to spar with me?”

“If so, one of you would surely end up dead.”

“Yes, but which one?” His brow, raised in amusement, dropped at her pained look. “Soon you’ll finally be free of this unsavory arrangement with him, I promise you that.”

She bit back her reply to this, being careful not to defend the prince. She felt it was still best that no one knew the truth about her and Magnus.

“He and his father—and Selia—are the means to the answers I need to unlock the earth Kindred’s magic,” she said instead.

“I told you: There’s an elemental god inside that crystal,” he replied sharply.

His tone made her flinch. After learning about the elemental gods two days ago, she’d given the matter endless thought and had barely slept a wink because of the gravity of the situation. “If there’s a chance of harnessing that magic without allowing the god to escape, then I still think it’s a goal worth pursuing. There’s too much to lose if we don’t have this power to help us in some way—even a small way.”

When she met Jonas’s eyes directly, his expression was grim, but his gaze had softened. “I don’t entirely disagree.”

She hesitated, but only for a moment. “You should know, according to a rather annoyed Nic, you’re keeping secrets from him about Taran and Felix’s current whereabouts.”

“I’ve come to believe Prince Ashur is every bit of a snake as his sister. Nic knows him but says nothing useful about what to expect. I value Nic, but I don’t trust him with any secrets that he might inadvertently reveal to the prince.”

Another person entering the meeting hall had caught Cleo’s eye. It was Ashur, only a dozen feet behind Jonas.

“Jonas . . .” she began.

“Ashur says he’s this legendary hero raised from the dead to bring peace to the world. What a load of horse crap. He’s just another spoiled royal raised with a silver spoon in his mouth, with any beautiful girl he desires only a snap of his fingers away.” Jonas frowned. “I will admit, that would be quite a perk.”

Cleo cleared her throat as Ashur crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his head. “I think that you should—” she began.

“What? Speak kindly about someone who speaks only in riddles because he’s confused about his evil, power-hungry sister, who will likely destroy the world in her lust for magic and power? He could take the power from her easily. Show up, claim the title of emperor, tell everyone that Amara murdered their family. Finished and done.”

Her stomach sank with every true but cutting word Jonas spoke.

“If there’s one thing I’m not when it comes to Amara,” Ashur said, his voice low, “it’s confused.”

Jonas grimaced. “You could have told me he was right behind me, princess.”

“You were far too busy enjoying the sound of your own voice.” And, frankly, Jonas’s ramblings about Ashur had refreshed her annoyance with the Kraeshian prince.

No, not annoyance. Anger, bordering on fury.

“I would hope you’re not confused about your sister,” Cleo addressed Ashur directly. “She sank a dagger into your chest for crossing her.”

“Amara’s choices of late have been unfortunate, but I already knew she was set on this path. To be honest, I blame my grandmother for putting her own plans of revolution into action. Ironic that my madhosha would cut down those who equally want change in the empire. She has far more in common with rebels than she might believe.”

Cleo stared at him, disgusted. “Unfortunate. You call Amara’s choices unfortunate? She murdered you, she murdered her family, and now she’s murdering any Mytican who gets in her way.”

“She’s lost her way. The sister I know—that I knew—is not one who solves her problems with mindless violence.”

“Yes, of course. Kraeshians are known to be such a peaceful people.”

Ashur regarded her carefully. “You’re unhappy with me.”

She glanced at Jonas before she laughed lightly. “Prince Ashur, why ever would I be unhappy with you?”

“You’re just like Jonas. You don’t trust me.”

“Should we?” Jonas said. “You’ve told me nothing of your plans. You disappear for days on end. You keep to yourself. What is that supposed to tell me of your trustworthiness?”

“You could take the throne from Amara,” Cleo said. “If you’re so keen on helping the world, you could end a great deal of suffering simply by becoming emperor. You’re older than Amara. It’s your throne to take. Are you that afraid of her?”