“You want to know why I’m alive, Sister?” Ashur said, his teeth clenched. “Because I learned what happened to you as a child. I know our father tried to kill you. And I’m not deaf or blind; I have heard you and Grandmother speaking to each other, planning what was to come and deciding who was in the way. When I felt that my life might be at risk, even though I didn’t entirely believe you would do such a thing—not to me—I went to visit Grandmother’s apothecary . . .”

A warm breeze moved over Cleo’s bare arms.

“My, my, this is quite dramatic, isn’t it, little queen?” a voice whispered in her ear.

She gasped.

“It would be best not to react to me. Wouldn’t want to interrupt the prince and princess—or is that emperor and empress?—during their long-awaited reunion.”

Cleo kept her gaze on Amara and Ashur as Ashur explained why he’d been resurrected and how he believed himself to be the legendary, peace-bringing phoenix.

“Who are you?” she whispered.

“Shh. Don’t speak. Amara will be very jealous if she knows I’m talking to other pretty girls behind her back. But perhaps I don’t care what she thinks of me anymore. She has been a disappointment to me, now that the storm draws closer.” He paused. “I am the god of fire, little queen, released from my prison at long last.”

Cleo began to tremble.

“You don’t have to be afraid of me. I see now that I overlooked so much at our last brief meeting. My attention was more on Lucia and her brother and my search for a special, magical wheel. But you . . . your eyes . . .”

Warmth touched her face, and her muscles tensed.

“They’re the color of aquamarine. The very color of my sister’s crystal orb. Please nod if you understand me.”

She gave a shallow nod, barely breathing now.

“There is power hidden deep within you, little queen. And a desire for more. Do you know that you’re descended from a goddess? Would you like me to give you all the magic you’ve ever dreamed of possessing?”

Cleo knew very well what Kyan had done to Lysandra and what he and Lucia had done to many villages in Paelsia. Despite her fear and her hate for this creature she couldn’t see, there seemed to be no other answer at the moment that would satisfy him and ensure she’d remain unharmed.

So she nodded.

“Amara is unworthy, I see that now. She is only after power for herself, yet she fools herself that she aspires for more than her father did. However, you would sacrifice yourself to save those you love, wouldn’t you?”

Cleo forced herself to nod again, even as a shiver went up her spine. What dark promise was she making?

Did the fire Kindred truly see something in her, something special and powerful and worthy of possessing true magic?

Perhaps her wish had finally come true.

“I will return with the storm. It’s so close now, little queen. Tell no one about what I’ve said to you. Don’t disappoint me.”

The warmth that had made her start to perspire faded away, and she realized Amara was speaking to her.

“Cleo,” she said. “Can you hear me?”

“Y-yes, yes. I can hear you.”

“Did you also hear what Ashur has suggested?”

“No,” she admitted.

“He believes that together, he and I can rule Kraeshia peacefully. What do you think? Is this a good plan?”

Cleo found herself momentarily speechless at the thought of it, but then something began to rise in her throat—a laugh. “Pardon me for saying so, Amara, but that’s a preposterous plan. Two people cannot rule equally. It’s impossible.”

Amara’s brows shot up. “I appreciate your candor.”

“I deeply disagree,” Ashur growled.

Cleo rose from her chair, drawing from her outrage and grief and need to survive to make her stronger. “Where is it, Ashur?”

He frowned. “What?”

“What you stole from me.”

“I stole nothing from you.” The prince’s jaw tightened. “I know you blame me for Nicolo’s death. I also blame myself. If I could go back and do things differently, I would.”

“Starting when? When you took the resurrection potion or when you forced Nic to kiss you that night in Auranos? Both were regretful mistakes, in my opinion.”

“Vicious, heartless words don’t become you, princess.” Ashur turned to his sister. “The decision is in your hands, Amara, and I know you’ll make the correct one. I’ve come here to show you another path than the one you’re on. A better path.”

“You have.” Amara nodded. “I could choose the path to being kind, sweet, nice, and more agreeable, like all good girls should be, right?”

“You speak with sarcasm, but a gentler outlook might achieve more than you believe it would. We can rule Kraeshia together or I shall rule alone as emperor.”

“If you think I’d agree to that, Brother, then you really don’t know me at all. Guards!”

Cleo’s wide-eyed gaze shot to the door as several guards entered the room, looking between Ashur and Amara, uncertain where to place their attention.

Amara pointed at Ashur. “My brother has confessed to conspiring with the rebel who murdered our family. He wishes to help the rebellion tear apart the Kraeshian Empire my father built.”

“I’ve done no such thing,” Ashur said, outraged.