She forgot all about Magnus when she saw someone approaching her—Nic, taking her completely by surprise.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded.

He regarded her with curiosity, shifting the bulky satchel he held to his other shoulder. “I was about to ask you the very same question. Have you spoken with Nerissa?”

“Yes. She hasn’t told me everything, but she’s told me enough.” She took hold of his coat sleeve. “I know about Lysandra. That’s awful beyond words. But, Nic, you could have been killed too.”

“But I wasn’t.”

“Perhaps next time,” Magnus said, interrupting them. “Cassian, go back to the palace. You’re not wanted here.”

Nic glared at him. “I’m going to Kraeshia with Jonas.”

“Nic, no,” she said, her voice nothing more than a rasp. “Jonas is ready to put his life in danger by going on this trip. You might think you’re ready to do the same, but I refuse to risk losing you, too.”

“I have to do this, Cleo. I need to help. What good am I to anyone if I just sit around the palace all day like a useless lump?” His jaw tensed. “And I need to find Princess Amara. I want to get the water Kindred back, and she needs to pay for what she did to Ashur.” The grief he’d been trying so hard to keep hidden from her, from everyone, flared in his eyes. “Please understand that I need to go.”

“Would you stay with me if I asked you to?”

He let out a long, shaky breath. “Yes. Of course I would.”

She nodded, then grabbed him around his waist and held on tightly. “I know how much Ashur meant to you, so I won’t ask you to stay. Go. But remember one thing: If you get yourself killed, I’m going to be furious with you.”

“I’ll be furious too.” Nic snorted softly. “By the way, you should know I don’t have a birthday gift for you. Our trip to Paelsia was unsuccessful in every way possible.”

She fought the urge to look at Magnus and lowered her voice. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Me too. The vendor we wanted to visit to purchase your present . . . unfortunately, she’d recently passed away.”

Cleo bit her lip. “Oh.”

“She was quite old, so we can’t be overly surprised. But I really hoped she’d still be around to help us out.”

“We’ll have to find someone else. She couldn’t have been the only one.”

“Yes.” He squeezed her hands. “I love you, Cleo. But I think you know that already.”

“What love for the princess this morning. How absolutely delightful for you all.” Magnus crossed his arms over his black jacket. “Now, if you really are going, Cassian, then get on your way.”

“You’re not going to try to stop me?” Nic asked warily.

“Why would I? You are free to go wherever you please—as you have already proven by your recent trip with the rebel. And know that if you do get yourself killed,” Magnus said, offering him an unpleasant smile, “I won’t be furious with you at all.”

Ignoring Magnus, Nic kissed Cleo’s cheeks, gave her another squeeze, and then did the same to Nerissa. With one last, wistful look at each of them, he boarded the Limerian ship.

Cleo reached for Nerissa’s hand, needing her support now more than ever before. But she wouldn’t cry. This was what had to be done.

As the sun rose above the cliffs behind them, the black ship set sail across the dark sea.

CHAPTER 22

AMARA

KRAESHIA

Amara knew the perfect place to go when she wanted to be alone.

It was a courtyard off the east wing of the Emerald Spear, a garden given to her by her father so she could contribute to the beauty of the royal residence. After all, the only thing expected from Kraeshian girls was an interest in pretty flowers.

But instead of flowers, Amara had cultivated a garden of tens of thousands of rocks and shells and semiprecious stones, all gathered from around the world. Her father had proclaimed it ugly and disappointing; Amara couldn’t disagree more.

Especially now, because it was here that she’d hidden the water Kindred.

And it was in this garden that she’d sit and think about her plan to control her own future without being under the thumbs of men whose goal it was to make her feel like less than a person. In her life, she’d met very few men who strayed from the Kraeshian misogyny she’d come to expect.

Felix was one of them.

He wanted nothing from her. He made no demands. She’d taken him to her bed because she liked the width of his shoulders and the crookedness of his nose and the fact that her father would never approve if he ever learned of the affair.

But then she’d begun to look forward to spending time with the Limerian, and not only at night. He amused her and challenged her with his opinions—the few that he’d openly shared with her, at least. Felix had proved himself to be far more than just the king’s own personal shield. Without even trying, he had become special to her.

This had created complications for her at a time when everything needed to be simple.

Her grandmother entered the rock garden and came to sit by her side on the stone bench.

“You have many worries, Dhosha. I see them on your lovely face.”

“Do you blame me?”

“Not a bit. The fact that you approach your life and your decisions with thoughtfulness and care is what makes me know I’ve taught you well.”

“I wish all of it were easier.”

“Nothing worth having is easy, Dhosha,” her grandmother said, resting a hand on her shoulder. “I went to see my apothecary earlier today.”

Amara stiffened. Neela spoke of a man with a great and secret talent for creating magical potions for her grandmother and, in the past, for her mother. “And?”

“He mentioned that another client from the palace paid him a visit, not so long ago.”

“Someone from the palace? Who?”

“Your brother. Ashur.”

Amara’s gaze widened. “But . . . I didn’t know Ashur even knew of your apothecary.”

“Nor did I.”

“What potion did he request?”

“I don’t know. He only mentioned Ashur’s visit in passing, when he asked after his well-being.”

“And you didn’t ask any further questions? Grandmother, I need to know.”

“Why? What difference does it make now?”

“If it makes no difference to you, then why did you bother to mention it to me?”

“I see now that I shouldn’t have.” Neela took Amara’s hand in hers. “Quiet your thoughts, Dhosha. You are strong and you will do what needs to be done. You’re close now. Closer than ever before.”

Amara let out a long, weary sigh, then nodded firmly. “Don’t worry about me, Madhosha. I know what I have to do.”

• • •

“Come sit next to me, Daughter.”

The emperor rose from his chair as Amara entered the solarium, a private room he used to entertain his most important guests.

She hadn’t known what to expect when he summoned her here, and she saw now that she wasn’t the only one he’d called upon. She was the last to arrive. King Gaius, Felix, Milo, and her brothers were already there.