Fireblood (Frostblood Saga #2)(66)
To my surprise, she showed no sign of anger at my defiance. Instead, her eyes fairly sparkled with enjoyment. “You haven’t even received my order, child.”
It didn’t matter what the incentive was—what I could gain by passing her test, how hard it would be to find a way to defeat the Minax without the masters’ help, or what she would do to me if I failed. I would not kill Kai. My heart hurt even thinking about it. I would figure out another way to destroy the Minax. I would search the rest of the school for the book; I would tell Prince Eiko my secrets and beg for his help.
I shook my head. “I won’t touch him.” As far as I was concerned, the trial was over. I wanted to turn my back and walk out. But I knew she wouldn’t make it that easy.
She folded her arms, her rings making pinpoints of reflected light dance over the dark walls. “There are consequences to disobeying me, Ruby. I cannot condone dissension. Surely even a stranger to our customs understands this.”
I closed my eyes, thinking of what a fool I’d been. I’d come to Sudesia too trustingly, just as Arcus had warned, sure that the Fireblood queen would be better than King Rasmus. Instead, I’d found a ruler whose expectations of unquestioning obedience were only too familiar.
“Even still,” I said firmly. “I won’t hurt him.”
She laughed, the sound echoing off the walls. My eyes snapped to Kai. He still looked serious, almost grim. He didn’t, however, look scared.
“Then it’s a good thing I don’t wish you to harm him, isn’t it?” She reached out and beckoned to Kai, who stepped forward. “On the contrary, what I wish for is an alliance that will benefit both of you. And me as well, of course. A union that will benefit the entire kingdom, and guarantee the uncontested succession of my throne. No need to look so worried, child.” Her voice gentled—gentled! I’d never seen her as being capable of softness—and her expression was almost fond. “I have a feeling you won’t mind what I’m asking of you.”
A crease formed between my brows. “Your Majesty, I admit I’m confused. What do you wish me to do?”
“Prince Kai has already agreed,” she said, “and you need to agree as well. How fortunate that to pass your trial, no blood need be spilled. Instead, we have cause for joy.”
My teeth snapped together at the way she was drawing this out. Her barely suppressed delight was almost as frightening as her anger.
She took a step back and gestured to Kai, then me. “Prince Kai, I will not rob you of this moment. You may ask her yourself.”
Kai was silent for a moment. Then he dropped down on one knee. A strange enough sight, but with a few feet of lava between us, it was bizarre.
If the queen thought I was confused before—
“Ruby,” Kai said in a strained voice that was a far cry from his usual lackadaisical tones, “I know I am far from worthy of you, but would you do me the great honor of consenting to be my wife?”
If the sky had rained fire, I would have been less shocked.
I turned to stone. At least, that’s what it felt like. I didn’t move, didn’t breathe, didn’t even blink for what felt like a full minute. Then Kai lifted a brow and the air rushed back into my lungs.
“You’re not serious” was all I could manage.
He produced a winning, though forced, smile. “I assure you, the queen—that is, I—am quite serious. I’m asking for your hand in marriage.”
“To…you,” I said with heavy emphasis.
“Yes, that is why I am the one asking.” Despite his blinding display of teeth, he spoke as if his jaw was too rigid to form words properly.
“To me.” I said it carefully, as if testing out new words in a foreign language.
“Which is why it is your hand I’m asking for.” Whatever patience he’d had seemed to be seeping away. Also, I noticed a rather unmistakable urgency in his expression. He shifted his eyes meaningfully toward the queen and raised a brow. I glanced at Queen Nalani and saw that her smile had faded.
“Surely it is not a complete surprise,” she said coolly. “I understand the two of you have grown quite close during your time together.”
“I would hardly say…” I began, then noticed the subtle movement of Kai’s jaw, as if he were grinding his teeth into paste. Suddenly, I remembered that this test was about complete obedience. If so, I was failing.
She was giving me a chance to pass the dreaded final trial—without bloodshed, without sacrificing the well-being of anyone I knew. Or anyone at all, for that matter. Kai had already agreed, which meant he had weighed options and decided this was safer than facing whatever would happen if he didn’t comply. I didn’t think for a moment this was his idea. His level of sincerity was that of a child who apologizes only because his mother is twisting his ear.
The queen’s chin had risen, her eyes sharply assessing. Kai gave a surreptitious nod, his piercing gaze practically begging me to agree. I knew him well enough by now to trust him. We had no other choice. At least, not now. Not yet.
“I accept,” I breathed, and then a rush of dizziness hit me and I had to widen my stance to stay upright. Even though I knew this was just a pretense, a temporary concession until we could find a way out, saying the words made it seem like a promise, permanent and irrevocable. I had the sensation of being trapped, of a prison cell closing with a resounding clang.