Last Stand (The Black Mage #4)(31)

“Enough.”

The room fell to silence as Blayne shot up in his chair, his heavy cloak snapping against the legs of his chair. His expression had shot from amusement to distaste in the blink of an eye. Now his lips were thin and his words were cold.

“I am done listening to this never-ending spat. Mira, Ryiah has more than proven her loyalty to the Crown.”

“But—”

“Not another word on the subject, not unless you wish to be replaced.”

Mira’s face darkened and her eyes sparked in outrage. When she looked at me, it was enough to peel flesh.

Why must you continue to bait her? I ground my teeth together. Mira was the chink in my armor, and I needed to hold my tongue. Blayne’s reprimand would only make her obsession worse.

“And, Ryiah—”

My gaze went to the young king.

“I am tired of finding you in the middle of these investigations. Do us both a favor and make sure there is not another.” Blayne heaved an irritated sigh. “Darren, what is being done about this runaway criminal? I assume you returned to keep watch over my court.”

“I have the rest of our patrol combing the countryside. I’d like to dispatch some of Audric’s men and send an envoy to Marius as well. Believe me”—Darren’s tone was ominous—“that rebel’s freedom will not last.”

“Whatever it takes.” Blayne’s drawl was hard to miss. “After all this effort, I’d hate to find an angry band of vigilantes when we are already engaged in war.”

“The rebel was injured, barely fit for travel, and he made his escape during the middle of winter.” I made my scoff mocking. “The traitor is more likely to die from black frost than anything else.”

“The true threat is here in the palace.” Darren studied his brother’s regiment with a frown. “What are the rest of you doing to root out the traitors?”

Mira balked. “We had a thorough investigation of the entire staff after your envoy arrived. I’ve seen to every one of them myself. Your rebel must have been lying.”

“Or perhaps you aren’t doing your job, mage.” Darren’s retort was biting. “This is your king’s life at stake. And you have already proven that your loyalty to the Crown doesn’t amount to much. Or did you forget you were so willing to sacrifice a prince of Jerar in Dastan’s Cove?”

“I…” Mira paled and I saw her eyes dart to Blayne and then jump to the floor. I knew it! “T-that wasn’t my call, Y-Your Highness.”

The king cleared his throat, and I knew it wasn’t my imagination when Blayne’s expression turned a bit too confused as he addressed the accusation. “What is this?”

“Port Langli’s regiment was deployed during my apprenticeship. Mira was more than ready to leave Ryiah and me behind under the guise that her mission was more important.” Darren frowned. “Father couldn’t even recall the prisoner when I asked him about it a year later.”

My gaze was locked on the king. Three of us knew the truth, and I wondered if Blayne would betray his loyal guard to appease his brother’s suspicion.

Blayne tapped against his wrist, his fingers increasingly erratic.

Oh villainous king, how will you free yourself from this lie? I sucked in a breath, waiting.

“I overheard Lucius’s orders. Mira is innocent.”

“What?”

Blayne folded his arms and stood a bit straighter. “Father wanted that Caltothian wench at all costs, brother. Even if it meant your life.”

“Y-you heard him?” Darren had gone as pale as ash. My fingers shot to his, and he jerked back, away from his brother and the room.

“Father wanted you to take part in the mission. Who do you think suggested the contest for a Combat apprentice in the first place?” Blayne’s explanation was heartless. “You always were the best. He didn’t want anything to happen, but if it did…”

“A prince’s life is grounds for war.” The words fell from the Black Mage’s lips without emotion, hollow and hoarse.

“They were on orders to leave you behind.”

“Why?” Darren’s voice broke. “Why would he—”

“Caltoth is merciless. You know that. Father was willing to sacrifice whatever it took.” The king plunged his lie like a dagger to the heart, twisting and turning until all that was left were his brother’s shattered remains. “You might have been the favorite, Darren, but a second-born son doesn’t amount to much. You were more valuable as a tool of war.”

Darren’s eyes fell shut as his breathing stilled. I saw that broken prince on the cliff. I saw the boy ready to slip away, running from a monster I couldn’t fight. I stood there watching Blayne, hating him so much and wondering how I could just stand there as the traitorous wife, biding my time when there was someone laced with so much poison he was destroying the very air we breathed.

Even though Blayne was lying about the king’s orders, his explanation rang true. Everything the king said was the justification he had used to secure his own reign. Blayne might love his brother, but he was willing to sacrifice him for the cause.

And yet here I was, willing to do—in some ways—exactly the same.

I wondered if the attack during our time at the keep had been a coincidence after all.