Five Dark Fates (Three Dark Crowns, #4)(53)

Mirabella storms up the aisle, passing Arrons and members of the Black Council as they laugh and nibble pastries of their own. She reaches into the first lamp she passes and draws the fire into her hand until it is a roiling ball. Then she casts it at the floor before Katharine’s feet.

Everyone in the room gasps and recoils at the scorched stone. Guards rush to the aisle and cross their spears before her, protecting the queen.

Mirabella dares not look into Billy’s face. If she sees the way they make him suffer, the last of her restraint will fail.

‘What is the meaning of this?’

‘What do you mean, sister?’ Katharine asks, righting herself to sit up straight.

‘This.’ Mirabella gestures to Billy, his brow wet with sweat, his face straining against the cloth gag as he struggles to keep from spilling the tray. ‘What are you doing to him?’

‘Well, I have not killed him yet.’

Around the throne room, the Black Council laughs. All but Luca and Rho.

‘Mirabella,’ Luca says softly. ‘This former suitor was arrested along with two war-gifted rebels last night. It is thought they were here to disrupt the parade. Perhaps even to kidnap you.’

Mirabella’s eyes flicker to Billy’s. Two rebels and the suitor. But not Arsinoe. They do not have Arsinoe.

She takes a breath. Collects herself. Looks sideways at each of the guards.

‘Get your spears out of my path.’

The guards obey, in no hurry to be scorch-marked like the floor, and Mirabella walks to Billy. She kneels and pulls the gag from his mouth.

‘Are you all right?’

‘He is fine,’ Katharine answers.

‘He is not fine.’ Where the gag rested against his skin, angry, red blisters have begun to rise. At his wrists, too, where they touch the leather of his bonds, deep red welts have formed. It has all been tainted with some kind of poison.

‘It is not lethal,’ Katharine says.

‘At least not yet,’ Genevieve adds.

‘They killed my father,’ Billy growls. He fixes his eyes on Rho, across the room. ‘She killed my father!’ He struggles up and charges at her, sending the tray and all its contents crashing to the floor. Rho does not so much as flinch. He barely makes it three strides before the guards are on him, shoving the blunt ends of their spears into his gut and striking him across the shins.

‘Stop it!’ Mirabella cries.

‘Where is he?’ Billy shouts from on his knees. ‘Where is my father?’

‘He is here somewhere,’ Genevieve says, and chuckles. ‘Or at least his bones are. Somewhere in the river.’

Mirabella watches with pity as Billy’s expression crumples. There are so many bruises on his face that he is almost unrecognizable.

‘From what I understand,’ Katharine says. ‘Rho nearly carved him in two. From lung to heart. Perhaps if you ask her nicely, she will take you to the place by the shore where she ordered him dumped.’

‘Perhaps if you dive, you might find him still in the rug we rolled him in,’ Genevieve adds. ‘Or at least what the fish have left behind.’

‘Enough,’ says the High Priestess. ‘He is only a boy. He does not need to be told so cruelly.’

‘You have to let him go,’ says Mirabella.

‘The only thing I have to do is question you.’ Katharine removes her leg from the arm of the throne and leans forward in it, resting on her elbows. She snaps her fingers to the guards at the rear. ‘Have the prisoners brought up.’

‘What about Billy? You know he is my friend. You know I cannot support this.’

‘You will support what your Queen Crowned supports,’ Antonin Arron hisses, but Mirabella ignores him.

‘Please, Katharine. Release him. Release him into my care, at least.’

‘No. You are far too kind. Honestly, sister, I do not know why you are so upset. None of the poison is lethal, as I said. It will not even leave a scar!’

‘Katharine, you must see,’ Mirabella starts. But then she remembers that Katharine was raised a poisoner. Striped with painful poisons since she was a child, over and over, with poisons that did leave a mark. She glances about the room at the Arrons and Paola Vend, who watch Mirabella and cast judgment. They think her foolish. They think she is weak and overreacting. Perhaps she is, when they no doubt encouraged Katharine to order his death.

‘For how long must he serve?’ Mirabella says finally. Katharine exhales. ‘Until he is contrite. And until we are satisfied. His father murdered Natalia and paid too light and swift a price. So we must exact our vengeance upon his son.’

‘How is that fair?’

‘How is it not?’ Katharine gestures again to the guards, and they haul Billy up by his bound elbows until he shouts from the pain.

‘Don’t expect anything different, Mira,’ he says. ‘Not from this pack of murderers.’

‘The son of a murderer criticizing us!’ Lucian Arron scoffs, and spits upon the charred floor. Billy must be careful of what he says. Genevieve looks angry enough to cut his throat, right there, before everyone.

‘Wait.’ Rho steps forward from her place on the wall. She seems tired, with dark rings beneath her eyes, and the luster gone from her long, red hair. ‘Let the boy say to me what he would say.’