Immortal Reign(50)

A man in a dark blue surcoat embroidered with what looked like sparkling diamonds bumped into Felix. He glared at him and pushed his way past.

“Do you ever want to start killing people at random just because they’re a bunch of rich, pompous arses?” Felix muttered to Jonas, watching the man walk away.

“I used to,” Jonas admitted. “I hated royals. Hated Auranians just for having the privileges denied to us in Paelsia.”

“And now?”

“The urge is there, but I know it would be wrong.”

Felix groaned. “Perhaps, but it would feel so good. Right? Let out some pent-up frustration.” He nodded at a pair of green-uniformed Kraeshian soldiers watching over the flow of citizens up ahead. “We could start with them.”

The sight of Amara’s dwindling but continuing occupation was a reminder of more oppression. “Frankly, I wouldn’t stop you.”

“Did you see Enzo in his guard’s uniform this morning?” Felix scrunched his nose as if he smelled something foul. “He finally went back to work at his post . . . said it was his honor to do so.”

“He’s Limerian down to his red blood. He can’t help but be bound to duty and honor, even if it means taking orders from King Gaius himself.” Jonas gave his friend a wry look. “Sometimes I forget that you’re Limerian too. You don’t exactly fit in with the rest of them, do you?”

Felix smirked. “Part of my charm is that I fit in wherever I am. I’m a chameleon.”

There was no part of Felix Gaebras, eye patch and glowering, intimidating presence combined, that fit in wherever he was. But Jonas chose not to argue with him.

“You are indeed a chameleon,” he said instead, nodding.

“Perhaps that’s why Enzo’s been in such a bad mood the last couple of days,” Felix said as they paused in front of a shop with impressively clear windows that showed a selection of decorated cakes and pastries. “Insufferable, really.”

Jonas already knew far too much about Enzo’s moods. “He proposed marriage to Nerissa.”

“What?” Felix regarded him with shock. “And what did Nerissa say to that?”

“She said no.”

Felix nodded, his expression turning thoughtful. “Clearly, that’s because she’s fallen madly in love with me.”

“She hasn’t.”

“Give her time.”

“You believe what you want to believe.”

“I will.”

Jonas glanced over his shoulder in the direction of the palace, which lay in the direct center of the city. He could see its highest golden tower above the shops surrounding them. “I wonder how long the king is going to talk?”

“Hours, likely. He enjoys the sound of his voice far more than anyone else does.” Felix cast a look at the maze of storefronts and buildings around them. “We’re never going to find Ashur if he doesn’t want to be found. Remember when we were in Basilia, and—poof—he’d just be gone? Just wandered off and didn’t even tell anyone? Kraeshians are so sneaky.”

“Ashur’s just doing what he needs to do.”

“So . . . him and Nic, huh?” Felix said, raising a brow above his eye patch. “I knew there was something there, but it didn’t completely click until we were in the pit. And then I’m all: ‘I knew it!’ Because I did know it. You can just tell these things.”

Jonas frowned at him. “What are you talking about?”

“Ashur and . . . Nic.” Felix spread his hands. “They’re—”

The sound of a scream caught their attention. It was followed by more shouts and a commotion coming from the palace area.

Felix gave Jonas a grim look. “Must have been some speech.”

“We need to get back,” Jonas said.

They hurried back to the palace without another word. Jonas’s heart pounded fast and hard as he caught a man’s shoulder going past him.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“The king!” the man said, his face pale and his eyes round. “The king is dead!”

Jonas stared after him as the man scurried away.

Once they reached the palace, they found it in chaos. Every guard they passed had his sword drawn, ready for battle.

“It can’t be true,” Jonas said as the pair rushed through the corridors. “I don’t believe it.”

They found Nerissa walking swiftly down the hallway that led to their bedchambers.

“Nerissa!” Jonas called out to her. “What’s going on? The commotion in the city—some say King Gaius is dead.”

“He is,” she confirmed, her voice small. “It happened during his speech . . . an archer in the audience. He was captured before he could escape.”

It still seemed far too surreal for Jonas to accept. “You saw it?”

She nodded. “I saw everything. It was horrible. Lucia and Magnus and Cleo were with him on the balcony.”

“Is Lucia . . . ?” he began. “Is Cleo . . . ?”

“They’re fine—or as fine as can be expected, given the circumstances. I can only assume the king’s death was instant, or else Princess Lucia should have been able to heal him with her magic.”