Immortal Reign (Falling Kingdoms #6)(82)

Amara glanced to the door. Felix had not sneaked into the Emerald Spear alone.

“Nerissa,” Amara whispered.

Her former attendant’s eyes narrowed coldly on her. “With Mytica so far behind you, I would have thought you’d have forgotten my name by now.”

“Of course not.” Amara tried to swallow, tried to breathe. Tried not to seem afraid. “Are you going to stop Felix from killing me?”

“No. Actually, I’m here to help him.”

Amara stared at both of them for several long moments. And then she started to laugh, drawing glares from both Nerissa and Felix. The day had been so surreal—from the golden wings, to the fear in the dressmaker’s eyes, to the gift of a stolen baby with magical blood.

“Stop laughing,” Felix shouted.

“What is this?” Nerissa asked. “Are you mad?”

“By now?” she managed. “Very likely. But you, Nerissa, an accomplice to the murder of an unarmed woman? I never would have taken you as that coldhearted.”

Amara was struck by the certainty that the punishment she deserved had arrived far sooner than she’d expected.

“I wish I could say the same in return,” Nerissa said softly.

Amara sobered, narrowing her gaze on her former attendant. One who had looked at her not so long ago with kindness and patience. One who had shared stories from her painful past. “You told me that you and your mother survived so much under my father’s reign. You know what it’s like to be oppressed by men, to need to use them to get what you want. I would think you’d understand, if only a little, why I’ve done what I’ve done.”

“What I told you about my mother being a courtesan was a lie.” Nerissa raised a thin eyebrow. “She did what was necessary to survive, yes. But on most days, my mother was an assassin.”

Felix gasped. “You never told me that. We have so much in common!”

Nerissa glanced at him. “Your mother wasn’t an assassin.”

“No, but I am. Oh, Nerissa, you get more interesting to me every day. We could be partners after this. Vigilantes who slay horrible, evil creatures across the world! Although, if we could avoid sea travel, that would be wonderful. I’m still ill from our trip here.”

Nerissa scrunched her nose. “That—all of it—is unlikely, Felix.”

He frowned and brushed his fingers over his eye patch. “Is it the missing eye? Can’t do much about that, I’m afraid. Oh, wait. That’s the empress’s fault too. Another reason she needs to die.” He looked down at his knife, and his single eye narrowed. “I’m going to enjoy this so much.”

Nerissa sighed wearily. “Are you trying to talk yourself into yet another dungeon?”

“Definitely not.” Felix spun his dagger around on his hand with the skill of someone who played with sharp weapons daily. “Before I finally and happily do this, empress, I am obligated to let you know that this is on Prince Magnus’s orders. He’s not happy that you had his father killed.”

Amara finally pushed herself up to her feet, balancing her weight on her good leg. Despite her problems, her will to survive remained as strong as ever. “It wasn’t me. My grandmother enlisted that assassin. I only learned of it when I arrived here last week.”

Felix shrugged. “You say all of that like it matters. It doesn’t. The result is going to be the same. You being dead, that is.”

Amara shot a look at Nerissa. “And you’re going to just stand there and watch him kill me?”

“Yes. I am.” Nerissa crossed her arms and tapped her foot as if Amara’s death couldn’t come soon enough.

“Before that night . . . with Kyan, when I betrayed all of you . . . I thought you believed in me,” Amara said, horrified by how weak she sounded. But it was still the truth. She had no more lies left within her.

“I did. Against my better judgment, I really did.” Nerissa exhaled and shook her head. “But you’ve shown no remorse, no regret. Every decision you’ve made has been for your own gain, and countless people have suffered because of it.”

Felix spun his dagger again. “And you say I talk a lot. Can we end this and get out of here?”

End this.

End her.

Felix had countless reasons to want Amara dead. She actually didn’t blame him at all.

She’d hurt him very badly.

No. She’d tried to destroy him. But he’d survived.

“I admire that,” Amara said.

“What?” Felix growled.

“You. I see now that you would have made a much better ally than an enemy.”

He frowned at her. “I was hoping for more satisfying begging for your life at this point. This is extremely disappointing.”

“It’s over,” Amara said.

“Exactly my point.” Felix gave her a cold smile and stepped forward.

She raised a hand and lifted her chin. “But you can’t kill me. Not right now. Later, perhaps. But not now. There’s far too much for you to do first, and you’re going to need a great deal of my help to do it.”

“Nah. I think I’m just going to kill you,” Felix insisted and raised his dagger.

Nerissa grabbed his wrist in midair, her eyes trained on Amara. “What are you talking about?”