Frozen Tides (Falling Kingdoms #4)(97)

She stayed silent and resolute, her jaw tense and her arms crossed in front of her.

“Oh, princess, silence will not do you any favors today.”

“I find I have very little to say on the subject.”

“That’s all right. I have plenty to say; I’ll do the talking for both of us. What I hold in my hand is solid proof that you’re an unrelenting liar, that you’re still aligned with rebels, and that you continue to keep essential information from me. You knew exactly why this Kindred was missing from the Temple of Cleiona when we arrived to claim it. Why didn’t you tell me about this?”

A humorless grunt of laughter escaped her throat. “Why would I? Despite your pretty promises to me, and your verbal agreements with Jonas, you’ve always made it very clear that we’re enemies—today, tomorrow, and always.”

“And how, precisely, have I made that clear? Was it the time I spared your little rebel friend from execution? Or was it my offer to return your kingdom to you? Shall I go on?”

“Magnus, you can’t honestly expect me to believe your promises. Restore my kingdom to me? After all the lies you’ve told in the past? All the betrayals?”

His gaze grew colder. “I meant every word of that offer. And if there’s anyone who knows that I’m capable of being a man of my word, it’s you. But now?” He indicated the orb. “I’ve changed my mind. Mytica—all of it—will be mine. All mine. Yes, that sounds much better to me. I’ve never really liked to share my toys.”

She took a few steps closer to the dais and looked up at him, frowning. “You’re right,” she said. “Perhaps I should apologize.”

He blinked. “What?”

“It’s clear to me that I’ve hurt you.”

He scoffed. “You could never hurt me, princess.”

Cleo shook her head. “I think you’re hurt by everybody. That’s why you act like this. You try to be as cruel and cold and horrible as possible so no one will get close to you. Because when they do, when you let people in, you get hurt.”

Magnus let out one harsh, cold laugh. “Much gratitude for your opinions, princess, but you’re wrong.”

“I’m not blind, Magnus. I saw what happened between you and Lucia when she came here. Your heart broke to see your sister like that, when all you wanted to do was help her.”

“Lucia is different. Whatever she does, she’s family. But she’s made it clear she doesn’t need or want my help, and I’ll never make that mistake again.”

“It doesn’t change how you really feel.”

Magnus stood up and descended the steps. “I’ve grown bored of this conversation. You can try to manipulate me all you want, but the facts of this situation remain. You are a deceitful wench, and the earth Kindred is now mine.”

“Very well. I wish you the best of luck accessing its magic. It’s impossible. I’ve tried everything.”

“I assumed as much. Otherwise, I’d be dead and buried by now, wouldn’t I?”

“You think I want you dead? Even now?”

Magnus sighed. “You really do need to make up your mind on that subject, princess. Your duplicity is dizzying.”

“Fine. Yes. I kept the Kindred from you. I did—and do—plan to use its magic to get my kingdom back. There. That’s the truth. I’m finished with lies—what good have they done me? So now that you know, why don’t you throw me in the dungeon? Demand my head?”

“You love to try my patience,” he gritted out.

“You won’t have me killed for this. Because, despite all of our differences, we are aligned. And maybe it’s time we started to trust each other.”

The more she spoke, the more she realized she was actually telling the truth. Magnus wasn’t evil like his father. He never had been. She’d heard him try to reason with the council. She’d seen how much he cared about this kingdom. And she was certain that he would never try to harm her, no matter what she said or did. All of this, this cold, seemingly impenetrable fa?ade, was just that: a thin shell protecting the genuine soul that lay beneath.

“How curious that you’ve come to this monumental realization only after I found the orb.”

But he truly was infuriating sometimes.

“Kurtis came to see me earlier,” Magnus said, before Cleo could reply. “Do you know why?”

“To tell you I’ve quit archery?”

“No, but it’s adorable that you think I’d care about something so trivial. Kurtis came to me because he wanted me to know he’d been discussing politics with you. He told me about all the issues you and he seem to agree upon, my being unfit to rule Limeros being one of them.”

Cleo waved her hand dismissively. “He greatly exaggerates.”

“Does he? Or is this another little partnership you’ve hidden from me?”

“Can’t you see that I’m here today trying to right the wrongs between us, Magnus?” she said, her patience wearing thin and brittle. “But you refuse to let me.”

“If I told you about the things Kurtis has done in the past, you wouldn’t want to go anywhere near him.”

If Magnus refused to play nice, neither would she. “I suppose that’s something you two have in common, then.”