Gathering Darkness (Falling Kingdoms #3)(63)

She’d heard all about the conversation Nic had had with the Cortases at their villa a few days ago, and it had made her head spin with both possibility and doubt. She knew she would have a great deal to consider before making any decisions or allegiances, no matter how powerful they were.

From what she’d seen this morning, however, it seemed as if Princess Amara was offering up alliances to everyone.

“She really is stunningly beautiful, isn’t she?” Magnus said. “Her beauty makes me wonder why I’ve never thought to visit Kraeshia before. I’ll have to make a point to go there soon. Now, you said you wanted to speak with me? I can’t imagine what we have to discuss.”

She cast him a dark look. “What will the servants say?”

“About?”

“Don’t you care about the rumors they’ll spread? There are already so many about you and Lucia . . . but now they’ll start talking about you and I not sharing the same bed!”

He studied her with flatness in his dark eyes. “Apologies, princess, but I’m sure they’re already well aware of that. Besides, the servants can say whatever they want, it doesn’t bother me. Our marriage is meaningless. We share nothing but an unfortunate arrangement neither of us chose. That you’re the least bit surprised that I’d choose to share my bed with someone else is laughable at best.” She gave him a look that was livid enough to make him laugh. “Do I deserve another slap? Don’t try it, or this time you might get slapped in return.”

Why had she come here? It was pointless to try to reason with this loathsome creature. “I wouldn’t waste my energy.”

“Excellent. Now say what you have to say and be done with it. I need to get dressed.”

Another unnecessary reminder that he was currently half-naked.

“It was nothing,” she bit out. “A mistake.”

“Oh? Or perhaps seeing Amara temporarily removed any other thoughts from your mind. Did it bother you to find her here?” He smiled, looking like a predator baring its teeth. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous, because I won’t believe it.”

Her cheeks burned at the very suggestion. “Not jealous, Magnus. Appalled. Disgusted. Embarrassed.”

“That is quite a litany of emotions. So many, princess, all directed at me and whom I choose to sleep with. Interesting.”

The fire of her hatred was blinding. Cleo could barely see past the flames, but a sharp burst of laughter escaped her lips. “Believe me, Prince Magnus, I don’t care who you sleep with. Servant, courtesan, or . . . or goat. It’s less than meaningless to me.”

“I highly doubt I’d ever choose a goat.”

“Doesn’t seem that way to me.”

He curled up his lips as he leaned closer. “Your tongue is sharp for so early an hour. Amara’s was much less sharp. I should know; I got to know it very well last night.”

She’d had enough of this nonsense. Cleo turned away, clenching her hands into fists to stop them from trembling.

“Are you sure you’ve changed your mind about wanting to chat?” he called after her.

She kept walking and didn’t dignify Magnus’s words with a reply.

? ? ?

Cleo searched the palace for a friendly face to help her see clearly again.

She found Nic stationed near the throne room and gestured for him to meet her around the corner where they could speak in privacy. After what she’d just witnessed, she now doubted everything.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, having snuck away successfully.

Cleo let out a long, shaky breath and tried to release the hatred that continued to burn inside her. She looked up at Nic, wincing at the bruises on his face.

She gently touched his cheek. “That looks like it hurts a lot.”

“Less every day. I’m fine, really. But it seems that you’re experiencing a flurry of angst today.”

“More like disappointment. Our potential ally seems to have found herself in bed with the enemy.” She told him about her recent encounter.

“Wow.” Nic’s brows shot up. “Although, now that you mention it, I have heard Kraeshian girls are known to be rather . . . friendly. Looks like Amara represents her empire well, even if her taste is questionable.”

She grimaced. “It makes me wonder what she’s really after, and if she and her brother have different goals after all.”

Nic appeared to consider this new information. “Perhaps she assumes Magnus can lead her to the Kindred. Does she think he has it buried under his blankets?”

She glared at him. “It’s not funny.”

“I would never dare make light of something like this.” But his lips were twitching slightly.

Nic had once been jealous of how she had behaved toward Magnus during the wedding tour. But he had to understand that it had been necessary for her to feign a certain level of affection. Still, he’d accused her of falling in love with the prince.

What a truly ridiculous notion that had been.

She was still insatiably curious about Nic’s dealings with Prince Ashur. Apart from his confession of their kiss, he hadn’t been inclined to divulge much. Cleo tried to be patient. He’d confided so much in her already, and she was certain he’d tell her more if there were more to tell.

“I don’t trust them, Nic. I can’t align with anyone I don’t trust. So what do I do now?”