Page 63 of A Cage of Magic and Darkness

I bite my tongue, not telling him that visiting the Mage had been my idea.

I wonder how much this new opinion of Taelyn is down to her replacing Cirrus with Balthorne. Cirrus used to be head of the King’s Guard, but now he’s what? There is no King’s Guard, and Taelyn has made it clear that she wants Balthorne in that role. Cirrus has found himself without a place in court and is clearly worried about his future.

Is it possible I have an ally here? I never would have thought it of Cirrus Planetree, but it seems that way.

“The princess has been through a lot,” I say, not wanting to appear disloyal. “She’s lost her mother and the king, and been put into a position she’s unused to. It’s understandable that she’d find all of this challenging at first.”

“So, you support Princess Taelyn in taking the throne?”

The frustrating thing about speaking to Cirrus is that he knows exactly who I am. While I might be able to pull the wool over the eyes of so many others, making myself out to be the loyal, subservient stepbrother. But it isn’t going to work. Cirrus isn’t so easily fooled.

“I support whatever is right for the kingdom,” I reply.

“If we don’t act soon, there may be no kingdom. Another part of the city has been swallowed by the rot, and all the while, the princess lounges around in her chambers, doing nothing. The people are beginning to talk, Prince Ruarok. They’re getting nervous. They need to be able to look for leadership in these times, and I’m afraid that is something we’re sorely lacking.”

I study his expression. I don’t trust Cirrus, but I can’t deny that he’s offering me something I’ve wanted my entire life.

“Do you really believe her incapable of running a kingdom?” I ask.

“The princess is responsible for that poor mother and her child being murdered in the street. She makes rash choices. She’s too emotional to be able to rule.”

I feel myself swell with power.

I am the true ruler of this kingdom. I’m the one who shares the Loftborn bloodline. She might be pure Fae, but she still doesn’t have a right to the throne.

“No matter what we think,” I say thoughtfully, “at the end of the day, it’ll be the people who decide who they want to crown. They love Princess Taelyn. They will want it to be her.”

“Theyhaveloved her,” he agrees, “but people are whispering in the streets. They’re not stupid. They can see what she’s done. It’ll only take a few more mistakes before they turn their backs on her.”

I press my finger to my lips. “Mistakes that will tarnish her reputation?”

His pale blue eyes glitter like ice. “Exactly.”

Does he know about the tension between Taelyn and me? I can’t help but wonder. He’s one of these men whoseems to have little ears everywhere, gathering whatever knowledge he can to use against people. Is it possible someone overheard us together and reported back to Cirrus? Perhaps when we’d been in the tent? It isn’t as though canvas is a great defense against noise.

I remind myself that this is exactly what I wanted. But, if that’s the case, why do I feel the knot of unease, like a sickness, deep within my chest? I do my best to ignore it and allow a slow smile to curl my lips.

“I think that can be arranged.”

“Good. I have people who can help to spread the word that Askos would be far better off with a king than a queen. When the time for the coronation comes around, the citizens of Askos will be cheering your name, not hers.”

“And I assume you will regain your position as head of the King’s Guard,” I suggest, making sure my suspicions are correct.

He offers me a sly smile and ducks in a bow. “Only if that should please his majesty.”

32

TAELYN

As I’d suspected,nothing has been put in place for a service for the king and queen. I’d asked Ruarok to take charge of it, but instead he’d followed me out into the wildlands. Irritation at his lack of cooperation rises inside me. Must I do everything myself?

But then I remember I’m not the only one who has been going through a hard time. Ruarok has spent the past ten years locked inside a cage, only to be released to this madness. It can’t be easy for him either.

A knock comes at the office door, and it opens.

My stepbrother enters, and I draw a breath at the sight of him. I hadn’t realized quite how desperate I’d been to see him. His presence is commanding. His height, combined with that shock of dark hair and his almost black eyes, make him stand out among the generally fair and petite Fae. I know he would prefer to look more like his father had, but I think he’s beautiful.

“Ruarok,” I say. “I wondered where you’d gotten to.”

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