Page 133 of Fear the Flames
Cayden twirls a knife in his hand and reaches his other over to rest on top of my uninjured thigh. My chest loosens; he’s on my side. “You always forget the single, most crucial detail, Eagor. You can’t beat me.”
“If we give her back to her father, we could gain money and bargain for peace,” Eagor tries to reason with Cayden, but the shakiness in his voice is clear. He’s terrified. Cayden’s hand tightens on the hilt of his dagger. Another wave of anger rolls through me at his choice of words. As if I’m some kind of possession my father lost. I curl a hand under the table and dig my nails into my palm to keep my voice steady.
“I would slit your throat before you even got the chance to revel in your facade of peace,” I state as I glare in Eagor’s direction.
He looks ready to rip into me, but one of the doors that face the lake opens, and a beaten and bloodied Ailliard is escorted through by Braxton. His right eye is swollen shut, there’s a gash on his forehead, and blood slides down the side of his face. His lip is busted, and from the way he’s being escorted, he has some bodily wounds under his clothes. Braxton practically rips the chair back and shoves Ailliard into it, right across from me. I tighten my hold on Finnian, both to keep him from lunging across the table and reminding myself that I can’t do that yet.
“Ailliard,” Finnian growls his greeting, “I love what you’ve done with your face.” Ailliard ignores Finnian’s words and clutches his stomach, moaning in pain. He looks just as pathetic as he sounds, as he is. Cayden sneers as he takes in Ailliard’s presence.
“Garrick does not want peace, and neither do I. If you were successful in sending Elowen back to Imirath, which you’ve obviously and pathetically failed at, I would have started a war to get her back,” Cayden finishes his statement while looking toward Eagor. I grip his wrist under the table as the weight of his words settles on me. He doesn’t look at me, doesn’t tear his eyes away from Eagor, but the firm grip he has on my thigh loosens slightly, and he drags his thumb along my skin.
We must be a united front, or everything can fall apart. He should have told me about his suspicions last night; he shouldn’t have kept this from me. I told him kingdoms fall apart when their leaders don’t communicate, so I just have to pretend like I know everything about anything that comes from his mouth. We have an audience, and they must be convinced.
“You would start a war for one woman?” Eagor lets out a sharp humorless laugh.
“Yes,” Cayden answers, and the tightness returns to his hold on my thigh. My corset feels too tight and sweat collects at the base of my neck.
“I ordered you to stay away from her, to not become personally involved in politics,” Eagor fires back.
“I find it humorous you think I view your orders as anything more than temper tantrums. You’ve been a dead man walking since I rose in power, and every breath you’ve taken these past few years has been mercy from me,” Cayden snarls while looking around the table, skimming his eyes over every face. “I, Cayden Veles, Commander of Vareveth, invoke my right to challenge the throne should I deem the reigning monarchs unfit to rule.”
The world around me stops moving. Valia wails loudly while Eagor starts shouting profanities. The advisors begin shouting at the generals, and I feel myself being pulled from my seat. Swords are being drawn by everyone present, including Eagor and Valia’s guards that line the room.
“Cayden, what’s happening?” I hiss below the noise.
“Please, you have to trust me,” he pleads while ushering me toward a back corner, away from Eagor, Valia, their advisors, and Ailliard. Seeing him across the room only solidifies how deep his betrayal runs. He would rather stand with the King and Queen of Vareveth over me, not that I want him over here.
“You should have talked to me last night.”
“I didn’t think I would ever have to use this option. You must know…this isn’t how…I promise I’ll make you happy,” Cayden says as a pained expression crosses his face. What the fuck is going on? Why is he looking at me like he’s about to tell me something I’ll hate? “We’re getting married,” he states before turning back toward Eagor. The floor feels like it’s shaking under my feet, and Saskia wraps an arm around my waist.
“It’s the only way he can challenge the throne,” Saskia whispers in my ear, but I hardly register her words.
Marriage.
Cayden will be my husband.
I just want someone to tell me what’s going on. Everything is moving so fast.
Valia sobs into her hands. I can’t see her through the thick line of advisors protecting her, but her wails can be heard in every corner of the room. Eagor is red-faced, and the vein in his forehead is popping out. “You have no right to the throne!” he shouts while waving his sword in our direction.
“You’re a fool for not doing your proper research,” Saskia practically spits the words, her arm still securely wrapped around me. By some miracle, I keep the emotion hidden from my face. “All you had to do was read through the full terms of the militaristic and political agreement to see that the Commander of Vareveth can challenge the throne if a monarch agrees to marry them. Elowen is of equal rank to both of you, and it’s the law.”
“That’s absurd!” Valia shrieks.
“That’s the law.” Saskia’s voice is filled with crisp intelligence. “The difference between you and I is that I know I’m intelligent, but I work every day to find new information. I read through our law books the second I met Queen Elowen; your advisors should have done the same. It’s not my fault you settle for the bare minimum while I strive for perfection.”
“Wait!” a political advisor I can’t recall the name of shouts. “I recall that law; you need the support of one political advisor.”
“Indeed, we do. However, if you recall the last paragraph on the forty-fifth page, you’ll note the clause that statesmy vote, the vote of a militaristic advisor, will count as a political vote so long as I attended every meeting with Queen Elowen present, considering Elowen is both a militaristic and political ally. Ryder Neredras, First General of Vareveth, stepped in for me if I couldn’t attend. Therefore, my vote counts.” Outraged shouts rise from the group of advisors, but Saskia continues over them, “Please, by all means, continue to squirm considering it’s rather rewarding. It won’t change the truth; I outsmarted every damn one of you.”
Even through my shocked state, I reach up to squeeze Saskia’s hand that rests on my hip. I wish she had told me about the clause, but her loyalty is to Cayden—heshould have told me. But I’m still proud of her, I know how much she values her intelligence, and it must feel immeasurably good staring down a group of advisors that believe in the old ways and beating them.
“The two of you are awfully quiet,” Valia’s voice rises in the mix. “Has Elowen even agreed to marriage?”
Cayden hasn’t said he’ll marry me out loud, and I have a feeling he’ll challenge the throne, whether it be legally or illegally. It’ll be a lot easier to gain allies in this war if we do it legally. By the gods…I can’t believe I’m doing this. I gather myself to push away from Saskia and stand beside Cayden, slipping my hand in his. Finnian and Saskia stand by my side, and Ryder stands at his.
We may be the Lady and Lord of Revenge, Retribution, and Vengeance, but we’ve gained new titles tonight, forged in all three of those things.
