Page 86 of Song of the Heart Scale
The servants looked at each other, their hesitance thick enough to slice with a butter knife.
I let out an exasperated sigh and stormed forward, brushing past them and stepping into the walkway of the courtyard. “Out of my way!” I snapped, channeling every ounce of Arya's imperious haughtiness. “I don’t have time for your stammering.”
Internally, I winced. These servants had nothing to do with the madness brewing inside these walls. But the longer I stood waiting on the doorstep, the more likely it was that Lord Zacharia would be alerted to my presence—and we didn’t have time for that.
Maeve fell into step behind me as we marched down the familiar walkways. Every step echoed like a countdown.
“How long do you think we have before he knows we’re here?” I whispered under my breath.
“Ten minutes, maybe less,” Maeve said. “Servants whisper quickly.”
I snorted. “Great. Add a ticking clock to the drama. Just what I needed.”
When we reached Jacob’s quarters, I didn’t bother knocking. I pushed the door open and strode in like I owned the place.
Jacob jumped to his feet from his writing desk, ink smudging his fingers. “Arya—!”
“We need to talk.” I closed the door behind me while Maeve stood guard outside.
He blinked, clearly caught off guard. “I—after what happened... you shouldn’t be here.”
I stepped forward, keeping my voice low. “I didn’t come to fight.”
Jacob ran a hand through his dark brown hair, which I’d noticed he did when he was stressed. “Father will lose his mind if he finds out.”
I smirked. “Then let’s not give him the chance.”
He looked at me, torn. “Why are you here?”
“Because I needed to see you,” I said, softer now. “To talk to you without him watching. Without any lies.”
He stared at me for a long moment, his honey brown eyes scanning mine for something—truth, maybe. Or a whisper of betrayal. “Okay,” he said finally, motioning to the chair across from him. “Sit.”
I sat.
Jacob leaned forward and perched his elbows on his knees. “You look different.”
“Thanks. I’ve been through the emotional equivalent of a blender.”
His head cocked to the side. “What’s a blender?”
I waved him off. “Never mind.”
He gave a tight laugh. “You’re not the same girl I grew up with.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “Maybe not. But I’m still someone who cares about you. Who wants to keep you safe.”
His brows furrowed. “Safe from what?”
A weighty silence fell between us. I couldn’t tell him everything—not yet—but he deserved a sliver of the truth.
“There are things happening in the districts. Dangerous things. I’m sure you’ve heard. Thorne... isn’t who you think he is.”
Jacob’s expression darkened. “I heard rumors about what happened at the enthronement.”
I leaned closer. “And they’re true. The Immortals rejected him as the new emperor, Jacob. What comes next is going to affect all of Elaria.”
His gaze narrowed. “How do you know this?”
