Page 58 of A Dose of Agony
“Is that what you want?” I whisper. “For Trevor…” I know she said she didn’t want to be the queen anymore, but if inaction would give it to her, how is that bad?
“No,” she says quickly. “Not only is that not what I wish for anymore, but I’m afraid. Vincent’s plans don’t stop at Jarron. I don’t know what they are, but I don’t believe that a successful rebellion will put me and Trevor on the throne and be the end of it.”
Some groups desire anarchy.Is that what Mr. Vandozer is after?
I take in a deep breath. That’s not altogether surprising, I suppose. It didn’t make much sense to think he just wanted the second prince to be king for no particular reason.
“Why are you telling me all of this?” I whisper. My heart and head hurt simultaneously.
“Because I suspect no one else has, and you are not a child who needs to be left in the dark. You deserve to understand the risks. And also because it adds to the necessity of our plan. Killing the council and freeing your sister won’t end the rebellion, but it will cut off the main source of fuel. And with both of you free, Jarron will be able to claim his mate publicly. That is when this will all end for good.”
Claim his mate publicly.My cheeks heat. “He has to do it in public?”
“He will have to make a public declaration at some point, yes, but it’s not like the first claiming has to be done in public.”
Claiming his chosen will end the war. That’s the part I’m stuck on now.
My stomach clenches. Have I just been a selfish bitch who’s stretching out this war due to her own fears and selfishness? Or is it not that simple?
My heart clenches at the question brewing on my tongue. I’m terrified to say this out loud, but I feel I have to. “So, claiming his mate will end the war?”
She takes in a long breath. “Yes, but…” Her eyes narrow as she very clearly measures her next words. “It will only end the war if Liz and Vincent stop their campaign as well. At this point, Jarron will need the Bright Tribunal to side with him, which is easier said than done. Especially with things as they are now. Vincent has the ear of the clans. With Liz herself declaring that she is the prince’s chosen mate and that she’s rejected him, it’s possible the council would rule Jarron’s claim false, if he came forward with you. If the clans believed he was willing to lie, it would make the rebellion worse. That would do irreversible damage to his reputation.”
I run my hands through my hair. “Why would Liz do that?” I whisper. Why would she claim to be his chosen?
“Because the Cosmic Council has firm control of her. They can make her say anything they want. And they don’t intend to give it up. Ever.”
My brow pinches. “Ever?” I whisper. “I thought she’d be free eventually.”
“Well, traditionally, a new set of games would take place to free the current jinn. Liz would then be freed but magically gagged. Except, she’s pissed off the council. She’s lucky they haven’t killed her already if I’m honest.”
I cough. “What?”
Why hadn’t I considered this?
“The council is able to control her, but only so long as they keep giving direct commands. During that last little stunt of hers, she actively worked against their best interests by sending you secret messages. She’s become very good at following the letter of their commands but completing her own agenda at the same time, and that’s exactly why she’s a liability. They cannot risk setting her free.
“This whole campaign against Jarron wasn’t supposed to happen like this. Vincent intended to truly bond with Liz, but now, she’s refused him, and he’s not at all happy about that. Now, he’s using her magical bond to the games to force her to play along with his rebellion. He’s kissed her in front of massive packs of demons, declaring her to be Jarron’s mate. He’s made her agree with him, swearing she is Jarron’s chosen but she doesn’t want him. Not only is she very useful right now as a slave, but she’s also a liability if she’s ever freed.”
I drop my butt to the stone chair, limbs limp. “Shit,” I mutter.
She’s a pawn to them. I knew that, but the realization that no amount of waiting will help her is a heavy one. Even if a new set of games were to take place, they wouldn’t allow Liz to go free. I’d held on too heavily to that hope. It’s hard to let it go.
“How does their control work?” I ask. Information. I need to continue gathering information. “There are ten members of the council. Do they all have the ability to make commands?”
“Yes, each one has some level of control, but there’s a hierarchy. If two different council members give conflicting commands, the one with the most magic wins. That is the command the jinn will be forced to obey.”
And yet, Mr. Vandozer seems to be the one in control. He isn’t the most powerful in magic, is he? “Then, couldn’t you override his commands?”
She has more power, not just by blood but also because of her link with Trevor.
“If it were only me and Vincent, yes. But the others are on his side. If they agree, he wins that internal battle. They’ve all given him right to leadership, so long as he continues promising them the fall of Oriziah.”
If Bea is right, then to win the war, we have to defeat the Cosmic Council first.
“Liz is the key to all of this,” she whispers. “Regardless of whether she’s his chosen or not, that question, that doubt, is enough to continue the war. Once Liz is free, Jarron’s choice will no longer be questioned, and the war can end. It’s the only way to win without making major sacrifices.”
So, I need to agree to deceive Jarron, complete a full assassination of ten massively powerful beingsat oncewithout his help, or else either Jarron or my sister will die.
