Page 43 of The Princess of Nothing
He closed his eyes for a moment. “I knew you were feigning your sweet attitude when I met you.”
“Not quite. I do indeed find Kiros charming. I like him.” It was a lie but one I spoke with conviction. “I want to do right by my kingdom, and unity is the best way for that, and I really will do what is needed to change Magaelor. I never did follow my father’s rules.” My eyes flashed. “However, Edgar is weak. You must know this.”
He didn’t respond.
“I can’t consider taking back my throne without a plan,” I stated. “My people may not accept me now.”
He considered me for a few seconds before exhaling slowly. “You’re smarter than I gave you credit, living up to your Denor sign. Although, I do not appreciate your tone. Have some respect, for I am still your king.”
His words charged me with flames that I had to suffocate before replying. I uncurled my fingers, relaxing my shoulders. “I need to know what your plan is, else I go into this blind.”
“Have faith in your elders.”
“You son will be king of Magaelor if I marry him.”
“Yes.”
“He will have full reign, as he will be granted the full rights of a king.”
“Yes.”
“Then ease my anxieties. What do you have to lose? I cannot go anywhere, do anything, or run. I can’t refuse, else I die. You have me at your mercy, so please, is it not better for us to go into this as allies? Would it not make the transition easier? Why make this difficult? You could go that route, but I could fight you at every turn, even if it meant by death. I know my people would challenge Kiros’s rule if something were to happen to me mysteriously, without an heir.”
His expression faltered. “I’ll be honest then. I like Edgar,” He admitted. “It brings me no pleasure to hurt him. Naturally, his survival cannot continue after we reinstate you as queen and, therefore, my son as king. Your rule will forever be called into question by those loyal to Edgar’s reign.” He blew out a tense breath and ran his hand across his crownless head. “Your people will accept you as their queen. We have been keeping an eye on things in Magaelor. Many do not like Edgar and what he stands for. Your people, unfortunately, are far too indoctrinated to accept such change. They are loyal to what they know, and what they know is you. For some unknown reason, they adored your father and, therefore, will accept you back with ease.”
I nodded. “So how will you remove Edgar?”
“We have assassins placed at court, in positions high enough to get close to him. Men who are willing to die for their king and kingdom. He opened his doors to us, which will, in turn, be his downfall.”
“Like a knife in the back.”
“Indeed.” He cast his gaze downward, then trailed it back to mine.
“Magaelor will still uprise. Murder will be suspected. You’ll need an army.”
“We have one.” He leaned back against the wall. “With the power of dragons, we can take Magaelor back if needed. An army no one can drown.”
My eyes lit up. “Using the dragons to fly there—”
He scoffed. “Silly girl, no. We syphon their powers. They’re huge beasts, so it takes months to weaken them, but once we do, we can use their incredible strength and fire-wielding abilities and channel it through a relic.”
I shook my head. “Like you did with faeries many centuries ago.”
“That was different. We would never think to do such evil now. Dragons are not people. They do not have feelings like we do, although the firedrake warders from the south would tell you otherwise.” I assumed he was talking of the warriors who’d come to court the other day. “Their claims, fortunately, have been sedated for now.”
“Dragons are protected though.”
“Yes.” He didn’t elaborate. Instead, he drummed his fingers against the globe. “How fortunate it is that we are on the same side. Has this eased your concerns?”
I nodded quickly. “Yes, and thank you.”
“I expect full cooperation from this point on.”
I dipped my head. “You have it.”
A question lingered on my tongue. There was one other thing, an important one: Morgana. I wanted to ask him to save her, but I knew if I told him my weakness, he’d exploit it, and if she’d survived so far, I didn’t want to endanger her anymore. I decided to wait until I’d gained Kiros’s trust to ask such a monumental favor.
Xenos paused to look at the globe once more before he strode out of the small room. From the corner of my eye, I noticed a red scorpion that scuttered behind a low-hanging curtain made of red threads. I waited a full minute before letting out a weighted sigh. I spun around, and the green on my dress shimmered as I watched dusk kiss night. Stars speckled against the indigo canvass, and inky splats of black spread like veins through the blue. I breathed in the humid air and pressed my elbows onto the window ledge. Propping my chin up on my hands, I gazed out.
