Page 110 of The Prince and His Stolen Throne
I looked at the royal champions, taking in their sorry state. Fitz’s wide eyes blinked rapidly as he stared vaguely in my direction. Some of that was probably confusion about my betrayal, but I suspected he was mostly blind without his glasses.
Delilah had stopped squirming in her net. She clung onto its flimsy support as she slowly shook her head in stunned denial.
From the floor, Maximus continued to strain against his bonds. Every few seconds he raised angry, accusing eyes to Wilde before he dropped his head.
Angelica was the easiest to look at. She glared at me with calm defiance—chin raised, shoulders thrown back. An orc had removed the gag and the red lines along her cheeks heightened her fury. We’d hated each other from the beginning. Anything I said now would just feed her vindication. I focused on her while the Lord of Grimnight gave his victory speech.
“I am the reason you are here today,” he began. Magic altered his voice into a low, mysterious growl. “I am the mastermind who has pulled every string behind the scenes. I am the mage who has orchestrated the destruction of your precious defense spell. I am the villain who will rule the Desolated Lands with an iron fist. I—” he paused and inhaled a loud, dramatic breath “—am the Lord of Grimnight!”
An expectant silence followed. After a few seconds, Fitz said, “Yes, we’d gathered that.”
The Lord of Grimnight shot him an irritated look that the blinded prince couldn’t appreciate. Ignoring him, the lord launched into the next part of his speech. “You fools entered this forest thinking you could break its curse? Ignorant children. My magic is stronger than you could ever imagine. The web I’ve weaved is made of steel. You are my captives now.”
I stared hard at Angelica, trying to drill a silent message into her head:Don’t resist. He’s not going to hurt you.
Her lip curled as she glared back at me, then turned her ire on the mage. “And what do you plan to do with us?”
“Anything I wish. Your fates are mine to decide!” His voice rose with the declaration, echoing off the ceiling. He paused to appreciate it before continuing. “Minions, take them to the dungeons!”
The minions started to gather everyone up. Angelica went willingly, allowing an orc to escort her through the door, so composed she could have been the one in charge.
Fitz allowed a minion to help him stand and guide him, since he couldn’t see where he was going anyway.
Several orcs surrounded and subdued Maximus, dragging him out of the room.
Delilah was the biggest problem. While everyone’s attention had been on the lord, she’d torn a hole through the net and gotten one arm and half of her head out of it. “Trey!” she called, reaching for me.
An imp tried to stuff her arm back through the hole, but she grabbed its tail and tossed it carelessly to the side. “Why aren’t you denying it?” she demanded. “Why aren’t you fighting him?”
I wanted to say, ‘I’m sorry.’ What I said instead was: “Because everything he said is true.”
“But …” her hand fell limp to the floor. “But we’re family.”
“No.” I waited for the word to sink in. For a pair of lacertians to scoop up her net and hold her steady between them. “We aren’t.”
The doors closed behind the last minion as they carried the royal champions off to the dungeon.
The moment we were alone, the Lord of Grimnight bounced to his feet and removed the hood. For the first time in twelve years, we stood face to face.
He really is shorter than me, I realized as I looked down at him.
The lord planted his hands on his hips and pursed his lips in displeasure. “You know, I had a much better speech prepared, butsomeonehad to change the script.” He turned his displeasure on Wilde. “We agreed Treasure would remain with the others for the time being.”
Wilde stared placidly back at him. “The royal champions were all captured. Placing Treasure in the dungeons served no further purpose.”
“No further purpose? I need him to keep Bane in check! Once they find out he’s not really their son, he’ll be worthless to them!”
The words hit me like a physical blow, and I teetered, suddenly light-headed. I grabbed the edge of the throne to steady myself. A sharp stick stabbed my palm, drawing a few drops of blood. Buzzing filled my head. I knew this would happen once I finished my mission. Knew what I would lose—and the little I would gain. It didn’t make it any easier tothink of Brendon and Rick cutting me out of their life like excising rotten flesh from a wound.
“Treasure.”
I barely heard Wilde’s soft voice over the lord’s continued ranting. His brow furrowed with concern as he scanned my face. I smiled reassuringly at him and straightened, pulling my injured hand away from the throne. “You don’t really need hostages though, do you? They failed their quest. The Kingdom Defense Spell will fall soon if it hasn’t already. All you need to do now is strike first and you’ll rule all five kingdoms.”
The lord’s lips twisted to the side. “Yes, but now they’re going to fight back, and I …”
Don’t have an army.He didn’t say the words out loud, but I had a feeling that the only people under his command were those currently standing in City Hall.
“The Desolated Lands have relied on magic for centuries to keep them safe,” I drawled, aiming for bored and arrogant. “They’re no match for an evil mage of your skill.”
