Page 137 of The City of Zirdai
“Ximen?”
No matter how she worded it, it wouldn’t change the fact. “He died.”
He straightened as grief and anger blazed to life inside him. “The Water Prince killed him.”
Not quite a question. “No, the Heliacal Priestess.”
Jayden jerked as if slapped. His mind reeled and guilt twisted.My fault.
“Not your fault.” She explained about the explosions. “The priestess collected the toxic gases and released clouds of it underneath the prince’s complex. All it needed was a spark. We’re still not sure how she managed it. And I’m not sure we really want to know the details—it might be tempting for someone else to copy it.”
He was horrified.
“Regardless, two hundred and sixty-four people died. All because of her. The priestess who you conspired with.”
“I…” He scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I…didn’t think she’d do something likethat.”
“No one did.”
His shoulders dropped. “Did any other Invisible Sword members die?”
She found it interesting that he didn’t ask if the Water Prince or the priestess lived or died. Listing the names, she felt his pain through her magical connection and suffered through her own welling of grief. By the time she finished, he’d returned to his huddled position on the floor.
“I’m sorry,” he said finally. “I made so many mistakes.”
His emotions matched his words, but Shyla decided to test him. “If given the chance, would you kill the Water Prince?”
His head snapped up. “He’s alive?”
“Why are you surprised?”
“The priestess hated him more than I did. I thought she would kill him with her explosions.”
And since he didn’t know the full story, that would make sense. “No, he still lives.”
Jayden’s thoughts spun, but that inner fury, which had fueled him to betray her and the Invisible Sword, had died. “No, I wouldn’t kill him. Not anymore. For him, living is a punishment. Dying would be too easy.” He told the truth. “What happened? I sense you’re not telling me the entire story.”
“I’m not. Get comfortable, this is going to take a while.” She told him what had happened, including all the gritty and terrible details. Keeping her connection to him, she monitored his reactions. They shared a wry grin when she reached the part about her being chained to the floor.
“Wait,” he interrupted at one point. “Why did you tell me the prince was alive?”
She kept quiet and let him figure it out.
“To see my reaction? Because…” He pulled at his beard. “Because of what I did. My desire to kill him clouded all reason, and you wanted to see if I still had the same blind desire.”
“Yes. And I can tell even the news of his death has not given you the sense of satisfaction that you sought. Nor the peace you hoped for.”
“My sister’s still dead. And, like I said, being locked in a black cell would have been a really good punishment for him.”
She agreed. “Well, he did spend some time in there.” Shyla continued her tale. “And now we’re looking for a new Water Prince or Princess,” she concluded.
Jayden sat there, absorbing all the information. “Why not you?”
“I have a job.”
“Then I’d say Orla would be best.”
“We thought she’d be second best. We’ve another candidate in mind.”
