Page 43 of Cage of Darkness
“No reason.”
He wiped his mouth on his sleeve, hischeeks turning pink.
She grabbed a slice of bread andglanced out the dark window. Not a single star was visible. “Thankyou for allowing me to see Prince Odar earlier today,” she said,peering at the tray. She wished Kerdan would bring hot tea; she wasthoroughly sick of plain water.
“I hadn’t factored him intomy plans,” he said around a mouthful of food. “However, if you wantto include him, we can. He’s a good fighter and seems to be fairlyintelligent.” He glanced up at her with a look she couldn’t quitediscern.
He used the wordwe. Interesting wordchoice. Taking another bite of bread, trying to act as casual aspossible, Allyssa said, “And what exactly is your plan?”
Kerdan leaned back in the chair,studying her. “What I say does not leave this room. Agreed?” Shenodded. “If you so much as breathe a word of this to anyone, I willslit your throat.”
“Charming.”
“I don’t put on airs aroundyou. There’s no need.”
“Airs? You just threatenedto kill me!”
“Did I make my point?” heasked. She rolled her eyes and motioned for him to continue. “Myfather is besotted with Queen Jana. I’ve tried discussing myconcerns with him—that she is here for Emperion and nothing more.My father, however, mistakenly believes she loves him. I told himthat Soma attempted to kill me, but since I have no proof, herefuses to believe his stepchild would do something so reckless.”He smiled ruefully, and the irony wasn’t lost on her. “Despite myfather’s actions, he loves me and wants me on the throne oneday—not Jana’s offspring. That night I brought you before him wasthe first time I’ve seen him question Jana. It gives me hope thathe’ll come to his senses. However, there is a war on the horizon,and I fear there will be another assassination attempt on mylife…and on my father’s life, as well.”
She shivered, unable to imagine whatwould happen if Jana controlled the Russek Army. There would be nostopping her.
“As heir to the throne,there is little I can do without inciting a civil war,” hecontinued, tiptoeing around the line of treason. Even though hehated Jana, and for good reason, there was nothing he could do asthe prince. Only the king had the power to dethrone her.
“Why seek my help?” Allyssacarefully asked, curling her legs up under her on the chair. Theroom suddenly seemed too quiet. Too intimate. Too warm.
He rubbed his tired face.“I’ve been searching for the right…opportunity. When I learned youunderwent multiple interrogations without revealing the informationJana sought, a plan began to form. It wasn’t until I saw you fightmy men that I knew you would be perfect for what I have inmind.”
When Kerdan didn’t extrapolate, shesaid, “What is it you think I can help you with?”
The lines in his face sharpened as heleaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. “I want you tokill the queen, her mother, and her children. In return, I will getyou out of Russek.”
His words rang in her ears. A pure andsimple negotiation. Luckily, her parents were master negotiators,and she’d learned a thing or two through the years. She couldn’tappear too eager, and she had to hold her ground. Folding her handson her lap, she tilted her head to the side and replied, “How can Itrust you? What if I kill them and you turn around and murder me inreturn to place the blame on me so you can keep your hands clean oftreason?”
He smiled and leaned back, crossinghis legs. His fingers drummed lightly on the arm of the chair.“Their deaths need to appear to be an accident. No one can everknow—or suspect—otherwise.”
While she liked his offer, it wasn’tenough. “I want to stop the war.”
“Once the queen is dead, myfather will be stricken with grief. There is a high likelihood Ican convince him to give up his quest to conquerEmperion.”
“That’s not goodenough.”
He frowned. “What about on yourend?”
“What do youmean?”
“You must promise me thatyou will stop the war on your end as well. I won’t have your fatherstorming into my kingdom and killing everyone as retribution foryour kidnapping.”
“And if I guarantee to stopthe war on my end?”
“Then I will do the same.No matter the cost.”
She wanted to scream with joy. He wasoffering a way out of Russek and to stop the bloody war. There wasonly one item to clarify. “And Odar?”
Kerdan sat there for a moment beforesaying, “I thought he lied to you? Said he was Jarvik when he wasreally Prince Odar?”
Her face warmed, and she fidgeted withher hands. “He did.”
“I’m sorry,” Kerdan said.“I didn’t mean to pry.”
