Page 24 of The Assassin's Dancer
There’s a silence between us as my thoughts drift. I’m not quite sure what’s worse – to lose your mother at twelve or to never have a mother at all.
No.
I don’t deserve to feel sad.
Like Father told us, we all have mothers somewhere; they just didn’t care enough to stay. Kaz has it worse. Much worse. He lost someone who loved him dearly while I’ve still got Father – and he’s got more love for us all than a silly mother could ever give.
“What about your father then?” I ask, suddenly desperate to change the subject. “Surely he must be proud of the life you’ve made for yourself?”
Kaz shoots me a look.
Oh, right…whorehouse.
My cheeks flush, but before I can apologise, my gaze flies over his shoulder and locks onto a sight that makes my entire body freeze.
Hugo.
The vile prince stands beneath the ballroom’s entrance arch. He’s dressed in typical royal attire, slightly hunched and clutching a bandaged hand to his chest. But there’s no sign of the usual sneer on his face. Instead, it’s fury – more than I’d ever think possible on such a small man.
Frozen, I watch his beady eyes scan over the ballroom. The moment they settle on Father, he clenches his unbandaged hand and storms towards the throne.
“What is it?” Kaz asks.
“You said you dealt with Hugo,” I seethe, pushing his hands off me. Any warmth I felt before is long gone as my sisters’ cold, hard reality stalks across the ballroom.
“I did,” Kaz hisses.
“If that’s the truth,” I snarl, “then why is he over there, climbing up onto the dais?”
“What?” Kaz’s lips part, but before he can explain himself, Hugo’s scratchy voice echoes across the ballroom.
“King Sol!” he bellows. Like a heavy blanket, silence falls over the dance floor. “In my entire seventy years as prince, never have I been so insulted, so…” His face twists with anger. “Betrayed! You are a true coward of a king!”
Gasps ripple through the guests while Father looks as though he’s just been stabbed.
“Still, I might be able to look past your barbaric Solarian ways, but I cannot look past the fact that wehada deal, and now I have come to collect on my side of the bargain.” Furiously, Hugo’s eyes scan the dance floor. “Where is Liliana?”
My heart fractures.No.
“I came here to select my new bride, and I’ll be taking the brat home with me tonight.”
10
AMARYLLIS
Horrified gasps crash like waves around the ballroom. It’s pure chaos. Half the crowd fix their eyes on the seething prince, while the other half gawks at Father, who appears to be just as shocked as the rest of us.
Ignoring them both, my attention homes in on my sisters. My rapid breaths settle as I see they’ve already grabbed Liliana and formed a protective circle around her.
Thank the Stars.
We won’t let him take her without a fight. I’m just about to shove through the crowds and join them when Father pushes up from his throne and raises a single palm.
Everyone in the ballroom freezes.
“What is the meaning of this, Hugo?” Father starts, lowering his commanding palm. “What happened to your hand, and what is this about mybarbaricways?” He scoffs. “I have no issue with you marrying one of my daughters. In fact, I feel I have been most accommodating so far, but I’m afraid you cannot have Liliana. She is simply too young to be married.”
“Then we will hold off on the wedding ceremony,” Hugo spits, sending another roll of gasps across the hall. “But I’m taking her home with me now.”No. “I won’t stand to spend asecond longer in this palace than I have to. Not with you and your savage ways!”
