Page 139 of The Fae Kings' Bargain

Ria gasped. “But Feref and the tea…?”

“Poison was slipped into my mother’s tea.” Anger and sadness rang in Toren’s tone, but Mehl didn’t dare turn away to comfort him. “I’m sorry, Feref. Though I believe in your loyalty, I had to be sure.”

Mehl’s gaze locked on Vesset’s, and the weight of grief he found was answer enough. Even so, he had to ask. “I don’t suppose you’re able to prove yours?”

“Not…in a way that matters.” The healer squeezed his eyes closed. “Go ahead and kill me.”

Despite the information they needed to glean from the man, Mehl almost did.

“Bind him,” Toren ordered, and one of the guards stepped forward to comply.

But Mehl kept his knife firmly in place even as Vesset’s arms were jerked behind his back. Only when the magic-suppressing cuffs were locked around the healer’s wrists did Mehl step back, but his control was hard-won. His musclesburnedwith the desire to rend. To stab and stab. What kind of healer would act in such a way?

The guard pulled a pair of vials from Vesset’s pocket. “What should I do with these, Your Majesties?”

Had he burned before? Pure rage scalded Mehl’s insides at the sight of those vials—one of them suspiciously similar to the one found near the queen. Then a blast of energy pounded through the room, this time strong enough to make the teacups rattle.

Clearly, Toren had also noticed.

“I didn’t want to do it,” Vesset whispered. “Had orders not arrived with the envoy…”

The floor trembled beneath their feet. “You may thank the gods that Macoe is almost here,” Toren gritted out. “For if he doesn’t see you secured in the dungeon in the next few moments, you’ll be dying a slow, painful death. You’ll write out a full, complete confession, or you’ll die horribly anyway.”

“But my son…”

Mehl gaped at the man for his gall, but Toren gave a nod. “I will see what I can do.”

Though Toren’s energy practically crackled through the room, Mehl was too angry to attempt to channel it, and when Ria stood as though to move closer, he shook his head in warning. If Toren hurt her or their child because of his fury, it would be a tragedy for them all. Apparently, she understood. Her shoulders slumped, but she remained by her seat.

Vesset had barely been hauled from the room before Feref paled again. “Toren, you have to send someone after the Centoi contingent,” he said in a rush, his usual formality gone. “Vesset was sending a message to his son, or so he claimed. But…”

Icy fear chilled Mehl’s blood.

The healer knew nearly everything. That Ria carried Toren’s child. That Tes was here, alive and healthy. That she had been given permanent shelter.

Everything, in fact, that King Ryenil didn’t need to know.

Chapter63

Questioning

For a moment, Toren’s mind went blank, but rage boiled in his gut like his restless magic, waiting impatiently to overcome his control. Vesset had been the one to betray his family.Vesset.The man he’d trusted to care for Ria and their unborn child.

Mehl’s fingers wrapped firmly around his wrist. “Take deep breaths, love.”

Awareness returned with a sharp snap, clarifying the others to his view. Ria, Ryssa, and Feref had all moved to the far edge of the room to escape the wild pulse of his energy. Telling, since Ria had long ago stopped hesitating to step in. Even Mehl bore signs of strain in the pinched corners of his mouth.

Toren did as his husband suggested and focused his intent on merely breathing. Little by little, he pulled his energy back into himself as Mehl channeled some of it away. But that only helped somewhat. If he were to genuinely consider altering the inheritance laws, now would be an excellent time. He probably had enough raging power to create an entirely new kingdom.

Unfortunately, there was something else he needed to do first. “Feref’s right. We must stop the Centoi.”

There was one way Toren could do that with minimal disruption, and it would use some of this energy besides. Except…it would require the one thing he hadn’t believed he still possessed—trust in his brother. As twins, they could reach each other over great distances with enough power, but Toren hadn’t attempted to do so since he’d been rebuffed for such a thing during their youth. Until yesterday, he and his brother hadn’t spoken telepathically at any distance for centuries.

Ber had shown that their ease of connection was still there, though, when he’d connected with Toren despite the shields he’d formed against telepathy. With that being the case, he was sure the distance would matter no more now than when they’d been children. But just because hecouldwarn his brother didn’t mean heshould. Doing so would require at least some belief in Ber’s claims. What did it mean that he was already contemplating how to do it?

Gods above. Maybe hedidbelieve his brother.

“Toren…” Mehl began.

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