Shadow Heir

I didn’t answer, mostly because I was too preoccupied with what Varia’s next move was going to be. I didn’t think Dorian’s presence here was a good sign. She studied him for several long moments and then turned her attention back to me.

“I should not have given you the night to think things over,” she said crisply. “That was an indulgence on my part, one I won’t repeat. I want your fealty. I want the Iron Crown. If I don’t get them, I will execute the Oak King as part of my dinner entertainment later.”

I laughed in spite of myself. “You can’t kill him. You need him. You want him to sign his kingdom over to you.” I didn’t know the exact details of yesterday’s conversation, but I had to assume she’d given him the same ultimatum about surrendering his kingdom to her. I also assumed he’d refused.

“True, it’s simpler when I have a land’s monarch on hand, but his is only one kingdom. His death will serve me better than his surrender. Someone else will simply claim the land, and although it may take longer this way, the Oak Land will become mine once that new king or queen swears allegiance.”

Dorian was still smiling, though there was a tightness in his features that hadn’t been there earlier. He narrowed his eyes. “Say what you want, but even if the lowest scullery maid in my castle seizes control of the land, she still won’t surrender to you. And Eugenie certainly isn’t going to yield the Iron Crown to your control simply for my sake. She doesn’t like me nearly that much. This is an absurd waste of time. Why don’t we all just sit down for a delightful morning meal of tea and pastries and put this absurdity behind us? Where are your charming pets, by the way?”

There was some truth to his words. I wasn’t going to give up the Iron Crown, even to save his life—but that decision wasn’t nearly as carefree as he made it sound. It was a head-over-heart choice, one that I knew accomplished the most good but which would probably kill me in the application.

“This is no joke. The Oak King will die if my request is denied. And,” Varia continued to me, “as I said, I’m not going to let you debate in luxury.”

Was my cell considered luxury? I really had to see what passed for dismal lodging around this place. Before I could question her further, a slight gesture from her brought a guard striding toward Dorian. In one smooth motion, he halted before Dorian and punched him hard in the stomach. Dorian doubled over, and a spasm of pain crossed his face, but he otherwise made no sound. Me, on the other hand ... well, I had a few things to say.

“You fucking bitch!” I exclaimed, straining forward. Guards were already in place to restrain my arms, probably having anticipated my reaction. “I am going to kill you!” Without further thought, I had drawn the magic of air and water around me. The room grew thick with humidity and tension. All I needed was a source to blast it into.

“Eugenie,” said Dorian sharply. All mirth was gone. “Do not do anything rash. You have a lot to think over.”

I met his eyes, which were greener than ever in the morning light streaming through Varia’s windows. I caught the subtext. If I unleashed my magic now, it would be without a well-formed plan. Again, I had a head vs. heart decision here, and my head’s argument didn’t seem so compelling just then. Still, after a deep breath, I dropped my magic and fixed a glare on Varia.

“Perhaps the Oak King is more reasonable than I suspected,” she mused. She nodded toward the same guard again. He stepped forward and punched Dorian in the face, hard enough that I heard a thwack.

“Ow,” moaned Dorian, wincing from the pain. “My greatest asset.”

I bit my lip so hard that I tasted blood. But I had to do something to stop myself from striking Varia down with lightning. “What is the point of this?” I asked Varia, once I had some semblance of control. “To convince me what a badass you are? That you can bully a chained-up man? Or is it just so I’ll believe you really will kill him?”

“Oh,” she said. “You can rest assured that I will kill him. Mostly this is to emphasize what I said before: no more time to lounge around and decide with no consequences. For every moment you waste deliberating today, the Oak King will be in the hands of my torturers, experiencing the most excruciating pain. Your delay extends that agony.”

“Oh, irony,” murmured Dorian.

I stiffened. This was not good news, first because I simply didn’t want Dorian suffering. What also sucked was that I was certain the torturers were not on the same floor as my cell, meaning I wouldn’t have Dorian on hand when I attempted my great coup. Jasmine and the others’ escape had given me one less variable to worry about inside the palace. Dorian being taken out of my sight was a brand-new complication.