Slowly, Magnus lowered himself to the ground.
“Are you going to kill me?” Magnus asked.
“I’ve learned my lesson. Why hesitate when you can finish things right away?” Jonas couldn’t help but revel at this incredible victory. “But first, tell me where Cleo is.”
“Cleo,” Magnus repeated. “Yes, of course you’d be one of the privileged few who don’t address her by her royal title, being allies and all. Is she expecting your arrival today?” When Jonas didn’t respond, Magnus ventured to look up, his brow raised. “Oh, please. She confessed everything. I know that she helped you and your little rebels plan the wedding-day attack. Too bad it didn’t play out nearly as smoothly as you’d hoped.” The prince smiled darkly at Jonas’s stunned silence. “It’s all right, Agallon. She’s very convincing when she wants to be. Could wrap a dull-minded boy like you around her little finger as easily as she flips her golden hair.”
“You don’t know nearly as much as you think you do.”
“Are you in love with her?” Magnus’s unpleasant smile stretched wider. “Is that why you risk life and limb again and again for that girl? The type of girl who normally wouldn’t give you a second glance?”
Jonas wouldn’t allow himself to be insulted or intimidated by this evil, murderous snake. “Where is she?”
“Around the palace, I suppose. Doing princess things.”
“If you’ve hurt her in any way, I swear—”
“What? You’ll kill me twice?”
“I’ll do everything I can to make it feel that way.”
“I know we’ve never exactly seen eye to eye, Agallon. But before you cut my throat, I have some very valuable advice for you.”
“What’s that?”
“If you want to get anywhere in this kingdom—and especially with Cleo—killing me is the absolute last thing you should do.”
Jonas barked out a laugh. “Is that so?”
“I know you want my father dead more than anything else. And I’ll let you in on a little secret . . . so do I.”
Jonas struggled to maintain his steady grip. “Liar.”
“My father wanted the princess dead, but I chose to keep her alive. That’s treason, Agallon. And one day very soon he’ll arrive here and demand my head for defying him. Gaius Damora is still a relatively young man. He has plenty of time to spawn a new heir to take my place.”
The prince’s claims sounded absolutely ludicrous. Was Jonas really expected to believe that Magnus had defied his father and saved Cleo from death? “If all that’s true, then why are you here at the Limerian palace, playing king on your daddy’s throne?”
“I’m standing in as the man in charge, which is within my rights while my father’s away. I figured this would look much better than if I were to disappear and go into hiding. So here I am, waiting for the King of Blood to return so we can finally face each other, ruthless father against disappointing son. The wait has given me a lot of time to think. And what I’ve realized is that my father has done many evil things—to you, to me, to virtually everyone who’s crossed his path—that can never be forgiven. He deserves death, not a golden throne and a bright future.”
Jonas grappled to maintain both his concentration and his grip on the sword. “Even if I believed you, which I don’t, what difference does it make to me? Why should I care about any of your royal problems?”
“Because we both hate the king. And because you and I shouldn’t be enemies anymore.” Magnus held Jonas’s gaze steadily. “We should be allies.”
Now Jonas had to laugh, the suggestion was so ridiculous. “How convenient for you to make such a suggestion while I have a sword to your throat.”
“You and I don’t exactly get many opportunities to talk,” Magnus countered. “Now put down your sword and join me inside the palace where we can discuss our plans.”
Jonas was in the perfect position. He had the opportunity to kill the Prince of Blood, to strike a serious blow against King Gaius that would damage him deeply. But if Magnus was being truthful, if he’d committed treason against his father and was patiently awaiting his wrath, then if Jonas were to kill him, he’d be worse off than he was before. Then the king could easily persecute Jonas as the killer of both Prince Magnus and Queen Althea.
The bounty on his head would quadruple.
“I have friends watching,” Jonas said slowly, inwardly kicking himself for leaving Lysandra and Olivia behind in the village. “If you try anything, anything, they’ll put an arrow in you.”
“Understood.” Magnus held his hands out to either side of him, showing that he wasn’t going to reach for any weapons. “So, what do you say? Truce?”
“I wonder, would you show me any mercy if our positions were reversed?”
“If I thought you could help me, I certainly would.”
“If I find out that Cleo’s been mistreated in any way, I will kill you.”
“I assure you she’s fine.” Then Magnus nodded sagely. “I can see that it’s true what the princess says about you, Agallon. You’re a great leader who cares about others more than yourself. You’ve changed a lot over these last few months, haven’t you?”
Had Cleo really said that about him?
“She’s changed too,” Jonas said, trying not to let on how flattered he was. “She’s been through immeasurable pain, and has only grown stronger from it.”
“Yes. She’s a glowing example to us all.” Magnus eyed the blade that was still at his throat. “So let’s go inside and talk, then, just the three of us.”
Jonas had two choices. He could assume that Magnus was a manipulator and a liar, just like his father, and follow through on his initial plan to end his life right now. Or, he could take a risk—the ultimate risk—and trust the claims of his sworn enemy in the hopes of benefiting the greater good.
He was still haunted by the pained and disappointed look on Felix’s face when he’d learned that Jonas believed the worst about him despite months of loyal friendship. Of course Felix had lied about his past. He did it because he wanted a new beginning, to be free from his past mistakes.
Jonas wished he could go back to that night and make a different choice.
Forcing himself to put Felix out of his mind, he sheathed his sword and offered Magnus a hand. Magnus grabbed his wrist and got to his feet.
They eyed each other for a silent moment.
“This feels very strange,” Jonas admitted.
“For us both.”
Magnus led him to a palace entrance, where two guards opened the doors for their prince.
“Guards,” Magnus gestured toward Jonas, “this boy here is a known rebel. Remove his weaponry and put him in chains. Then bring him to the throne room.”
Jonas grabbed for his sword, but the guards slammed him to the ground before he even touched the hilt.
“And send for the princess,” Magnus said. “It’s time we all had a nice little chat.”
• • •
Jonas wasn’t sure what felt worse: losing his weapons, or losing his mind.
The latter, he thought. Definitely the latter.
Jonas had no one to blame but himself for believing the prince’s lies. The only relief he felt came from the fact that Lys and Olivia were still safe in the village. But that bright spot was quickly snuffed out when he was brought into the throne room, in chains as requested, where he saw both Olivia and Lysandra standing helplessly with their hands bound behind their backs.
“What are you doing here?” he hissed.
Olvia shrugged. “We followed you.”
“I told her we probably shouldn’t,” Lysandra said. “But she convinced me.”
“And now . . . ?” Jonas prompted the witch, hoping she would wield her elementia and somehow break them free. “Can you do anything?”
“I’d rather see what happens next and take it from there.”
“‘See what happens next’?” he repeated, stunned.
The earth Kindred sat at the bo
ttom of the satchel he’d given to Lysandra before trespassing on the palace grounds. Where was it now?
“Please do alert me when you’re finished talking amongst yourselves.” Magnus’s voice drew Jonas’s attention to the dais, where the prince sat upon his father’s black throne.
“We’re finished,” Jonas snarled.
“Good.” He flicked his hand at a guard. “Bring her in.”
The guard opened the doors and Princess Cleo entered the throne room. For a moment, all Jonas could do was stare at her, grateful that she was every bit as beautiful—and alive—as the last time he’d seen her. At least the prince hadn’t been lying about that.
She took three graceful strides inside before her steps faltered. Her wide-eyed gaze went from Jonas to Magnus and back again.
“What’s going on?” she demanded.
“Someone dropped by for a visit,” Magnus said, gesturing toward Jonas. “I thought letting him stay for a while would be the hospitable thing to do.”
“This . . . this is Jonas Agallon,” she said.
“Yes,” Magnus said. “I’m impressed that you recognized the great rebel leader, even with his cunning disguise in place.”
Her face went pale. “Why have you brought him here? To answer for his crimes?”
No, Jonas thought. Oh, no. What have I done?
More proof of the prince’s lies. The princess had never confided in him about her role in the uprising, yet Jonas had all but confirmed that they had been allies.
Now, thanks to Jonas’s persistent gullibility, he’d doomed not only himself but Cleo too.
“I met this esteemed leader outside, where he attempted to assassinate me,” Magnus said. “Clearly, he failed. But that is what they say about the rebel leader: he fails. Time and again.”
“Do you know what they say about you, Magnus?” Jonas said, deciding there was nothing left to lose. “That you should go suck the arse end of a horse.”
“Ah, just the sort of charming statement I’d expect from a Paelsian peasant.”
“I will see you bleed, you son of a bitch,” Lysandra hissed.
Magnus flicked his dark gaze to her. “Greetings, Lysandra. I remember you, of course.”
“And I remember you.”
“I’m sure you won’t believe me, but I think you should know that I thought the king made an unforgivable error in the execution of your brother. He would have been much more helpful to us alive.”
Lysandra drew in a shuddery breath, her eyes flashing with pain and hatred.
Cleo twisted her hands. “Magnus, why did you bring these rebels to the throne room? Why didn’t you send them directly to the dungeon?”
“Why do you ask, princess? Perhaps because that would make it easier for you to help them escape?”
“Excuse me?” Her face blanched further. “What are you suggesting?”
“Enough. I know the truth, which you’re certainly free to deny until your dying breath. My father was right about you and your alliance with the rebel.” She grappled for words, stuttering and stumbling over false starts, but Magnus held up his hand to silence her. “Don’t bother. Agallon has already confirmed it.”
Jonas waited for the onslaught of shame and failure, but all he felt was rage.
Confusion slipped from Cleo’s eyes, replaced by a sudden blaze of defiance. “Is that so? And you believe someone who kidnapped me twice to use for his own gain?”
Magnus laughed. “Now you’re only wasting your breath. Any further lies are irrelevant to me. I’ll have him put to death by sundown.”
Cleo gasped. “No! You can’t do that!”
“Can’t I?” He studied her. “Very well. Admit to me that you and Jonas have been working together for months—that you stooped so low as to conspire on the attack of our own wedding—and I’ll let him live. One word seals his fate. Will it be yes? Or no?”
A flurry of anger, doubt, and fear rushed across the princess’s face, until her features settled down into pure and utter fury.
“Speak, or I’ll make the decision for you. Yes or no?”
“Yes,” she finally hissed.
“Well done, princess.” Magnus nodded, but there was little pleasure in his expression now. Jonas watched a muscle in his scarred cheek twitch.
She glared up at the prince, her hands in fists. “And now you’re going to kill him anyway, aren’t you? Perhaps me too? Or would you rather I grovel some more?”
“If this is what you call ‘groveling,’ I’m very disappointed.” Magnus gestured toward the guards. “Unchain the rebel and his friends. Take the female rebels somewhere comfortable to wait while we finish here in private. If you speak to anyone about what you witnessed here, I’ll have your tongues removed.”
Jonas stared at the prince, astonished, as the guards unlocked his heavy chains. Then they did the same to Lysandra and Olivia before firmly escorting them out of the throne room.
Magnus stood up and descended the stairs, then took his seat at the head of the long black table.
“Let’s talk,” he said, gesturing for Cleo and Jonas to join him.
Jonas sat on a carved mahogany chair and rubbed his sore wrists. “If all you wanted was to talk, why bother with the chains? The guards?”
“You had me on my knees with your sword to my throat, believing I was moments from death. This was the least I could do to keep us on even ground.”
Unbelievable, Jonas thought with disbelief. This had all been a show to soothe the prince’s wounded pride.
“Now, back to the business at hand,” Magnus said. “My offer stands, Agallon.”
“What offer?” Cleo said. Her cheeks were now flushed, her fingers gripping the edge of the table.
Magnus’s jaw tensed. “I proposed a truce between me and Jonas.”
Shock crossed Cleo’s expression. “A truce? I . . . I find that very difficult to believe.” Her gaze met Jonas’s. “You agreed to this?”
He nodded reluctantly. “I agreed to discuss it.”
“I don’t undertand.”
“While the rebel has been a painful thorn in my side, I believe he can be useful,” Magnus explained. “He’s agreed to kill my father so he’ll no longer be a threat to me, or any of us. While Agallon has attempted this before and failed, he’ll be much more successful aligned with me.”
Cleo’s brow creased in thought. “With your father dead, that would make you the king of Mytica—all of it.”
“Yes, it would.”
“Well, that’s rather convenient for you, isn’t it? Jonas will do the work, and you will reap all the rewards.”
“I’m sure you have a point, princess.”
“My point is: What happens then? If the king is dead and you have all the power? You won’t need Jonas anymore . . . or me.”
“I don’t particularly need you now. But if you’re fearful for your life, you shouldn’t be. I wouldn’t gain anything from your death once I have what I want.”
Her cheeks reddened. “You confirmed today that I’m a liar and a former rebel aide. Why would you pardon me for that?”
He regarded her for a moment in silence, his hands pressed palms down against the table. “Why wouldn’t you lie? Why wouldn’t you align yourself with someone who might help set you free from your enemies? I would have done exactly same thing if I’d been in your position.”
Her frown deepened. “Sometimes I think you make it your daily task to confuse me.”
“The feeling is utterly mutual, princess.”
They continued to glare at each other in silence as the tension in the room grew as thick as three-day-old gruel.
Jonas cleared his throat. “The princess is right. It seems as though you’re asking me to do your dirty work, while you sit back and reap the lion’s share of the rewards. What’s in it for us?”
“Us?” Magnus repeated unpleasantly. “You mean you and the princess?”
“Sure. And Lys and Olivia. And Paelsia as a whole. It’s part of your fathe
r’s kingdom now. Your kingdom if I’m successful.”
“It was my father’s goal to unite all of Mytica because he thought it was the answer to finding the Kindred,” Magnus said. “Chief Basilius foolishly helped him drag Paelsia into ruin. And now he’s dead. When my father finally joins him in the darklands, I want to restore this country to a simpler time. Limeros is my only concern—both now and in the future. Paelsia is yours, Agallon. And Auranos will be returned to you, princess.”
Jonas was certain he’d heard the prince wrong. The thought that this could be real made the world start to spin all around him. “And you expect us to believe this?”
“It can’t be true,” Cleo said in a tone of disbelief, shaking her head. Her face had gone very pale.
“It is true and it is my plan. It’s your decision entirely if you wish to be a part of it. Disagree, or choose to doubt me further, and you can leave my palace and never return.”
The first time Jonas had decided to trust Magnus’s word he’d been immediately put into chains and threatened with death. And that was only moments ago.
It would be a deadly gamble to trust him again.
Still, there was too much to lose to walk away, and far too much to gain if this was real.
“Fine,” Jonas said, his jaw tight. “I’m in.”
“Wonderful. And you, princess? Do you agree as well?” Magnus said, turning to Cleo. “When the king is dead, your kingdom will be returned to you, and I promise you’ll never have to see me again.”
She was silent for so long that Jonas wondered if she’d lost her voice.
Finally, she nodded.
“I agree.”
CHAPTER 14
LUCIA
LIMEROS
With the help of witches along the way, Lucia and Kyan had successfully found four of the stone gateways.
Unfortunately, all four had been stripped of their magic.
Kyan was all but certain that Timotheus had sent his minions from the Sanctuary to render each wheel dormant. With every new discovery and disappointment, Kyan became more and more irate. And Lucia knew that the more irate he became, the more people would die.
After leaving Magnus and the third wheel, they’d traveled to a broad, vacant field in central Limeros to find the fourth wheel, which was deeply embedded in snow.