Total pages in book: 219
Estimated words: 210867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1054(@200wpm)___ 843(@250wpm)___ 703(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 210867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1054(@200wpm)___ 843(@250wpm)___ 703(@300wpm)
I went to stand beside him. “I plan to marry her.”
Kieran slowly turned his head to me. A moment passed, his expression remaining unreadable. “Is that so?”
I nodded. “What happened to her in that cell won’t happen again if she is my wife. It offers her protection.”
The other eyebrow rose.
“And with her as my wife, the threat of us tearing down all their lies becomes more real. After all, if the gods have forsaken the Atlantians as the Ascended claim, then surely the Chosen—the child of the gods—would not be able to marry one. It’s more likely the Blood Crown will release my brother.”
Another moment passed. “And?”
“And once Malik is free, Poppy will be free of me.” I lifted my chin. “I told you that I care about her, so I have no intention of forcing her to remain married to someone she hates.”
“Someone she hates?” Kieran repeated, one side of his lips curling up. “When you went to bring her back to the keep, you were with her. I know you were. I smelled you on her.”
“Just because she’s attracted to me doesn’t mean she would want to remain married to the man who kidnapped her.”
“Or set her free,” he said, to which I frowned. “That’s a different way to look at what you’ve done, isn’t it? Set her free.”
Watching the snow fall, I supposed that was a lovely revisionist version of how we’d gotten to this point. “I killed those she’s cared about, both directly and indirectly. I don’t expect nor seek her forgiveness, Kieran. We will not remain husband and wife.”
“If you say so.”
“I know so.” The back of my neck prickled again, stronger than before.
Kieran watched me, head tilted. “You’ve been doing that a lot of late.”
“Doing what?”
“Rubbing the back of your neck.”
I was? My hand was on the nape of my neck, so yeah, I’d been doing that. “Think I pulled a muscle.”
Kieran snorted.
“What? Like that’s not possible?”
“Yeah.” He looked away. “You really think Alastir won’t see through this ploy? Your father?”
“Well, for starters, I plan to be gone before he gets here. If the snow ends. We’ll leave in the morning if possible. Either way, they won’t see through this—if I’m convincing enough,” I told him. “Which I plan to be.”
Kieran’s eyes narrowed on me. “Please tell me you’re going to tell her about these plans. That you’re not—”
“I will announce to those here that we are to marry. That is only to ensure her safety while we’re here.”
“That’s smart.”
“But she is no longer a pawn, Kieran. She will be fully aware of this ploy,” I swore.
“And if she doesn’t agree to it?”
I exhaled heavily. “If she doesn’t, then I…I won’t force her. And I know what that means, what I will be choosing,” I said before Kieran could. “But I will just have to convince Poppy to go along with this.”
Kieran choked on a laugh, and I couldn’t help but smile. “By the way,” he said, “your plan is…insane.”
“I know.” I followed his gaze to the snow. “But not only will it work, it’s the least I can do for her.”
Kieran was silent for several heartbeats. “But will it be enough?”
I knew what he meant. It was something I hadn’t allowed myself to dwell on. Freeing Malik took priority, but bringing him home wouldn’t fix everything in Atlantia, not with us running out of land. Our people had strengthened in the years since the war, replacing the numbers we’d lost and then some. That was good, except it wasn’t. We were running out of territory, and in the not-too-distant future, resources would become limited. If we didn’t expand beyond Spessa’s End, the future of Atlantia would be a troubled one. And besides that, would Malik be ready to take the crown? My chest hollowed as my throat dried. He’d be fine. Eventually. I would be there to help him. Our parents. Kieran and everyone else. He’d just need time.
“None of Atlantia’s struggles are Poppy’s,” I said. “She is not to be burdened with them.”
“A Princess who is to remain unburdened by the plight of her kingdom?” Kieran murmured.
“A Princess in name only,” I reminded him.
He turned, angling his body toward mine. “If she goes along with this, that means a part of her accepts the truth about the Ascended, and I don’t know her all that well, but you do. Do you think she will be satisfied with just freedom? While the Ascended continue on?” he asked. “Will she be able to remain unburdened?”
That was a damn good question. One I didn’t have an answer to.
I stepped back. “It’s almost time for supper. I’m sure she’s hungry.”
Kieran nodded, his lips curving into a faint smile as he looked away. “I’ll be waiting.”
Turning, I crossed the hall and entered my chamber, closing the door behind me.