Frozen Tides (Falling Kingdoms 4)

Perhaps what she’d told Mikah about her father wasn’t quite accurate—her father calling her beautiful was a great surprise indeed. He rarely acknowledged her, and especially not in this way. Amara navigated her way around the map, her left hand gliding over its smooth edge.

If only she were free to share all her accomplishments with him, if only he’d listen, she was certain he would be proud of her. Perhaps she hadn’t found all four of the Kindred, but given that they’d been lost for a millennium, it was an incredible victory to acquire even one.

“Sister,” Elan said, the tone of his greeting thin and flat.

“Brother,” she replied with a nod.

The emperor regarded her, his arms folded in front of his dark green robes, intricately embroidered with flecks of gold and violet dragons and phoenixes—the symbols of Kraeshia and the Cortas family. “Tell me, daughter, how was your trip to little Mytica?”

“Eventful.”

“I see you’ve come alone. Does Ashur ever plan to return home? Or will he continue to roam the world, chasing after his magical butterflies?”

In Limeros, Amara had threatened to return to her father and accuse Magnus of slaying Ashur. In that moment of passion, it had seemed a logical choice, but now that she’d had many days to consider her options, she’d decided to hold back—for now.

She forced a smile. “Yes, my brother has a wanderer’s soul. But it was lovely to be able to spend a bit of time with him. I’m sure he’ll return soon, but he didn’t say when.”

Perhaps in his next life, Amara thought. Kraeshians believed in reincarnation; just like the phoenix that represented the empire, they too would rise again after death and begin a new life.

“I’m sure you had the chance to meet King Gaius during your stay.”

She nodded. “The king was very kind to me and Ashur. He even gave us our own villa.”

She didn’t mention that the villa was as far away from the palace as possible. Or that the king nearly imprisoned her and Ashur to try to use them against the emperor. Or that it only took her one meeting with him to make her sure that he would have cut both of their throats without remorse if he’d felt it would serve him.

All of the rumors about Gaius Damora were true. He was a snake: cold-blooded and venomous. Of course she hadn’t tolerated his attempts to make her his prey while she was in Mytica, but now, with some distance between them, she found she could actually appreciate his ruthlessness.

“And what kinds of discussions did you have with the king?” the emperor asked, absently picking up a small model ship from the shore of the map.

“Nothing of particular interest; it was all very polite.” She tried to recall a single memorable conversation she’d had with the king. “He made introductions to his palace advisors, spoke a bit about the attractions in Auranos—nothing useful or enlightening. Of course that wasn’t surprising. Myticans don’t speak bluntly from their hearts and minds like us. It’s all empty courtesy and passive-aggressive innuendo.”

“No, not like us at all.” The emperor cupped her face in his large hands and smiled at her.

“Definitely not like us.”

“Then let me be blunt, daughter.” He tightened his grip on her, the pleasant expression fading from his weathered face. “What secrets did you share with the King of Blood that might be used against me?”

Her eyes widened. “What? I told him nothing, of course.”

“Really,” he said, his gaze steady and unmoving. “Because I have to wonder why it is, exactly, that I’ve received a message from Auranos, informing me that the king is on his way here to see me. What a coincidence, don’t you think, that the king has chosen to take this little trip now, so soon after your departure from Mytica?”

Deep, aching pain spread across her temples where he kept pressing harder. “Father, I assure you, I said nothing.”

“Perhaps you talk in your sleep, then?” He raised an eyebrow in response to her stunned expression. “I know you don’t think I pay attention to you, Amara. But I do to what they say about you. That you take to your bed any man who smiles at you. That my daughter, the princess of Kraeshia, is no better than a common whore.”

“Father!” Her cheeks flared with heat and she grabbed at his hands, digging her fingernails in. “I am not a whore! And I didn’t sleep with the king. Nor did I tell him anything about you or our empire. I don’t even know any secrets about you. Remember, I’m not one of your sons. I’m your daughter, just a girl. I’m well aware I’m little more than window decoration to you.”

He studied her for a long moment, his gray-blue eyes an exact match for her own, only his were watery and surrounded by the wrinkles consuming his leathery face. Finally, he released her. “You disappoint me at every turn, you worthless girl. If only I’d succeeded in ridding myself of you years ago.”

Pain tore through Amara’s chest. “Yes, well, unfortunately the ancient laws only allowed you one chance to murder an unwanted daughter, didn’t they?”

She was trying to provoke him, but he didn’t even flinch. “Remove yourself from my sight so I can prepare for our unwelcome guest.”

“Perhaps King Gaius means to conquer you,” she said under her breath.

A heavy moment of silence lingered before the emperor’s booming laugh filled the large room. “I’d like to see him try.”

“A pathetic little king conquer you, Father?” Elan joined the emperor in his boisterous amusement. “What a ludicrous thought!”