“Don’t be so certain.”
Felix felt as if he and Milo had become completely invisible, leaving only the two royals in the carriage to face off against each other.
“How is Prince Magnus?” Amara asked.
“Very well.”
“Really. You’ve seen him recently?”
The king narrowed his gaze. “My son is traveling at the moment, but we keep in very close touch. I’ve just received a message from him, informing me that he’s currently in Limeros.”
“Oh, yes, I already knew that.” She sighed. “Your darling little heir, so determined to do things his way, isn’t he? So stubborn.”
“I suppose stubbornness is another trait we share as father and son.”
“Yes. And he’s quite taken with his wife, isn’t he? When I last saw them in Limeros, they couldn’t keep their eyes off each other. Love’s like that. It’s one of the few things in life that are worth killing for, wouldn’t you say? He’d likely do absolutely anything for her, wouldn’t he? How romantic, considering she remains the greatest threat to your throne.”
The king’s expression was resolute and impassive, but his face had turned a shade redder.
“Apologies.” Princess Amara frowned. “Did I say something to upset you?”
“Not at all,” the king replied, and Felix watched him shift in his seat. “But tell me, while on your . . . impromptu trip to Limeros where you allegedly saw my son and his wife—”
“Not allegedly. I did see them . . . at the Temple of Valoria, in fact.”
“Did you also happen to see my daughter, Lucia?”
“I can’t say that I did. Why? Has she also fled her royal nest? Goodness, your grace, it seems that both of your children have abandoned you at such a delicate time in your rule. That must be rather disappointing.”
Felix and Milo shared a confused look. What, exactly, were they witnessing here?
The king chuckled, surprising his small audience. “Princess, you are a very special young woman indeed. I promise never to underestimate you again.”
“That would be wise,” she said, then glanced ahead. “Oh, look. We’ve nearly arrived at the Emerald Spear. This was the place I missed most while I was away.”
Felix turned in his seat to see the massive green palace rising high up into the sky.
“King Gaius . . . Felix, Milo . . .” Amara smiled brightly. “Welcome to my home.”
CHAPTER 11
CLEO
LIMEROS
Yes, very good, princess,” Lord Kurtis said. “Focus all your energy on the very center of the target.”
Cleo took her time carefully aiming her arrow, standing twenty paces from the target. It was cold, but the skies were clear and there was no snow to distract her today.
“When you’re ready, release the arrow.”
She let the arrow fly, feeling more confident than she had in any previous lesson.
But the arrow made it only halfway to its destination before taking a nosedive straight into the frozen ground.
This particular failure had become very familiar to her over the last week.
The sport of archery had seemed so easy from the sidelines, where she’d watched her sister compete. Now, looking down at her fingers, blistered and bleeding from daily practices, she realized how wrong her assumption had been. Every day it was the same: drawing back the bowstring, aiming, letting the arrow free. Over and over. And then failing each time, again and again.