“Possible futures?” Lucia said.
His jaw tightened. “Choice, child. The freedom to choose makes all the difference. For instance, you have chosen to help the fire Kindred in his quest to destroy me. That choice determines both your fate and mine.”
“Have you seen it? My future?”
“I’ve seen enough of it.”
“Care to share any of what you’ve gleaned?”
“No.”
She felt her whole body tense up with fury. “Then I’m sure you’ve seen the day when Kyan and I finally find a wheel you haven’t tampered with.”
“Oh, child. You are in so deep you don’t even know you’re drowning. You’re right, I’ve sent my people out to slow you down. But not to stop you. Not to kill you.”
She inhaled sharply, perplexed by Timotheus’s confession and what it might mean if it were true.
“I’ve sent my people on other missions, too. Missions meant to change certain visions I find unacceptable or compromising to everything I’m here to protect. Mortals are so very fragile. They are foolish creatures who dance toward their own deaths with every idiotic decision they make. But that does not change the fact that every mortal life is precious. Some mortals simply require more protection than others.”
“Mortals like me?”
“No, not mortals like you. You—you and your new friend—you’re the ones from whom they’ll need to be protected. Remember one thing, child.”
“I told you to stop calling me ‘child,’” she hissed.
“Remember. All magic comes with a price. A price that is never revealed until after the damage has been done.”
“If I’m beyond saving, if I’ve already drowned, if I’m so dangerous that the entire mortal world is threatened by my very existence, then what is this, Timotheus? What do you want from me?”
He took one step closer, locking his serious gaze with hers. “I need you to wake up, you stupid girl.”
With a gasp, she sat up in her cot, her eyes wide open, staring wildly around at the dark, empty room.
“Thank you for introducing yourself to me, Timotheus,” she whispered.
Kyan was right—that Watcher needed to die.
CHAPTER 15
AMARA
KRAESHIA
Emperor Cortas kept the king waiting two full days before he agreed to receive him. The thought of how insulted King Gaius must have been by that snub brought Amara quite a bit of amusement.
Amara’s grandmother had told her that the men were meeting for a private feast in the banquet hall. The princess hadn’t been invited, but that didn’t stop her from going.
As Amara breezed into the room, her head held high, she felt the disapproving gaze of Dastan. Due to his nearly exact resemblance to Ashur, Amara had been avoiding her eldest brother ever since his return from sea, and Dastan hadn’t gone out of his way to find her, either.
Elan, as always, stayed close to his father’s side, as if the emperor had developed an Elan-shaped tumor.
Seeing Amara, the emperor narrowed his pale eyes at her uninvited presence. But before he could say a word about it, King Gaius entered the room flanked by his bodyguards, both dressed as finely as any nobleman.
A smile parted the emperor’s lips, and his fine silk robes swished as he approached the king. “Ah, Gaius Damora. Finally, we’re able to meet.”
The king pressed his right hand against his heart and bowed shallowly from the waist—the traditional Kraeshian greeting. Amara was mildly impressed that he’d learned this custom. “Emperor Cortas, this is a pleasure beyond words. Your Jewel is just that . . . a precious treasure unlike any I’ve ever seen before. Stunning. I can see why it’s reputed to be the most beautiful place in the known world, without competition.”
“I hope it’s not too vain of me to agree with you.”