Amara draped her long dark hair over her shoulder, absently twirling a tendril of it around her finger, as if lost in thought. “Is it true that King Gaius is in possession of all four Kindred?”
“He says he is, so he must be,” Felix lied. “But I’ve only seen the moonstone.”
“I wish the king had offered it to me.” Amara smiled conspiratorially. “Then perhaps you and I could rule the world together.”
“You and me, huh?”
“Can’t you imagine how incredible that would be?”
“Look, princess, you don’t have to say these kinds of things to me. You don’t have to make me any promises. I’m perfectly happy with our arrangement, just as it is, for as long as you need me. However, with respect, my days belong to the king.”
Without giving her the chance to change his mind, he left her room. Once outside the door, he leaned against the hallway wall, letting out a heavy sigh.
“Is that a sigh of sadness or relief?”
Felix looked up to see Mikah, a palace guard he’d met upon his arrival.
“Look at you, just lingering out here in the hallway,” Felix said with displeasure. “You weren’t listening in, were you?”
Mikah cocked his head. “Why? If I were, would I have heard anything other than sighs and heavy breathing? I’m quite accustomed to the princess’s casual dalliances.”
“Happy to hear the two of you are so close,” Felix said with narrowed eyes as he started to walk away. “Now, if you’ll excuse me—” Mikah grabbed Felix’s arm, his grip tight enough to hurt. “Let go of me,” Felix growled.
Mikah didn’t smile, didn’t flinch. “Tell me,” he said, “have you fallen in love with her yet?”
Felix blinked. “What?”
“Answer the question.”
“Ah, I get it. You’re a former dalliance, are you? A jealous one? Don’t worry, there’s nothing permanent between us. I’ll be moving along soon so you can continue to moon over her. Now let go of me, or we’re going to have a problem.”
Mikah studied him intently for another long moment, then released him roughly. “Good. Wouldn’t want to see you get hurt.”
“I can take care of myself, but much gratitude for your concern.”
• • •
“The king wants you to go check on the ship,” Milo told Felix later that day. “Ensure it’s suitable for departure at a moment’s notice.”
“And he sent you to give me the order?” Felix eyed the other guard skeptically.
Milo shrugged. “Just passing along information. The king is busy.”
“His majesty wants a swift escape, does he?” he said aloud.
Milo nodded, his expression pinched. “The swifter the better, it would seem.”
The two hadn’t discussed the king’s offer—or, rather, ultimatum—to the emperor, but they’d most certainly exchanged worried glances during the banquet. After all, they were the ones responsible for saving the king’s neck, even when he’d willingly bared it to a known enemy’s blade.
Felix lowered his voice. “Does King Gaius really think the emperor will simply let us sail away without consequence?”
A muscle in Milo’s left cheek twitched. “I’m not aware of the king’s thoughts. . . .”
“Nor am I.”
“But if I were . . .” Milo continued, his expression as grim as Felix had seen it since their first meeting, when they set sail from Auranos, “I would start to prepare for a very hasty departure.”
What would the king expect his bodyguards to do if the emperor chose to answer with wrath rather than agreement?