She expected to feel jealous, but instead felt only curiosity about what it would be like to be Nerissa, a servant only because of her allegiance to the rebel cause.
But Cleo didn’t have time to muse on Nerissa any longer. “You’re the one who tucked Jonas’s message into my sketchbook.”
“Yes, your highness.” Nerissa didn’t seem the least bit surprised to be confronted.
“And I’ve been told you can deliver messages to him. Is this true?”
“It is, your highness.” She met Cleo’s gaze directly.
Cleo studied the girl’s face, searching for any sign of deception. “What are you willing to do to help the rebellion? To bring down the king?”
“Anything.” Nerissa didn’t hesitate. “And you?”
“The very same.” She’d never spoken truer words in her life. They felt right to say, especially to one she had quickly come to believe was a trusted ally.
“Whenever you need me—as a messenger or for anything else—know that I’ll be here.” Nerissa reached forward and squeezed Cleo’s hands, giving her an unexpected smile. “You will have your throne one day very soon, your highness. I swear to the goddess you will.”
And then she was gone. Cleo went to her window and looked outside toward the city walls and the green land that stretched out beyond it.
Her beloved home, stolen from her by her enemies.
She swore she would soon steal it back.
CHAPTER 11
MAGNUS
AURANOS
Magnus found Lucia in the courtyard with an alarmingly chilly expression on her face.
“Well, this is quite a surprise,” she said. “Did you lose your way?”
“I wanted to speak with you privately.”
“You’ve been back for well over a week. This is the first effort you’ve made to speak with me at all.”
It was true. He’d been avoiding her. They’d both changed so much; a wedge had formed between them, invisible, but strong enough to do lasting damage.
“Come now,” he said. “I know you’ve been busy with your new friend. Wouldn’t want to interrupt that, would I?”
He didn’t look directly at her, choosing instead to focus on the flowers Lucia tended to. Some of the roses—red, yellow, pink, white—flourished large and plump, while others were brown and withered, as if winter’s deadly touch had made its mark in this land of eternal summer.
He didn’t have to ask if she’d been practicing her elementia. Here were the two sides of it on display—life and death.
“My new friend?” she asked. “I don’t know who you mean.”
He had no patience for games today. “Don’t be coy. You know I mean Cleo.”
She shrugged. “Does it bother you that I’ve learned that the girl you were forced to marry isn’t a horrible beast with sharp teeth and claws?”
“Teeth and claws can be easily hidden.” He finally looked at her. “Strange, I always thought you were smarter than this.”
A smile touched Lucia’s lips. “Depends on the day, really.”
He’d amused her. He hadn’t been trying to amuse her.
“So right now you are merely a good brother looking out for his naïve little sister who might be taken in by one who means her harm?” she asked. “Is that what you believe? Is that why you’re here? To warn me?”