Gathering Darkness (Falling Kingdoms 3)

“To what do I owe this unexpected visit, princess?” Magnus leaned against the door frame, showing no sign he was having difficulty recovering from all the alcohol he’d consumed last night. Apparently good Paelsian wine caused no ill effects other than loose tongues, spilled secrets, and the inability to care who shared one’s bed.

Cleo grappled to find words to fill the silence. “After our harsh words last night I thought we should speak again. But I see you’re otherwise occupied.”

“I was just leaving.” Amara cast a worried look at Magnus through her thick eyelashes. “Have I crossed the line?”

“No line I didn’t want you to cross.” He put his arm around her waist, drew her back against him, and kissed her. “I’ll see you again soon.”

“Good day, Cleo.” Amara gave her a tight smile, then slipped past her and down the hallway. Cleo watched her go until she disappeared around a corner.

She’d heard all about the conversation Nic had had with the Cortases at their villa a few days ago, and it had made her head spin with both possibility and doubt. She knew she would have a great deal to consider before making any decisions or allegiances, no matter how powerful they were.

From what she’d seen this morning, however, it seemed as if Princess Amara was offering up alliances to everyone.

“She really is stunningly beautiful, isn’t she?” Magnus said. “Her beauty makes me wonder why I’ve never thought to visit Kraeshia before. I’ll have to make a point to go there soon. Now, you said you wanted to speak with me? I can’t imagine what we have to discuss.”

She cast him a dark look. “What will the servants say?”

“About?”

“Don’t you care about the rumors they’ll spread? There are already so many about you and Lucia . . . but now they’ll start talking about you and I not sharing the same bed!”

He studied her with flatness in his dark eyes. “Apologies, princess, but I’m sure they’re already well aware of that. Besides, the servants can say whatever they want, it doesn’t bother me. Our marriage is meaningless. We share nothing but an unfortunate arrangement neither of us chose. That you’re the least bit surprised that I’d choose to share my bed with someone else is laughable at best.” She gave him a look that was livid enough to make him laugh. “Do I deserve another slap? Don’t try it, or this time you might get slapped in return.”

Why had she come here? It was pointless to try to reason with this loathsome creature. “I wouldn’t waste my energy.”

“Excellent. Now say what you have to say and be done with it. I need to get dressed.”

Another unnecessary reminder that he was currently half-naked.

“It was nothing,” she bit out. “A mistake.”

“Oh? Or perhaps seeing Amara temporarily removed any other thoughts from your mind. Did it bother you to find her here?” He smiled, looking like a predator baring its teeth. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous, because I won’t believe it.”

Her cheeks burned at the very suggestion. “Not jealous, Magnus. Appalled. Disgusted. Embarrassed.”

“That is quite a litany of emotions. So many, princess, all directed at me and whom I choose to sleep with. Interesting.”

The fire of her hatred was blinding. Cleo could barely see past the flames, but a sharp burst of laughter escaped her lips. “Believe me, Prince Magnus, I don’t care who you sleep with. Servant, courtesan, or . . . or goat. It’s less than meaningless to me.”

“I highly doubt I’d ever choose a goat.”

“Doesn’t seem that way to me.”

He curled up his lips as he leaned closer. “Your tongue is sharp for so early an hour. Amara’s was much less sharp. I should know; I got to know it very well last night.”

She’d had enough of this nonsense. Cleo turned away, clenching her hands into fists to stop them from trembling.

“Are you sure you’ve changed your mind about wanting to chat?” he called after her.

She kept walking and didn’t dignify Magnus’s words with a reply.

• • •

Cleo searched the palace for a friendly face to help her see clearly again.

She found Nic stationed near the throne room and gestured for him to meet her around the corner where they could speak in privacy. After what she’d just witnessed, she now doubted everything.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, having snuck away successfully.