Gathering Darkness (Falling Kingdoms 3)

“What are you doing here?” Magnus asked. “How did you find us?”

She shrugged. “I’m very good at negotiations. People spill many secrets for the right amount of gold. And here we are. If both of you could come downstairs with me, that would be lovely.”

“What’s downstairs?” Cleo asked guardedly, though she knew whatever it was couldn’t be good.

She knew that Amara had followed them, just as they’d followed Lucia.

“Come and see.”

Cleo didn’t like the sound of that, but she had no choice but to do as the princess requested.

Standing in Lady Sophia’s central hall were six green-uniformed Kraeshian guards, along with Prince Ashur and . . . Nic?

There he was, hunched over, his hands bound behind his back.

“Nic!” Cleo surged forward, but a guard put out an arm to stop her from getting too close. “What have they done to you? Are you all right?”

“Cleo,” he managed, casting a hateful look at Ashur and Amara. “I’m alive, so that’s a start.”

Another guard held a pale and trembling Lady Sophia by the arm. Cleo’s heart twisted for the kind woman who hadn’t done anything to deserve this rough treatment.

“What is this?” Magnus asked, his tone edged with warning.

“Another of my negotiations.” Amara moved toward Ashur. “And one we had to come all the way to Limeros to discuss, which is unfortunate. This is not a place I’d ever choose to come to if I had any say in the matter. But here we are.”

“A negotiation about what?”

“We tried to do this the pleasant way. We offered Cleo an alliance, but we couldn’t wait forever for a reply, could we? And Magnus—I did what I could to gain your confidence, but I knew your heart wasn’t in it. Too bad. I don’t waste my time or attention on boys I can’t manipulate.”

“We’re all here in search of the same thing,” Ashur said. His gray-blue eyes were steely, and fixed on Cleo in particular. “The Kindred.”

The prince was as cold and calculating as his sister, and every bit as greedy. Even if Cleo had agreed to their terms, she wouldn’t have been able to trust them. The moment they got what they wanted, they would have betrayed her.

She caught Nic’s gaze and searched his face for injury, but saw nothing. Even the bruises and cuts from the guards’ horrible beating had faded in the time that had passed.

I’m so sorry, Nic, she told him silently. This is all my fault.

The Kraeshians knew how important he was to her. Now they would shamelessly use that knowledge to manipulate her.

“The Kindred?” Magnus said. “Sorry to disappoint, but we’re in pursuit of my sister, who has unwisely chosen to elope with her tutor. We want to stop her from doing something she’ll regret for the rest of her life.”

“Of course. Her tutor.” Amara nodded. “First, let’s get one thing straight—I know what Lucia is and what she can do. Second, I know about the earth Kindred at the Temple of Cleiona and how you failed to claim it first. So. Let’s proceed, shall we?”

“Nic . . .” Magnus said slowly. “You’re not so skilled at keeping secrets, are you?”

Nic ignored him. “Let Cleo go. I’ll do whatever you want.”

“You’ve served your purpose already,” Ashur said, his tone cold. “You’ve ceased to matter.”

“Now,” Amara said, her smile returning. “There’s no need for argument. We’re certain you’re here for another crystal that Lucia has located. We want it, and you will lead us to it.”

“Nic stays here with the woman,” Ashur said, nodding at Lady Sophia. “We’ll leave a guard behind to watch over them and make sure they cause no problems.”

“Speaking of guards,” Magnus said. “I have a few of my own, you know. They should be here any moment.”

Cleo eyed him, but stayed silent. He was bluffing. No guards had accompanied them from Auranos. They were on their own with no protection.

“Let them come,” Amara said. “I’ll offer them so much gold I can guarantee that they’ll give me no reason to spill any more blood tonight than necessary.”