Gathering Darkness

Magnus focused on his steps, staying silent at Cronus’s side as they reached the throne room. The guards stationed outside pushed the doors open to let them in. Magnus approached the dais at a confident clip.

“We need to talk about Lucia’s tutor,” Magnus said before the king could utter a word.

The guards closed the doors, giving them privacy. Cronus remained in the room after the king gestured for him to stay.

King Gaius regarded him placidly. “Do we?”

“I don’t trust him.”

The king stood up and walked down the steps to face Magnus. “I’m not surprised you’ve taken exception to him, given your feelings toward Lucia. He’s very handsome and, for all her power, she’s still just a beautiful young girl.”

Magnus’s chest tightened at the mention of his feelings. “My concerns have nothing to do with that.”

“If you say so. But I don’t want to talk about Alexius right now.” The king rose from his throne and poured himself a drink. “I’ve sent a spy to Kraeshia, who has reported back to me that the emperor is currently making plans to launch a fleet of ships set for our shores. He means to conquer us. Conquer me.”

Magnus’s mouth went dry at the thought. Emperor Cortas could crush Mytica with his vast armada in days, as he’d done to countless other lands over the two decades he’d been in power. The Limerian army was skilled and obedient, but they couldn’t withstand a massive, organized attack. “Why now?”

“Because he wants what I have, of course.” The king sounded ominously calm about this, which didn’t ease Magnus’s mind at all. “What we have.”

“How do we defeat him?”

“Lucia will help, but one girl’s magic against a force of thousands—tens of thousands?” His knuckles whitened as he clenched his goblet and took a sip from it. “She’s mortal. One lucky arrow could end her life. I can’t depend on her alone. And my patience regarding news of the Kindred is waning. Alexius assures me that all is going according to plan, but I can’t help worrying.”

The king had just admitted he was worried. This was turning out to be a truly momentous day.

Magnus wrestled with himself to keep his expression neutral. “So what do we do now?”

“I must make other plans. And those plans must involve more than a reliance on Lucia and the Kindred. I already have something else in mind, and I want your opinion.”

“What is it?” While he had his endless criticisms of his father, on this they were united. Magnus would do anything in his power to protect Mytica from invaders.

“There is talk amongst the servants that Princess Amara has shared your bed. Is this true?”

An uncomfortable silence fell between them.

There really were no secrets in this palace. Magnus sent a quick glance at Cronus, whose expression remained blank. “Yes.”

There was no judgment in the king’s gaze, only consideration. “If I could present a betrothal between you and Princess Amara to the emperor, to convince Amara’s father that uniting our kingdoms through marriage would be easier than his taking Mytica by force, it will give me more time to find the Kindred and crush him first.”

Magnus stared blankly as his father’s proposition took hold. Then he began to laugh, unable to help himself.

The king’s gaze turned to ice in an instant. “Is something amusing to you?”

“Another betrothal?” Magnus got his laughter under control, but barely. “You can’t be serious.”

“Do I look anything but serious to you?”

Magnus sobered quickly, casting another look over his shoulder at the silent Cronus who stood nearby like a statue, his hands clasped behind his back. “In case you’ve forgotten, I’m already married to Princess Cleiona. At your command.”

“That arrangement can be reversed at my whim.”

Magnus hissed out a breath of frustration. “Even so, the emperor would never agree to this.”

“His daughter is nearly nineteen and unmarried. You are the son of a king and the heir to my throne. You’ve already shared flesh with her. I don’t see any reason for him to refuse.”

As he always did when dealing with this impossible man, Magnus struggled to maintain his composure. “You need to listen to what I’m saying to you, Father. Trust me, if I believed this was a solid plan I’d embrace it. But it’s not, so I won’t. It is a meager attempt to solve a very large problem. Amara isn’t a naïve, simple girl who swoons at the sight of a prince. What we shared wasn’t . . . well, believe me, it wasn’t the kind of connection that would make her beg her father to make me her husband. If the emperor wants Mytica, he will take it. A wedding—such as the gaudy spectacle you’ve arranged for Lord Gareth here today—would be meaningless to him. Go ahead and present this plan to the emperor if you’re so determined, but don’t be surprised if he also responds with laughter.”

Anger flashed in the king’s eyes and Magnus thought he might strike him for speaking his mind. But King Gaius’s fist stayed at his side.

Almost immediately the anger was replaced with a visage of contemplation. Could it be possible that, for the first time, he would actually listen to reason?

“I know there has to be a solution,” Magnus said evenly, refusing to give up what little ground he’d gained. “But I don’t believe this is it.”