A Court This Cruel & Lovely (Kingdom of Lies, #1) (104)

I couldn’t help but continue. I was so sick of these royals and these courtiers, with their evil and their hypocrisy. “It’s different, though, isn’t it—when it’s your own? People like you are so quick to steal the freedoms—even the lives—of others, according to their own morality. But also so, so quick to change your minds when those same laws apply to the ones you love. Why is that, do you think?”

“Please,” he said, and my brow lifted. No, I hadn’t expected him to beg either. “You are close to the queen, and I’ve seen you talking to the Gromalian prince. You can get her out.”

“And why would I do that?”

“I would owe you a life debt. To be used whenever you like.”

Was I dreaming? This man whom I’d fantasized about murdering was going to be in my debt. Perhaps this was why Lorian made so many deals. It was heady, having the upper hand in one of those bargains for once.

“One condition.”

Hope sparked in his eyes. For all his contempt, he still had a weakness.

“Anything.”

“Repeat after me. I am weak. And I am also a hypocrite.”

“Enough, Setella,” Madinia said.

I ignored that. Farrow swallowed, some of the color coming back to his face. But he dutifully repeated my words.

Grim satisfaction swept through me.

“Fine,” I said. “Let’s talk about how you’re going to help me get your daughter, and all of the other hybrids, out of this castle.”

He sighed and sat, waving his hand for me to tell him what we needed. In the end, there was only one way he could help—we would be getting prisoners out through the tunnel, and they would need transportation from the market out of the city. Farrow would order the guards to allow the carriages, horses, and wagons through the city gates. And while those guards were loyal to him, we would likely have just a few minutes at most before at least one of them would question the order.

“I’ll be in touch.” My eyes met Madinia’s. She looked drained, but for the first time, she wasn’t looking at me with vitriol. “Why did you follow me that day in the slums?”

Her eyes widened. “No wonder you disappeared. You knew I was there. I’ve been watching you since you arrived. I knew you were up to something.”

“And what were you planning to do with that information?”

“I’m corrupt,” she said hoarsely. “If you knew a way out, I would have blackmailed you until you got me out too.”

I couldn’t blame her. I would have done the exact same thing. I got to my feet.

“I want to help,” Madinia said. “With whatever plan you’re making.”

Even knowing her life was at risk, I still didn’t trust her. “I’ll think about it.”

It turned out Lorian’s door was two down on the left. I took a moment to lean against the wall outside his room. If I hadn’t gotten hopelessly lost, Madinia would be little more than a pile of ash right now. And if Farrow hadn’t loved his daughter more than the king, we’d both be in the dungeon, waiting to burn.

The thought made me sway on my feet.

I knocked on Lorian’s door, and he instantly opened it. Had he known I was here?

He stepped aside, allowing me into his rooms, and I paced to the window.

If I didn’t know Lorian as well as I did now, I would have thought that was wariness in his gaze.

“What is it?” he asked, turning to pour himself a drink.

I opened my mouth, and it all came spilling out. The seamstress—my aunt, Demos, and of course, everything that had just happened with Patriarch Farrow.

“What happened with your magic?”

“I don’t know. I reacted too fast or something.”

He raised his eyebrow at me. “That’s not how it works.”

Whatever I had done, I’d nearly gotten myself killed. I shuddered. I needed to figure out what had gone wrong. So I never did it again.

Lorian stared down into his drink, obviously coming to terms with all that I told him.

“Your nanny.”

“Apparently we called her ‘aunt.’”

I could see him weighing what that would mean. I didn’t think I needed to be clear on this part, but with murderous mercenaries, it was best to be safe. “Don’t kill her.”

Lorian rolled his eyes. It was such a strange gesture from him, I almost laughed.

Instead, I leveled him with my best hard stare. “I want your word.”

“I give you my word I won’t kill your aunt. Unless she actively gets in my way.”

I opened my mouth at that, but he was already moving on to the next topic.

“The queen’s lady tried to set herself on fire?”

“Yes.”

He sipped at his drink. Then he gave me a brooding look. “The coward’s way out.”

I blinked. “She was going to die on her terms. And prevent her death from being a spectacle.”

“What would you have done if she were sent to burn?”

“I would’ve attempted to get her out,” I admitted.

He nodded, his gaze steady on mine. “And she didn’t know that.”

“Of course not. We’re not exactly friends.” I knew he had a point somewhere, but I just couldn’t see it.