“Then he needs to stop engaging me.” I took a deep breath at the rise of Kolis’s brow. “I’m…I’m sorry. As I said, I have a bad temper.”
Rhain blinked his one good eye at me.
“But I’m not lying.”
“I believe you,” Kolis said, and before I could even feel relief, he turned to Rhain. “And because of that, your death will be quick.”
“No!” I shot forward, grasping the bars. Sharp, hot pain stung my palms. I gasped, jerking my burning hands back. “You don’t have to do this.”
Kolis raised that brow again. “I don’t? In case you missed the part of the conversation about avoiding the Shadowlands’ forces, he is part of that open rebellion. And that is treason, a crime punishable by death, even in the mortal realm. He was also caught attempting to gain information. In other words, he was spying. Yet another crime punishable by death—”
“He is only loyal to Nyktos,” I interjected, my neck muscles tensing as I heard Rhain’s voice in my thoughts again.
“He should only be loyal to me!”
Shit. That had been the wrong thing to say. “I only meant that he is worried about Nyktos. All of them are. And you should be thrilled by that.”
The Primal of Peace and Vengeance sighed loudly, almost overshadowing Rhain’s voice inside my head—him repeating my name, reiterating what he’d said earlier.
Kolis frowned. “Why would I be thrilled by that?”
“That’s a good question,” Kyn muttered.
If he didn’t shut up… “Because those who serve in the Courts of your Primals should care for the Primal they serve. If they don’t,” I continued quickly as Kolis opened his mouth, “how can they care for their King?”
Kolis stared at me.
So did Rhain from his one good eye.
“If they’re not loyal to the Primal they serve,” I went on, my heart pounding. I heard Rhain in my head again. “They cannot be loyal to you.”
Kolis’s brow knitted as he cocked his head. “I don’t think that’s how loyalty to one’s King works.”
“It’s exactly how it works,” I exclaimed. “In the mortal realm, the people are loyal to lesser nobles, which proves their loyalty to the Crown because those nobles are extensions of that Crown.”
The false King had returned to staring at me.
“And when the people react based on their loyalty to those nobles, they shouldn’t be punished—”
“They should be rewarded?” Kolis interrupted.
“No.” I willed my temper to calm, then continued spewing utter bullshit. “I was going to say they shouldn’t be punished by death. Or,”—I stressed—“torture.”
“Then how are they punished?” Kolis demanded. “With a smack on the hand?”
Kyn snorted.
“They are usually sentenced to a reasonable length of time to think about how they should’ve handled the situation better,” I explained, knowing that sounded absolutely ridiculous, even though it would be a better punishment than what was typically carried out in most kingdoms.
The look on Kolis’s face said he thought it was ridiculous, and my fear for Rhain increased as I heard him too clearly.
It’s okay, he said. I’m prepared to die.
But I wasn’t.
I knew if I couldn’t convince Kolis there was an alternative, Rhain would die, and it would be a horrible death.
It would also be another drop of blood Ash would have to ink onto his flesh.
I absolutely refused to allow that.
Resolve filled me, sealing the cracks in my blank canvas. Become his weakness. Even if Kolis wasn’t convinced yet of who I was, he wanted me to be Sotoria. He wanted his precious so’lis. I was already his weakness.
“There is another option.” I walked to the right, closer to where Kolis stood. “Release him.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Kyn groused.
“Releasing him will only benefit you. It proves that you can be a benevolent ruler. A smart one,” I said. “A King worth someone’s loyalty. More so than any Primal ruling a Court.”
“Worth?” Kolis whispered.
“Just because you believe someone should already find you worthy doesn’t mean they do. Killing them won’t change that,” I said. “But releasing him will. It’s not like he’s accomplished anything but getting his ass beat.”
“Well,” Kolis remarked, “that part is true.”
“And it sends a message. Release him in the condition he’s in. They will know you can be fierce and giving, just as a King should be.” I came as close as I could to the bars. “And releasing him will prevent further escalation.”
Several seconds passed before Kolis spoke. “I see what you’re suggesting, but I am not sure why you think I’d care if those who rebel against me find me fierce or giving.”
Shit.
“I don’t,” Kolis continued. “I am only worthy of those who already see me as such.”
Well, that made absolutely no sense whatsoever. I tried to swallow, but my throat was too tight.
It’s okay, Rhain’s voice came again. I am ready— I blocked him out because I knew what he claimed, but I couldn’t let it happen. I couldn’t allow Ash to lose another person who was not only loyal to him but also cared about him.
And I couldn’t watch Rhain die.
“Let him go,” I said. “I’ll do whatever you want.”
“Seraphena,” Rhain rasped out loud, his head loose on his shoulders as it turned to Kolis. “Just kill me. Just fucking kill—”
Kolis threw out his hand, and Rhain…he just dropped. He hit the floor like a sack of potatoes.
“What did you do?” I exclaimed.
“He’s fine.” Kolis walked forward. “What were you saying? That you’d be willing to do anything for him?” Kolis asked quietly—too quietly. “Why?”
Staring at Rhain’s crumpled form and unable to see his chest rise or fall, I reminded myself that I would’ve felt it if he’d died. “Because…because if you kill him, there will be war. He’s important to Nyktos.” My insides burned, shriveling a little at the knowledge that Kyn was hearing this. “And as I said before, how can we start over if there’s war? I’m willing to do anything to have a chance to…” My throat thickened. “To know what love feels like.”
A small eternity passed as Kolis stared at me. “Anything?”
My heart stopped its ceaseless racing as finally, finally that veil of nothingness settled into place again. “As long as you promise that Rhain will return to the Shadowlands, no more harmed than he is now,” I said, having learned from earlier that I needed to be as clear as I could in our agreements—something I hadn’t done in our deal regarding Ash. “Anything.”
The eather calmed in Kolis. “So, another deal?”
“Yes.” I gave a half shrug, knowing how the movement pulled the gown against my chest and would draw his attention. “What can I say? I have a fondness for deals.” I smiled. “After all, everything that has led to this moment is the result of one.”