Farrow turned his gaze on Madinia, and this time, his eyes filled with tears.
“How? Gods, how? How did I miss such a thing?”
I stared at him. Was he seriously asking that? “Maybe because of your determination to wipe out anyone you considered unclean.”
“Silence,” he snarled. He stared at Madinia as if he was already mourning her. “I don’t…understand.”
Since Madinia didn’t seem able to speak, I shook my head. “It’s simple. The woman you claimed to love? Madinia’s mother? The one whose name you insist on throwing around when you burn hybrids? She was one of the so-called corrupt.”
Madinia stiffened, and I shook my head at her. “Surely it must have occurred to you.”
“I… The gods…”
“The gods have nothing to do with this.” I didn’t have time to make the truth easier to swallow. “The king takes our magic because he wants it for himself. And because he thinks it will allow him to kill all the fae.”
Madinia took a step closer to her father. And her eyes burned with retribution.
“Is this true?”
Farrow swallowed. “The king’s intentions were good at the beginning.”
So, he had known the truth. I smiled a nasty smile. “At the beginning? Four hundred years ago, when he started a war with the fae?”
Farrow narrowed his eyes at me. “And just how do you know that information, hmm?”
If I hadn’t known what his power was, I would have stopped time at the vicious look in his eyes. But Farrow had no combat magic. No, his magic allowed him to strategize much better than the average person. It was why he was in charge of the guards at the city walls. And why it was so difficult to sneak in—or out—of the city.
“You’re saying the king is immortal?” Madinia gave me her usual haughty expression. I simply raised my eyebrow.
“Just one of the reasons he takes his subjects’ power. To keep himself alive.” My voice was bitter.
Madinia stared at me. Then her gaze was on her father. “Tell me she’s lying.”
Farrow couldn’t.
“Who else knows this?” I asked. I wanted to know just how many people were aware of the truth—how many the king had convinced to lie for him. How many people were not just dangerous, but were hypocrites too.
He was silent. Madinia’s hand lit up with fire once more. From the horror in her eyes, she hadn’t meant for that to happen. Farrow stared at her, his expression tight.
“You would hurt me?”
“You would see me burn,” Madinia hissed, and the fire burned brighter.
If she burned him here, we would both be arrested and executed immediately after. “Pull yourself together,” I advised her.
“Only the king’s inner circle know,” Farrow said finally. “Five other men.”
“Does his queen know as well?” I asked.
“I don’t know.”
Madinia was crying silently, tears dripping down her face. Unsurprisingly, she still looked beautiful. For the first time, I pitied her.
“We’ll get you out somehow,” Farrow said.
Madinia’s breath hitched. She hadn’t expected that. Neither had I. But I should’ve.
“Ah,” I said, my mouth curving. “What was it you said just yesterday about the corrupt and how you were looking forward to seeing them all imprisoned and burned?”
His mouth twisted, but he was wise enough to stay quiet. Next to me, Madinia’s silent tears turned to sobs.
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.