Elea read and reread the letter.

It was simple and straightforward. She had no idea how Fenix had gotten it to her. But that didn’t matter. She hastily burned the thing so that there was no evidence, but the words scorched her eyes.

How in the Creator’s name was she supposed to get Queen Jesalyn out of the castle?

Gah, she had to remember that Jesalyn wasn’t a queen any longer. The least of her concerns in that moment, but the only one she could really fix in her mind. Kael had conquered Aurum. A city that had changed hands dozens of times in the last couple of centuries. The people were fickle. They had fallen in line with Kael’s new order and were already rallying troops to invade Eleysia.

Kael sat on the throne. He ruled both countries with an iron fist. There was no way she could sneak his sister out from under his nose.

Still…

Elea hurried from the rooms she had been given. They were luxurious and a bit over the top. Kael had given them as a gift. She still had no idea why she was here. She felt like a pawn in his game, but she hadn’t quite been moved on the board yet. And she didn’t like it.

It took her a matter of minutes to reach Jesalyn’s quarters. Kael hadn’t removed her from the queen’s chambers, but she was now a prisoner in them. Guards stood watch outside and in. They let Elea pass. Everyone knew that she was Kael’s pet.

Angry eyes turned to her when she entered. Her ladies all hated Elea. She wasn’t surprised. They believed her to be an enemy. But they wouldn’t dare disrespect her, for fear was a powerful motivator.

She went straight to Jesalyn. Her dark hair and blue-gray eyes so like her brothers’. But she had on a ridiculous pink chiffon dress. Her hair piled high on her head. Her nose upturned, as it always was. Elea had heard enough stories about Jesalyn to know what kind of woman and queen she had been.

“Jesalyn, you need to come with me,” Elea said.

Jesalyn turned her nose up even further. She could see that she wanted to snap at her for not using her title. But she didn’t. “I think I’ll stay right here.”

Elea bit the inside of her lip. “Now.”

“Has Kael finally requested my presence in the audience chamber?”

“Yes,” she lied.

She just needed to get Jesalyn away from her ladies, and then maybe they could speak alone.

“It is about time.” Jesalyn stood and dusted off her dress. She looked as if this whole thing had been her idea instead of a royal summons. “Don’t gossip too much without me.”

The ladies tittered, but Elea saw the strain and stress on their faces.

Jesalyn led the way out of the room. Two guards attempted to come with them, but Elea held up her hand.

“I can take it from here.”

“We have orders.”

“And I’m countermanding your orders,” Elea said to the guard.

“We were told to protect Queen Jesalyn at all times.”

“Ah, but she isn’t a queen. Would you like that to get back to the emperor?” Elea asked icily.

The guard paled, and Elea hated herself. How was she as good at this as Kael? It was coming easier and easier. As if his darkness was infecting her.

Elea swept the train of her green gown and pulled ahead of Jesalyn, leading the way. Jesalyn scurried forward until they were side by side. The guards didn’t follow. Elea slipped her arm through Jesalyn’s and pulled her closer. Jesalyn looked as if she was about to protest.

“How do I get you out of here?” Elea whispered.

Jesalyn narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”

“You heard me.”

“Out? You want to…help me?” Jesalyn glanced around as if it were a prank and she were about to get caught.

“Is there a way? Through the gardens? Laundry? Kitchens?”

Jesalyn shook her head. “No…we’re on a massive hill. The gardens are too visible. The laundry won’t work. The kitchens are too far away.” Her eyes filled with panic. “I don’t…know the castle well enough.”

“You’ve lived here for years.”

“I’m the queen. I wasn’t looking for ways to escape.”

“Keep your voice down,” Elea hissed at her.

Jesalyn promptly shut up.

“Can we dress you as a maid? Send you out through the maids’ quarters?”

Jesalyn nodded slowly. “Yes. My lady Kymberin used to meet a lover that way.”

Elea leaned their heads together and giggled. “Of course, of course.”

Jesalyn quickly caught on and swatted at Elea’s wrist. “My lady. We are fast friends. Thank the Creator that you’re here now.”

A lord passed by, who was loyal to Kael. He barely even batted an eye at the two ladies walking around without guard cover. That was good for them. They kept moving at the easy pace they had been moving. If they didn’t rush, then Elea felt like they stood a chance. Get her to the maids’ quarters, change her clothing, and send her out, just like anyone else.

Except they never got the chance.

They didn’t even make it as far as the maids’ quarters before they were stopped by a guard.

“Affiliate Elea?”

“Yes,” she said, turning her own nose up.

“The emperor has requested your presence immediately.”

Elea kept the slew of horrible thoughts from crossing her mind. She hadn’t been caught. Kael had no idea that she was working for the other side. She’d be fine.

“Thank you for informing me. Let me return my companion to her rooms, and I will go.”

“He said, immediately. We all know how much he likes being delayed.”

Elea nodded. Kael was impatient on a good day. She suspected today wasn’t a good day.

“Come on,” Elea said. She turned Jesalyn around, and they moved back toward the throne room.

“What will I do?” Jesalyn whispered.

“Stay quiet. Don’t respond to anything he says unless it’s a direct question. It’s better to be ignored and stay alive than to make your point heard.”

“Is that how you’ve stayed alive this long?” Jesalyn sneered.

“You can judge me all you like, but I’m the only one here who thought to help you escape. So, shut your mouth and do what I said.”

Jesalyn swallowed her pride and clamped her mouth shut as they entered the throne room. Kael was seated on the large throne. His green cloak thrown off the side of the chair. His eyes snapped to hers when she entered. A flush brushed her cheeks. As much as Kael terrified her, her heart still skipped a beat when she was in his presence. She knew that her fear should make her repulsed by him, but she wasn’t. She never had been. Even when she worked against him.

“Stop here,” she whispered to Jesalyn.

Elea continued forward alone and dropped a sweeping curtsy. “Your Imperial Majesty.”

Kael waved his hand in the air and beckoned her closer. “You know that you do not have to address me as such.”

“I thought it looked good for the lords.”

“I don’t care about them. They serve a purpose; that’s all.”

Elea nodded. “Of course. You called me here for a reason?”

“I see you brought my reason with you.” His eyes slid to his sister. “You always anticipate my every need.”

Elea’s stomach dropped. No, she didn’t want Kael to remember Jesalyn. Elea should have left her cloistered in her queen’s chambers. Her orders were clear—get Jesalyn away. How had it happened that she did the opposite?

“Sister, come forward,” Kael commanded.

Jesalyn strode forward as regal as any monarch—conquered or otherwise. She refused to dip him a curtsy, which was dangerous, considering where they both stood, but at least she remained silent.

“I see you’re still trying to play the part of a queen,” Kael said with a smirk.

Jesalyn looked as if she was going to respond but didn’t.

“At least you’ve found silence. I never thought you would as a child.”

Jesalyn pursed her lips.

“Are you happy here?”

She arched an eyebrow. “Would you be?”

“You could be comfortable here.”

“A prisoner in my own castle?” she snapped.

Elea breathed in sharply. Jesalyn needed to keep her cool. If she flew off the handle, then Kael’s temper would flare. That was never good for anyone.

“A favored guest of the Emperor of Byern,” Kael said evenly.

“We were your allies,” Jesalyn said. “You conquered us without a thought. All you had to do was ask for our help, and we would have easily offered troops for your war.”

“I don’t need allies.”

“Everyone needs allies.”

Kael bristled at her tone. “I am leaving you alive, Jesi. You should be grateful.”

Jesalyn snorted. “Grateful? To you? Have you lost your mind?”

Elea sighed and looked to the ceiling. She’d asked her to do one thing. And, already, she’d called him mad. He was well on his way there, but he was also dangerous. And kicking a hornet’s nest had consequences.

Kael stood from his throne and stepped down to where Jesalyn stood, proud and defiant. She didn’t show any of the fear that Elea was sure that she felt. She was honorable.

“You dare speak to me that way?”

“I am your sister. It appears I’m the only one who will,” Jesalyn said.

“Edric tried, and look at how that ended.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

Kael chuckled. “You should be.”

Then, he drew a blade made of darkness and smoke. Before Jesalyn even had a chance to scream, he sliced it across her throat. Her blue-gray eyes, so like his own, opened wide. Then, she collapsed backward, blood spraying from the open wound.

Kael breathed the death in, growing in size and power. Elea could practically see his sister’s death energizing him. It was horrifying to witness. The way he expanded and seemed to burn. The fire that raced through him. How deadly he became.

When he opened his eyes, they brimmed with that ever-increasing darkness. They slid to Elea, still standing frozen next to his throne. Everyone was still watching. The death that brought tears. The fear that permeated the air. Kael extending his hand to her. Elea’s shaking legs as she approached him, knowing that she’d failed to get Jesalyn out of the castle…to save her.

She placed her hand in his. Her hands were trembling.

“Do you fear me?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “And…”

“And?”

“And no.”

He smiled down at her. “You will be my empress.”

Elea stumbled forward a step in shock. “I…what?”

“Say yes, my pet.”

Elea felt like vomiting. This couldn’t be happening. Of all the things that she had expected, this had never been one of them. She’d never envisioned a proposal. And definitely never dreamed of one like this. She had thought she’d be swept away. Not forced into this with a murder looming between them. A promise of where she would end up if she refused him. There was only one answer.

She lifted her gaze to his eyes. “Yes.”