The friar takes his position behind the altar and raises his hands. “Citizens of Karm, thank you for joining us early on this Sabbath day.” His eyes search the crowd. He is about to ask again if anyone believes Sebastian and I should not be united. I have no fear of anyone denouncing it.
He pushes the sleeves of his robe up and continues. “It’s an honor to announce that King Hart has a special address for his subjects before the crying of the banns.”
Fear grips my chest, and I turn to see a stoic Sebastian. A smile flits across his lips, and I force my lips to return it. He knew his father was to speak today. But about what? My skin slicks with sweat, and I now doubt the surprise has anything to do with the tournament.
The monitor along the back of the wall flickers and crackles.
I try to sit up straight, and look directly at the screen. Someday soon I’ll confront King Hart face to face, so I brace myself to be strong. I won’t allow him to intimidate me as he did during the betrothal. I envision my father in the pitch black of Outside, his face dirty and his eyes lost, and anger replaces the knots in my stomach.
King Hart’s pale face appears on the monitor. I force my breathing to steady as his cold eyes scan the hall. “Greetings, citizens. Thank you for coming together in praise of our Lord, and to hear the banns for our future king and his queen.” He pauses, smiles. “I could not be prouder of the fine job my son has accomplished in his endeavors to make this year’s tournament the best ever. And because the last day of the tournament is always the most prestigious, I want to make it an even grander occasion.”
A chill works its way down my spine. The tense knots are back, and I look to Sebastian for clarity. His face only reveals pride. He’s devouring all the praise his father is lavishing on him, and he knows already what is coming.
“I know the marriage ceremony between Prince Sebastian and Princess Zara was to take place over a month from now,” Hart says, then pauses for effect. “But I want the occasion to be truly memorable. The wedding is to be held on the last day of the tournament.”
An awed response sounds through the hall.
My stomach plummets, free-fall. My airways seal tight, and I lean forward and gasp air into my lungs. My eyes flick to Devlan before I can think better. He’s unmoved, mask in place, and that snaps me back into my senses.
Hart continues. “It will be the finest day in all of Karm!”
Applause booms, and the air is sucked from the room. I straighten my spine and force a smile. I can’t meet Hart’s eyes. I can’t look at the excited expressions on the citizen’s faces. I focus on the altar—something to center the spinning room.
“Prince Sebastian will be crowned King the following day. Karm will bask in a new era and its continued longevity as the leading realm in all the world.”
The crowds bound to their feet. Their echoed shouts and joyous applause pierce my nerves. I have no choice but to join them as Sebastian rises from the pew and turns to acknowledge their praise. He kisses my cheek, his eyes lit with excitement, then turns toward the monitor and bows to his father.
My limbs tremble, but I face the screen and bow low before lifting my head to stare into King Hart’s piercing gray eyes. They seem to stare, hard and cold, right back at me.
He knows.
TWENTY-FIVE
“How can you be sure Hart doesn’t know?” I ask Devlan, taking a seat on the log. The meadow is dark and the chilly air pervades my bones, sinking Hart’s announcement deeper into my being.
Devlan crosses his arms over his chest and faces me. “Hart has moved up the marriage ceremony at the request of Sebastian,” he says, his brows furrowed. “This has nothing to do with him suspecting an attack.”
“How can you be so positive?”
He releases a heavy sigh and walks the river bank. Devlan’s lack of response infuriates me almost as much as the smug look Sebastian wore all day.
Shaking my head again, I look down at my black pants, run my palm over my thigh. We’re anxiously waiting for Fallon to meet us, and Xander awaits her just as anxiously as he lurks near the woods, keeping watch. Larkin remains at the castle, making sure we get in and out of the court grounds undetected. We’ve trusted him all this time to do so, and so far he hasn’t given Devlan a reason not to. I’m still unconvinced of his loyalties, but I have no choice if I’m to continue my training, for however long I may have.
Everyone is in an uproar as to what should be done. The wedding date being moved up means the mission is moved up. We have little time left.
I have little time left.
All day, my mind has been a muddle of conspiracy theories. The only reason for King Hart to move up the wedding is because he suspects the Rebels are up to something, and somehow crowning Sebastian as king sooner will halt our efforts. It’s the only logical explanation.
Hart wants Sebastian—a stronger, unconfined leader—to take out the Rebels.
I kick at a rock on the ground. “Devlan, I’m going mad. I had over a month left to train, and now I may only have a week.” I walk up to him. Stand right before him. “I demand to know what your brain is deducing of this.”
“Is that an order, princess?”
I scowl.
He groans and glances at Xander, then takes my arm and leads me farther into the woods. When we’re out of earshot, he stops and faces me. “This has nothing to do with Hart suspecting anything. Sebastian fears your affections are for another. He wants to ensure you are his wife soon.” His brow creases. “That’s all.”
“Ridiculous.” I look to the moon peeking through the treetops before meeting his eyes again. “All this because Sebastian fears I have fallen for someone else?” He nods once, and I scoff. “And just who does he fear I have eyes for?” I ask, but the answer had already wormed its way into my mind earlier today.
Devlan stares into my eyes. “I’ve been removed as your personal guard.”
My mouth parts, and I’m about to deny it—my mind already working to remedy the situation—but he continues past the uncomfortable silence. “So. There it is. Hart knows nothing. Though that doesn’t change the predicament we’re in. We’ve argued when the right time to commence the mission would be, and now it looks as if that’s been determined for us.”
“Devlan,” I say his name calmly. “If you believe Sebastian’s paranoia over my affections is the only reason, then nothing has changed. I’ve been insisting we should do the mission sooner. Maybe not so soon as a week…” I cringe. “But it’s all right. We’ll wait until Fallon and you think I’m ready.”
His face sets hard, determined. “No. Something else can
be done—”
I place my finger over his lips, halting what I’m sure will be a rant, then slowly lower my hand. “This does not change the mission. It will proceed on as planned.”
His lips twist into a stubborn frown. “Regardless, Zara, this adds another complication.” I raise my eyebrows. “Sebastian will be made king. Hart will take him into his confidence after he’s crowned. If we wait, we’ll no longer be eliminating only Hart.”
He’s right. No matter what Sebastian wants for Karm—his dreams, his visions—all will be lost when his father reveals his wishes for him to take over Outside. Even if Sebastian tries to fight it, in the end, Hart will find a way to force his son into submission. He is that evil.
If I want to save my father and all those Outside, along with Sebastian as well, I have no choice but to meet Hart before the ceremony. I will not put my dagger to Sebastian’s throat. I will not kill Devlan’s friend, no matter the bad blood between them, and allow Devlan to live with the guilt.