“My father does whatever he has to do to protect his people. Why does this make him a monster? What did you do when Torrent needed saving? Or Lorna, for the Lady’s sake? You killed men for the lives of your enemies. And yet, you consider my father evil for doing the same for those he loves?” His voice now mocks me. “This is truly the Verdanian way; your tongue betrays you with its contradictions.”

My head pounds in rage. I rise and plant myself mere inches from him.

“Your father doesn’t love anyone,” I spit. “He’s a coward and a fool, unholy and unfit! He lured us with an empty promise, and my mother died trusting it! This is of no concern to you, though, is it? Because while you clung in fear to your mother’s side, mine lay on the floor dead. When yours tucked you into bed and reassured you that all would be well, mine was buried in the cold ground. The Lady and Guard punished my family after we’d already suffered a great loss. And yet all your father could do was pledge his undying vengeance against us. That’s how I know he did it, and that’s why I hate him. That's why I hate all of you!”

His nostrils flare, and his chest heaves. I haven’t been this close to him since we were children, and I see light freckles splattered across his cheeks, almost too faint to notice in the moonlight. But his eyes. The pale light only emphasizes their starkness. My neck constricts under their frosty bite. I can almost feel his warm breath against my lips. My panting grows heavier.

“Well then, it’s a blessing that The Lady cursed us when she did. It would’ve been a tragedy for you to marry a man you hate,” he hisses. “To be forced to lead a country you despise.” His lids flicker, and he pulls back his shoulders. “Unfortunately for you and whatever lies you choose to believe, none of it matters. You dared to travel through Baelliles and look where it got you. Caught by a bunch of lowly bandits who took out Verdana’s best men.” He leans in even closer. “How pathetic.”

My lips clamp so tightly I can feel the blood draining from them. Then, I tilt my head back to say, “I can run right now, and there isn’t a single thing you can do about it.”

His eyes flare at my threat, but he lifts his chin and smiles. “You wouldn’t last ten minutes alone, and you know it.”

“So?” I answer. “I’d rather die than stand here for another minute with a Baellilean!” I’m too angry for thought. I turn and flee. I’ve no idea where I’m going, but I force my legs to kick as fast as possible. Behind me, I hear Braizen groan.

“Don’t do it, Idalia!”