His family. Dell pictured his stepmother and brothers. Were they truly conspiring against the king? A king who gave them everything. Lady Tenyson was the tip of the spiral, giving her untold power. She had the king’s ear in all things. Rumors had even spread through the city that the princess’ ball was merely a formality and it was Ian Tenyson she was to wed.

None of it made any sense.

Then the truth hit him and it hurt worse than he’d expected. He met Edmund’s eyes. “This is why you befriended me. Why you’ve saved me time and again. Why I mean anything to you. I am a Tenyson. The only one you could get to.” Dell stood. “You asked me to put my loyalty into you, but you’ve never reciprocated. Agathe, Mari, Corban… It’s not me you want, only my name.”

“Dell…” Edmund stepped toward him, but Dell held up a hand and Edmund froze.

“No, don’t lie to me, Edmund. I’ve spent my life around the likes of you. You take and take with no thought to who might be hurt. My family will supposedly betray the king, and you want me to what, spy on them? Risk my life? Because I guarantee if I’m caught, my life means nothing to them.”

“Your king needs you, Dell Tenyson.” Edmund’s low voice rumbled through the room. “I once told you my life changed when I had something to fight for. Yours can too.”

“I don’t want to fight for the king!” The words were out before Dell could stop them. Heavy breath rattled through his chest. “Let the priests put me in a cell for treason, I don’t care, but King Rhodipus will never have my loyalty.”

He’d questioned himself so much when he hadn’t known which side Edmund was on. Questioned his own loyalty to Madra, something he’d never thought of before. Could he support the king and the people both? Were they on the same side?

He didn’t know.

The only thing he knew was he couldn’t choose his stepmother or his brothers. If neither side held anything for him, what was his choice? There were only two sides, right? Either the king was overthrown, or he wasn’t.

Edmund dropped his voice. “I’m not going to throw you in a cell, Dell. I’d never…” He pushed a breath past his teeth and ran a hand through his blonde hair.