Josiri gritted his teeth. He wanted to shout, to scream. To rant about the unfairness of it all. But it wouldn’t come. The aftermath of anger left emptiness stretching from toenails to fingertips and was never stronger than about his heart.

“I think . . .” Revekah hesitated. “I think she might be. Why didn’t you discuss Akadra’s offer with me?”

“Why would I?”

The last of the warmth slipped from her voice. “Oh, is that how it is?”

“You think I should bother you with the lies of my mother’s killer?” He shook his head, more to convince himself than her. “I’m . . .”

“Lumestra help me! If the next words out of your mouth are to be ‘I’m the duke, it was my decision’, then I suggest you stay silent.”

Despite a tone that could have shattered steel – despite even his own mood – Josiri smiled. “You’ve not spoken to me like that for a very long time.”

“I haven’t needed to. If I’d known about Akadra’s offer, we might have been able to make a stronger case before Crovan and the others. Or maybe . . . ?”

“I should have accepted? No.”

“In the long run, what’s the difference?”

“Not everyone will believe Calenne. Not everyone will follow her.”

“Maybe not. But I do, and I will. I spoke with Akadra earlier today . . .”

Josiri leapt to his feet. Things always did get worse. “What?”

“Wasn’t by choice. Point of fact, I went there to murder him. Made a proper botch of it, too. He could’ve killed me. Should’ve. Instead, he lectured me.” She rose, her eyes meeting Josiri’s. He had the sense that she did so not to make a point, but because she was looking for something. “Your mother always wanted what’s best for folks. Somewhere along the line, I’ve lost sight of that.”

“Have you forgotten what he did? To my mother? To her dream?”

“I’m forgetting nothing. There’s not a day goes by when I don’t miss Katya. But it doesn’t matter what Akadra did in the past, not if he’s prepared to fight for us today. I’m going to stand with him. I’d like you to come with me.”

He didn’t believe her. He couldn’t. Calenne, he almost understood. Especially with the prospect of escaping the family name. But Revekah? He stared up at the bare wall. It was strange. He couldn’t even picture the portrait in his mind’s eye any longer. Now, whenever he tried, he saw only Calenne.

“Then you’re betraying her too,” he said softly.

The stinging slap rocked Josiri back on his heels.