Only now, standing this close, did Ren notice the unkempt bedraggle of his hair, the uncharacteristic stubble along his jawline. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days.

“Danton.” Her voice cracked. “I don’t want you to die for me. All I want is for you to trust me. To be honest with me. Like with your engagement—you could have told me about it, rather than letting Lexana blindside me with the news.”

“I wanted to, but Rueno demanded we keep it confidential until the contract was finalized, and I didn’t realize Lexana would…” He shut his mouth. “You’re right, I should have told you. But it doesn’t matter now. What matters is that I do the right thing. Clear your name.”

She shook her head. “Even if I let you, it wouldn’t make a difference. The person who forged those letters? It’s me they want to destroy. They’ll take you down, too, if you get in their way, but your death would solve nothing. They’ll still come for me. And without you, I’d just have one less ally, one less person I trust to lean on.” Her voice softened.

He raised a hand, tentative. His thumb grazed her cheekbone, a touch light as air, yet it reverberated through her entire body. “Who’s doing this to you, Florencia?” His brow furrowed, came to rest against her forehead. “When I found that boy outside your chambers, the one with the phial of blood… Do you think the same person sent him as forged the letters?”

“I believe so.” Ren gritted her teeth. She’d almost forgotten about that boy. Just one more mystery in a stack growing far too tall for comfort. What else was the heir capable of?

“They can’t have that much influence. Not unless they’re royalty.” He smiled faintly, but sobered when she didn’t join in.

“It’s someone related to me. That’s all I know.” She backed away from Danton, all too aware that if she kept touching him, she’d do something stupid. “Well. That and they want the throne. They’ll stop at nothing to remove my sisters and me from their path.”

Understanding dawned on his face. “Zofi.”

“They went for her first. Now it’s my turn.”

He frowned and watched her pace across the room. “But nothing has happened to Akeylah?”

“Not yet.”

Danton looked pensive. “So it’s a relative of yours in line for the throne.…”

“It’s not Akeylah.” Her sister had helped her research Yasmin. Who turned out to be innocent. She’d rescued Ren from the baths. Or did she just know when to arrive because she’d cursed Ren in the first place? “She’s being threatened, too. It just hasn’t been made public yet.”

“I see.” Danton arched a brow. “And you’ve seen these threats yourself.”