“Of course, Father.” She ducked her head. Drank another gulp of water to soothe her throat.

“Good. Now, I’m afraid the scar will last a lifetime—nothing we can do about that. In the meantime, I have spoken to the dean in charge of the University. I’d like you to enroll in some basic courses. This knowledge you’ve stumbled across may come in handy in other situations. Sun knows we ought to review our categorization of Blood and Vulgar Arts sometime soon—I’ll add it to the councils’ future agendas.”

Her head swam. She couldn’t think about the councils, about anything except the miracle sitting beside her.

“I’m just grateful you’re all right, Father.” Akeylah smiled through a sudden sting at the back of her eyes. Father. He would fix all of this. He’d help them stop the heir. He’d calm the nobility, restore order throughout the Keep. Or, seas, throughout the whole Reaches.

Everything was going to be okay. They’d done it.

I fixed him.

“As am I, daughter.” He studied her. “I dreaded the thought of dying too soon. I left so many things unfinished, but you were my greatest regret of all. Not assuring my daughter’s place in the kingdom. At least I am certain about it now.”

She struggled to sit upright, despite the throb in her skull. “About what, Father?”

“My rightful heir.”

Her stomach flipped. No. “Father, about my sisters—”

“Rozalind has filled me in. Zofi obeyed your orders and departed the kingdom quietly—for that I will spare her. As for Florencia, the charges against her are too great to ignore.”

“She’s innocent, Father.”

“Your loyalty to your family is a winning quality, Akeylah.” He smiled, indulgent. “It’s why I’m certain I have made the right decision. But in Florencia’s case, I am afraid your loyalty is misplaced. Proofs against her continue to stack up, though of course, her guilt and subsequent sentence must be determined in a fair trial. Rozalind and I are discussing the best time and place for that.”

Rozalind. Lying to the king about Akeylah’s scar, and now encouraging him to name Akeylah his successor, to push forward Ren’s trial. Was she doing this because she truly believed Akeylah would be the right choice? Or did she have other motives?

Being the favorite comes with certain responsibilities…

Akeylah steeled her spine. She was nobody’s puppet. “It sounds as though Rozalind has done a thorough job of updating you on everything that’s happened since you fell ill, Father. But did she also tell you her own good news? You may not need to name a successor after all.”

Her father froze. The wrinkles on his forehead deepened as his brows climbed toward his hairline. “You mean…?”

“She’s with child.”

Andros leaned back in his chair. “But we’ve not… it’s been…”