I stared at her.

“If you don’t do this, the only way I’m going to be able to keep you safe is to kill both Father and Grandmother,” she said. “Is that what you want?”

Was it? I wasn’t sure. All my life, my father had controlled every aspect of my existence. Had treated me like a burden because my magic was weak and I was afflicted in the worst sort of ways. But he was still our father, and I didn’t want her to bear the burden of having ended his life just for the sake of eliminating a threat against mine. Anaïs might act as though she was untouchable, but I was her sister. I knew her better than that.

Misreading my silence, she said, “I’ll do it, if that’s what you want. But the King might well have me executed for it. I’m not above the law.”

My stomach clenched. “Surely Tristan wouldn’t allow that to happen?”

She didn’t respond, only turned her head to look at our reflections in the mirror. And in that moment, I hated Tristan more than I ever believed possible. His behavior had always disgusted me – his total disregard for the lives of half-bloods and humans alike. But the idea that he’d made my sister feel like her life was equally worthless? That was too much.

Except doing this meant betraying Marc. Manipulating him and using our friendship to bring down his cousin.

But was that such a bad thing? I’d seen his discomfort with the way Tristan behaved, which was so at odds with his own kind treatment to those considered beneath him. I’d always believed him loyal to his cousin, but how much of that loyalty was forced upon him by circumstance? Was it possible he might be better off freed from the service of a future tyrant?

Maybe our father was right, in a way. Maybe it was time Montigny rule of Trollus ended. If our family took control, it would be Anaïs who’d sit on the throne, either at Roland’s side or better yet, without him. She’d be Queen, and Trollus would thrive under her rule. If I had the opportunity to help make that happen, shouldn’t I take it?

“All right,” I said, squaring my shoulders. “I’ll do it.”

Chapter 6

Marc

I found Tristan at the twins’ manor, the three of them surrounded by books, though my cousin appeared to be the only one studying, half a teacake in one hand, the other scribbling calculations on a scrap piece of paper.

“Examinations?” I asked, taking a seat across from him.

He nodded and finished his cake. “Next week.”

Royal children all trained with the Builders’ Guild – the heirs because they’d take control of the tree along with the crown, and their siblings, just in case they should find themselves on the throne. I had only a rudimentary understanding of the craft, having studied economics in preparation for assuming my father’s role, but as Tristan pulled a large schematic in front of him, I recognized the cavern over Trollus as well as the tree. What he was sketching over the top of the diagram was unfamiliar to me. “What is that?”