Roh took up the infused blade. Pain burst up his arm. He saw his skin blister. It was not his weapon, and he suspected it would punish him for it. He hefted it aloft before the hilt could grow around his wrist. A cold litany burned in his mind. He wrapped the weapon in Para’s breath and threw it with all his strength.

The blade flew straight and true. It split the sanisi next to Kadaan, then buried itself in the Patron’s chest. The Patron took flight. He careened across the room and was pinned to the wall above the bed. He huffed out a great spray of blood.

“Kadaan!” A woman’s voice, from the hall.

Kadaan met Roh’s gaze. It was a hot, terrifying moment.

Kadaan’s blade came up. He jumped onto the bed. He tore open the Patron’s shirt. The Patron pushed at him weakly, grunting.

Maralah burst into the room, weapon drawn.

She was just in time to see Kadaan yank the Patron’s fibrous, pulsing heart from his chest.

“Lord of Unmaking!” she said.

Kadaan threw the Patron’s spongy heart to her feet.

They stared at one another across the long length of the room, the bodies of the sanisi and Dhai between them. Roh dared not move.

“You can’t take the title any more than I can,” Maralah said, breathless. “Was this your plan all along? Because you won’t ascend that seat.”

Kadaan leapt from the bed. His weapon was still out. The Patron’s body hung behind him, limp. Kadaan pointed to Roh. “I claim the boy as a victory spoil,” he said. “He’s under my protection.”

“You have no victory,” Maralah said. “The victory is my brother’s. He’ll sit this seat before a sanisi ever will.”

“I will support Captain General Daonia,” Kadaan said, “and you, as I have in all things. But this boy, this one thing, this is mine, Maralah.”

Something passed between them. It was a look Roh had seen them give one another in the courtyard, before a spar. Roh realized he was trembling. Waves of pain still ebbed and flowed across his hand, fire.

“So be it,” Maralah said.

Only then did Kadaan sheathe his weapon.

“How long do we have?” Kadaan said.

“My brother’s army is at the gate,” Maralah said. “You’ve made things much worse. We’ll have to purge the harem now. The nursery. I’ll have Driaa activate our people below. And you,” – she narrowed her eyes – “you meet my brother with me at the gate. Come. Now. Leave the boy.”

Maralah ran out of the room.

Kadaan came to Roh’s side. His hands were smeared with the Patron’s blood. He took Roh by the shoulders. His look was intense.

“I’m sorry I–” Roh began.

“You belong to me,” Kadaan said. “Do you know what that means?”

“No,” Roh said.