Will’s jaw clenches.

God, he would. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised; this is the role he’s trained for. To be a general, one has to make hard choices, to set one’s feelings aside for the good of the people. Still, I can’t wrap my mind around this side of him. This is not the Will I remember.

“What happened to you?” I ask, peering at him.

“What happened to me? What happened to you?” he retorts. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were in love with the king.”

I fist my hands. “Fuck you, Will,” I whisper. “You don’t have to lie with your parents’ killer every night. You don’t have to live with the guilt and disgust that comes with trying to make that situation work, because as queen you have the opportunity to benefit the world.”

There’s a flicker of remorse in his eyes, but I’m not done.

“I’ve given every ounce of myself,” I say. “How dare you question my motives.”

Will reaches up and touches a lock of hair. “I love you Serenity, you know that,” he says. “But this is larger than us—we’re talking about millions of lives here. Millions of lives that we can save.”

“What do you think I’m trying to do right now?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “Whatever it is, it’s not good enough.”

I lift my chin. “What happens if the king dies? Who leads the world then?”

“You would, Serenity, along with whoever you appointed.”

My breath catches. The Resistance’s plans are all so painfully simple. If I came into power, I’d push the agenda I’d been raised with, and I’d likely employ those trusted few people I’d worked and fought alongside. Will would be one of them. Hell, he and the Resistance might’ve taken this a step further and assumed Will would replace the king.

A little piece of me dies; it’s been dying since the moment I realized my friend allowed me to get shot.

I’m surrounded by bad men.

“You are blinded by power, Will.” When had this happened, and how had I never noticed this metamorphosis?

Will raises his eyebrows and barks out a disbelieving laugh. “You think I am blinded by power?” He leans in, his lip curling. From his expression, I can see that my lack of cooperation has fermented into some more poisonous emotion. “The king has you under his thumb, just where he wants you. Who knew all it took was a little romance and a little dick?”

In one smooth motion I cock my fist back and slam it into his face. I can feel the agonizing movement across my entire body, and I bite the inside of my cheek to smother my cry. Still, hitting him is incredibly satisfying.