When I didn’t respond, Ericen stood to go. My throat tightened as I tried to school my expression into something that didn’t betray every emotion hurtling through me.

“Why does your mother want us to marry so badly?” I asked. “It won’t give Illucia control of Rhodaire. Are you going to hold me hostage to convince Caliza to hand the kingdom over? Because she won’t do it.”

His eyes glowed silver in the moonlight trickling in through the high windows. “I don’t know why she’s so determined to have it done. Maybe she just wants to establish a connection.” His tone was short, curt, like a person who’d made himself vulnerable and felt uncomfortable about it.

I should have said something back.

“I don’t think your mother ever intends for you to rule Illucia.” There was only one way establishing this connection between our kingdoms would do her any good: if Illucia conquered Rhodaire, deposed Kuren and Caliza, and appointed Ericen and me in her place. Then Rhodaire would be under her control, but it’d have a Rhodairen queen. A smooth way to handle a hostile takeover, but it also meant Ericen would be king of Rhodaire, not Illucia.

Ericen’s jaw tightened as he saw where my mind had taken me, deep scarlet flushing his pale skin. Without a word, he stalked for the exit.

“Ericen!” I called, and he paused, turning in the doorway. A question I didn’t want to ask but knew I had to burned in my throat. Finally, I forced the words out. “Did my mother order that attack?”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t listen to her. She’s trying to justify what she’s doing.”

“You don’t know then,” I said quietly.

He hesitated, then shook his head.

I dropped my gaze to the foot of my bed, stomach turning.

“Thia?” I looked up at his voice. “I’m sorry I didn’t stop her.”

He didn’t wait for my reply before exchanging places with Kiva, and I was thankful. I didn’t know what to say. Didn’t stop her. Not couldn’t. He hadn’t done this to me, but he hadn’t prevented it either, and that was the problem. He kept following Razel’s orders.

How could I compete with a control rooted that deep?

Kiva refused my attempts to get her to sleep in her bed. Even awkwardly splayed in the chair, she was out before me. I stared at the ceiling for some time, trying to imagine the mother I thought I knew ordering Lord Turren to kill Razel’s family, my mind running rampant with thoughts of crows tearing people apart.

Had it been revenge for my father’s death, another turn in this endless cycle?