“Tell me.” My voice is all commander, but she doesn’t flinch away. I stand and slowly make my way back to my seat, my gaze never leaving hers.

“Well, you may not know this, but the light channelers were the original rulers of Velmara. Many suspect it’s why King Mazus married Esther Andomer, to strengthen his own claim to the throne. And it’s why my uncle betrothed his daughter to Prince Hawthorne—he wants the Kalmeera family to be associated with the Andomers. He doesn’t care about the Vicants. Everyone knows the Andomers have the real power.” This is new information to me. I didn’t know there was a line outside of the Vicants that ruled Velmara. My mind races with the implications. Genevieve continues, her voice unsure and questioning. “The passage I just read indicates that the Vicants, King Mazus’s line, forcibly took the throne from the Andomers in a great civil war a millennium ago. But all of the texts in the archives say that the Andomers willingly stepped aside when they tired of ruling, believing the Vicants best suited to leadership.”

“Power is rarely given up willingly.” My voice is low, and she nods. “I don’t believe for one second that a ruling family just decided to hand over their throne one day, especially one with what is considered the most powerful magical ability.”

“Now that we’re discussing it aloud, I can’t believe how silly it sounds,” she admits, blushing deeply with embarrassment. “I wonder how the Vicants defeated the Andomers. Air channeling is powerful, but almost nothing can defeat light magic.”

“What indeed,” I murmur, mind racing.

“This is—this information… Is everything in the archives a lie?” she asks, eyes wide with an emotion I can’t place. Without thinking, I’m back at her side, turning her chair outwards so I can kneel in front of her.

“No Genevieve, not everything there is a lie. But history is written by those in power, and King Mazus and his line have been in power for a very long time. Victors tell the story they want to tell, and I suspect Mazus has a prolific pen.” I take her hands in mine, and she doesn’t pull away. Her skin is so soft, and her hands feel so small in mine…

“I feel so foolish.” Her words bring me back to the present. “But there are hundreds of books that all say the Andomers willingly stepped down from ruling and preferred to settle in Eastern Velmara peacefully.”

“Don’t feel foolish.” I stroke my thumbs across the tops of her hands, comforting her practically second nature to me. Her gaze darts down to where our hands meet, studying them, then rises to meet mine. Lust heats her gaze, and I know I’ve read the situation correctly, even if I’m still not sure it’s safe for her to pursue this.