Whipping his head to Jensen, who had been slowly inching toward Coleman, ready to halt him from sprinting out if necessary, he spit, “Why the fuck would you bring him here? If you truly thought he’d believe less of his perfect prince just because my ass is cursed to keep living, you’re fucking suicidal and stupid.”

“Why.” The word came from Coleman. It was more a statement than a question, but Trey knew what he wasn’t asking. He relaxed his hands, realizing he’d been gripping the cot in a death hold ever since Coleman stepped into the room.

“His Highness,” he said with as much vitriol as possible, “believed I was hiding something from him about Vera.”

“Were you?”

“Yes.”

“Why.” Again, not a question.

“Eithan lost my loyalty when he sent men to track down a woman and force her to marry him. A woman who’d been kidnapped and locked away her entire life.” He paused, remembering she wasn’t technically a woman, but the point remained all the same.

“And instead of putting me out of my misery after your perfect prince got what he wanted from me, he brought me here.”

Coleman’s brows creased, and a muscle feathered in his jaw. “Let me get this straight. You hate him because of what he did, but you also hate him for healing you. Makes sense.”

Jensen chuckled, shaking his head. “I tried to warn Lesta. You really are a blind fuck.”

Coleman whipped around, stepping dangerously close to a man who could easily crush him with barely a thought. “Then open my eyes.”

But it was Trey who spoke. “Whether you open your eyes or not, Wes, that’s on you. But Eithan Matheris is a lunatic who has his sights set on Vera. Or, more accurately, Veralie Arenaris. He won’t stop until he has her. If his current plan doesn’t pan out, he’ll just come up with another.”

Coleman threw his hands up, looking seconds away from a panic attack. “So, what is this? A coup? You idiots do realize killing Eithan won’t remove his father from power, right? What are you hoping to gain?”

Jensen darted a glance out the door, then stabbed a thick finger at Coleman’s chest. “Sulian is in power for now, yes. But he won’t be forever, and with Eithan gone, the crown would be up for grabs.”

Trey’s eye widened despite himself. He thought Lesta was just trying to free him to help Vera, he didn’t realize he was trying to completely change who retained power on Aleron. There had never not been a Matheris on the throne.

Coleman glared up at him. “What would you have me do? Kill my own Prince in the hopes that someone nicer comes along to take his place?”

Jensen stepped even closer until they were chest to chest. “You know what.”

The look Coleman sent him would’ve had a lesser man fearing for his life. He looked seconds from pulling his blade out right then and there and stabbing Jensen through. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”