She gave me an arch look and one of her eloquent silences, but I caught the amusement in her eyes. “My point is,” I continued, “someone who was there told Anure what I said. Odds are, that same person also mentioned what you wore.”
“It could’ve been anyone.”
“It could’ve been Tertulyn.” I returned her frustrated gaze with even calm, willing her to consider the truth. “I’m sure it’s painful to contemplate, but you’re too intelligent to let emotion interfere with reason.”
She pulled her feet out of my grasp and pivoted. I braced for the backlash, but she only blew out a long breath, putting her hands to her lower back and arching into a stretch. “What happened to My man of few words?” she muttered, almost to herself.
“Well, Jeaneth has been healing my lungs and throat,” I volunteered. “It’s easier to talk now.”
She threw me a mirthless glance. “All right, let’s suppose your wild speculations are correct: Tertulyn was a spy and she disappeared because she went to Anure. If so, we face utter disaster. She knows everything about Me, as you so astutely pointed out. I can only imagine how Anure would exploit that knowledge.” She straightened, practically layering steel into her spine. “I need to consult My advisers.”
“And you’ll convene the Defense Council. We can plan this war.” Not a question.
“Yes. But I make the final decisions. I won’t let you jeopardize Calanthe, Con. No matter what.” She reached for her shoes, the stiff corset making her lean awkwardly.
“Let me.” I snagged the delicate heels and slipped them onto her slender feet, then eyed her. “Calanthe is already in jeopardy,” I pointed out.
“I know that. But it’s My duty to do my utmost to protect Her, whatever the cost.”
“I know that,” I echoed mildly. “But we’re better off in some ways. Tertulyn revealing your nature to the Imperial Toad could play into our favor.”
“Enlighten Me.” She had a dry way of saying that, and I figured she demolished impetuous courtiers with that tone. Not me. Not much, anyway.
“We can make strategic choices because we know what Anure wants now.”
“Haven’t we always known that?” she asked in a patient tone that wasn’t patient in the least. “He wants Me and Calanthe.”
I shook my head. “No, he wants you. He promised to destroy everything but you. This is good.”
Her lovely mouth dropped open in astonishment. “Good? How can this possibly be good?”
I wasn’t explaining myself well. “Lia, you are a beautiful woman, but there are other beautiful women in the world.”
She pursed her glossy black lips. “Why, darling Conrí, you’ll turn my head with such lavish compliments. Do go on.”
I gave her a narrow look for her sarcasm. “Let me walk you through the logic as I see it. Why do you work so hard to keep your nature a secret?”
She started to snap out a reply, but paused. After a moment of consideration, she said, “My father taught Me to. He said that if Anure ever found out, he’d stop at nothing to have Me.”
“And yet he betrothed you to Anure.”
“As a deception. Make him think he had what he wanted without actually giving it to him.”
“Why didn’t Anure insist on taking you with him?”
“I was only twelve.”
“We’re talking about Anure—he’s done far worse than marry a twelve-year-old girl.”
She stared through me, her canny mind clicking through a history she’d known so well she hadn’t examined it closely. “Because I was not yet Queen of Calanthe.”
“And?”
“I didn’t have the orchid ring.”
I nodded. “The Abiding Ring.”
“I remember you and Ambrose calling it that before, when you first arrived on Calanthe.”
“Because it’s mentioned in the prophecy.” When she raised her elegant brows in patent scorn, I added, feeling more than a little defensive. “We talked about it, when we discussed getting married.”
“You mean, when you invaded My private chambers and held Me captive until I agreed to marry you?”
“I didn’t exactly hold a knife to your throat,” I muttered, though she had a point.
“Whatever.” She waved that off. “I didn’t pay attention to your talk of prophecies because I dismissed it as another ploy.”
I’d thought the same about Ambrose, more than once. “I’m not much for prophecies myself. But it’s come true.” I cleared my throat and recited.
“Take the Tower of the Sun,
“Claim the hand that wears the Abiding Ring,
“And the empire falls.”
She gazed at me, her face a mask of perfect calm, but her eyes betrayed her turbulent thoughts. “Ah. Now I discern the reason for your determination to marry Me.”
Shit. “It wasn’t—”
She stopped me with an upraised hand, black and white nails flashing with lethal grace, all hint of emotion skillfully hidden under her icy calm. “No, Con. You need not explain. I never deluded Myself that you harbored any but the most mercenary intentions toward Me.”
I set my teeth, wanting to chew my own tongue off. But I couldn’t deny the truth of that. Besides, she and I were the same that way. We’d entered into this marriage with open eyes, closed hearts, and a common goal. Still, I needed to say something … “Lia, I—”
“So”—she spoke over me with crisp speed—“it’s salient strategically that Anure wants to capture Me, and we can assume he wants to exploit My nature and the orchid ring for some purpose of his own.”
“Yes.” I allowed the diversion. Really, what more was there to say? “Do you have any idea for what?”
She shook her head slightly, but her gaze remained opaque, hiding something. “Why didn’t Anure force the issue once I ascended to the throne and had the ring?”
“I don’t know. Because you’ve cleverly held him at bay?”
“Ha! Nice try.” A bitterness laced the edge of her voice, making me want to kick myself for carelessly shattering the fragile trust we’d built. She might’ve shuttered her gaze, but the line of her jaw, clear and sharp, showed her tension, the fear she’d nearly set aside for a while.
“Anure wants you. Intact. That’s important.”
“Is it?” She raised a dubious brow.
“Yes. And it’s useful to know that he wants you frightened and off balance.”
“Forgive Me if I’m not reassured.”
“He doesn’t know you,” I told her, reaching for words. I couldn’t explain my complicated feelings about her and our marriage, but I could give her this. “You’re no fragile flower. He might bluster, but you’re stronger than he is.”
“I’m well aware of My strengths, and My limitations.”
“You have me,” I said, wishing I could vow something more. “I have ideas, and this letter helped refine them. When I promised we’d be stronger together, I meant it.”
“I know you meant it.” She seemed about to say more—probably something biting about how my meaning something didn’t make it true—but she didn’t. Instead, she moved to stand. I got to my feet, offering her a hand in assistance. After a slight hesitation, she took it. Then I did my best to adjust the back of her skirt, fluffing the useless bit of ruff at her rear end so it looked more or less like it had before. She watched me all the while with that cool bemusement.