by Jenna Moreci
Leila stood loose and malleable as Hemera unclasped Her cloak and threaded the dress from Her shoulders. A wet rag dragged across Her dirtied flesh, but Leila could barely feel it, Her eyes on Tobias. Blood and sand disappeared from his body wipe by wipe, revealing the depth of his injures—long slices along his ribs, countless lashes across his back. The unmistakable marks of torture.
Brontes had done this.
“Once he’s clean, balm the wounds. Damaris, take the task,” Mousumi said. “Faun—you’re skilled with the needle? Stitch the gashes closed.”
Faun faltered. “I’ve never sewn wounds before.”
“It’s no different than clothing, except it’s skin.” Mousumi’s eyes flitted between Leila and Hemera, and she frowned. “Hemera, tend to Her. She’s shaking. See to it that She’s soothed.”
Arms wrapped around Leila, though they were a whisper against Her skin, as was Her new, clean dress, Her combed hair.
“It’ll be all right,” Hemera cooed. “We’ll take good care of him. You’ll see.”
Leila convulsed, choking over Her tears. “Everything’s so wrong.”
“But You always make it right. Give it time. All will be well shortly. It’s what You do. It’s Your birthright.”
“I don’t think I can fix this.”
“What’s going on?” Hemera said.
Leila met the servant’s gaze. “You really don’t know?”
“You’ve been troubled for years—it’s plain to see—but beyond that we’re lost.”
The room grew quiet. Damaris and Faun still worked, but they eyed Leila sidelong, as did Mousumi, each woman awaiting an answer.
Leila took in a wavering breath. “My father… He plans to have Me killed. To take My crown as his own, then wage war on our allies.”
A string of gasps. “Leila, my God…” Faun covered her mouth, and even Mousumi’s blank stare garnered a hint of concern.
“All his men, his guards, everyone,” Leila said. “They’re aligned to him. Even Cosima… She chose him. I have nothing.”
“You have us.” Mousumi cocked her head at the bed. “You have him.”
Leila’s eyes shot to Tobias—and the women around him rubbing balms in his wounds, cleaning the grit from his flesh. Her tears stopped falling.
Hemera followed the path of Her gaze. “Is he Your Champion?”
“I don’t know. I ended the Culmination before it could be determined.”
“Do You love him?”
The pang in Leila’s chest tore deeper. “So much.”
“Then he’s Your Champion. You choose Your man, not Your father, nor his tournament.”
Leila rested Her head against Hemera’s, watching the others work.
“He’s quite handsome,” Hemera said. “I mean, not right now, in this state. I’m just saying, I bathed him. I saw everything.”
Leila raised an eyebrow, and Hemera cleared her throat. “This might not be the right time.”
Two quick knocks and a soft voice. Mousumi opened the door, and Delphi ran in with Nyx trailing behind her.
“Leila.” Delphi threw her arms around Her. “Are You all right?”
The story flooded free from Leila—Cecily’s revelations, the war—but the words didn’t carry quite as much weight as they had before, not with Her sister at Her side, Her servants hard at work, and Tobias getting stitched nearby.
Brontes has an army. But so did She, in a way.
The servants retreated from the bed, giving Leila a proper view of Tobias—clean and treated, the havoc of the tournament stripped away.
“We can’t stay here. It’ll alert attention.” Mousumi turned to the other servants. “We’ll disperse. Continue our regular duties. Ladies, is there any blood on our clothing?” Her eyes narrowed. “Damaris, to the washroom. Change yourself. The rest of us, we haven’t a clue what happened, is that right? We’re here to serve. And if the Sovereign asks us to find Leila, we will search far and wide—we will ransack the entire palace—except for these chambers. Understood?”
“Yes, Mousumi,” the servants said in unison.
“Practice with me now. Show me your oblivious faces.” Shock and confusion swept their gazes, and Mousumi nodded. “Good. You’re dismissed.”
Before the servants could scamper off, Leila corralled them, lending each one Her shadow walking before sending them out. Faun lingered for a while longer, adjusting her dress to conceal the glow of Leila’s mark. She gestured toward the bed. “He’s ready for You.”
Their conversation from days prior filled Leila’s thoughts, cutting through Her like a knife. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”
“Don’t—”
“We’re friends, right?” She took Faun’s hands. “I’m so sorry.”
“We’re friends.” Faun smiled. “I understand.”
She gave Leila’s hands a squeeze before parting. Mousumi eyed Tobias over as if inspecting the others’ labor, nodding in approval. “He’s weak now, but You’ll make him strong. He’ll wake shortly.”
“I can never thank you enough for your kindness.”
Mousumi responded with her usual blank stare. “Right.”
She disappeared behind the others, leaving Leila with Her sister. Delphi rubbed Her shoulder, watching Tobias as he slept. “I can stay here. Keep You company.”
“No,” Leila said. “Find Pippa. Make sure she’s all right. Steer clear of Brontes.”
“You’re sure?”
“He saw My light. I have to speak with him alone.”
Delphi didn’t move. “You know he can’t stay here. Brontes will—”
“Kill him.” Leila’s heart sank. “We’ll help him escape.”
“I’ll gather supplies.”
After her own blessing, Delphi left as the others had, the chamber still and quiet. Leila took a seat beside Tobias, who lay propped on his side, his eyes closed. Black-and-blues dotted his flesh, his upper lip split and swollen. She pressed Her palm to his chest.
“Strength and peace. Ease the pain. Mend the flesh.”
She wasn’t sure how long She sat there with Her light pouring forth, but eventually Tobias’s bruises yellowed, and the color returned to his cheeks. She couldn’t help but eye the door or flinch at every noise from outside, but still no one knocked or bothered Her in any manner. The servants must’ve been doing their job, and the thought alone loosened the strain within Her.
“Strength and peace. Ease the pain. Mend the flesh.” The burn of Her power seared Her palm, and memories of the arena consumed Her. Tobias’s face as he beheld Her glow. The light knocking him from his feet.
He wasn’t supposed to find out like this. She took in a deep breath, exhaling Her command. “Make him as he once was.”
Stirring. Two dark eyes stared up at Her, cradled beneath heavy lids.
“Tobias…” Leila braced Herself. “You’re awake.”
34
The Promise
The silence was agonizing. Tobias stared at Leila, an unblinking gaze as palpable as a kick to the gut. Why is he looking at Me like that? Then the heat of the sun reminded Her—She was glowing.
She should’ve closed the drapes.
Tobias’s eyes traced down Her figure to his own, stopping at the beaming handprint in the center of his chest.
“It’ll go away in time,” Leila said. “Once it’s finished serving its purpose.”
The confusion didn’t leave his face. He scanned the walls, the window, while Leila sat at his side, resisting the urge to fidget.
“Where are we?” he asked.
“Delphi’s chamber. We’re safe for now. Most of the guards are still at the Culmination—trying to pacify the crowds, apparently.”
He rubbed his head. “Did I—?”
“Faint? Yes, you did.” Her words piled on top of one another. “Don’t be embarrassed, it happens quite a lot. It’s this damn light. Such a burden. I can’t exactly change My skin. And I’m certainly not going to cover up. It’s hot as
hell most seasons.”
He squinted. “You’re The Savior.”
“I was going to tell you. Just before I left. I was going to tell you.”
I hate You. I want nothing to do with You. Every possible reaction ran through Her mind, but Tobias remained quiet, and somehow that seemed worse than the alternative. Wincing, he pushed himself upright.
“Careful—” Leila reached toward him, only for him to stop Her short. Retreating, She played with the folds of Her dress.
“You’re not a healer,” he said.
“Of course I’m a healer. It’s in My touch, see?” She dragged Her fingertip down his chest, drawing a line of light across his skin. “All that I touch becomes new again. Stronger. It’s My birthright. My duty to this realm.”
“And all Your potions?”
“Water. Clay. Perfumes from the bathhouse. Some of it had medicinal qualities I’m sure, but most of it did little more than alleviate the smell.”
Still no reaction. His words were even, his gaze unreadable.
“What of Cosima?”
The name drove through Leila’s gut. “A woman of My court. An ideal replacement. She certainly looks the part, doesn’t she? That porcelain skin, and those eyes. And most importantly, she was happy to play along. To be spoiled with attention. Too happy, it turns out.”
Sifting his hand through his hair, Tobias gazed off at the window. If only he could say something, could love Her, or leave Her, but all he offered was bloody, rotten nothingness.
“The signs were there,” he said. “I should’ve known.”
Leila shrugged. “Signs are easy to ignore if you don’t know to look for them.”
“You must think I’m an idiot.”
“Tobias…”
“God, You and the Sovereign even have the same hair.”
“Stop it, please.”
Sighing, he dropped his hands. “So, what happens now?”
“I’m not sure, to be honest. I don’t know who won the tournament. It was either you or Flynn. Either way, I believe I’m promised to be married, except I don’t know to whom. I might be promised to two men, even. What a scandal.”
She forced a laugh that was little more than a squeak, while Tobias kept quiet and stoic.
“Tobias?”
Color lifted from his flesh, sending Her heart plummeting.
Red.
“Tobias…”
“You lied to me,” he muttered.
“I never lied to you. Not really. I just…withheld the truth. But what I said to you—our conversations—it was all true. All real.”
“Call it what You will, You lied to me. You did. You know it.”
She cowered. “It was not without reason.”
He met Her gaze, his stare sharp and jagged. “This tournament… It was all for You. You said You hated it.”
“I do.” She sat taller. “I’m the Ruler of this realm, yet I can’t choose My own husband. No, I’m assigned one, a man I hardly know aside from a few brief interactions, rewards for all the killing. And it’s tradition? Do you understand how absurd it all sounds? Men died—”
“For You, Leila. They died for You.”
She shrank beneath his voice. “I know.”
Red filled the room like blood fanning across the walls. Her heart raced. “It’s not what I wanted. I fought to have it all called off, but Brontes—”
“Milo… He died for You. Zander… Orion.” Tobias cringed. “My God…”
Tears filled Leila’s eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“And they didn’t know,” he said. “I didn’t know. The woman we were fighting for was with us the whole time.”
“Tobias…”
“You could’ve told me at any moment, but You didn’t. You let me remain a fool. And for what purpose?”
“Tobias—”
“Was it all part of Your plan?” His eyes glossed over. “You trick twenty men into thinking they’re competing for Cosima, and all the while You, what? Observe? Manipulate?”
Leila faltered. “No, you have it all backwards.”
“You said Your family was nonexistent.”
“My mother was murdered when I was still in Her belly.”
“Your father is living,” he said.
“Brontes is no father to Me.”
“Cosima propositioned me.” He set his jaw. “Was that of Your doing?”
“God, no.” She recoiled. “How could you think I’d be capable of such cruelty?”
“I don’t know what to think. I clearly don’t know You.”
“You do know Me—”
“You play with my emotions.” Tears fell from his eyes, but he squared his shoulders, straightening himself. “Did You think this was a game? It wasn’t a game to me. I’ve fallen in love with You. It kept me up at night, thinking of what would happen to us if we were caught. It’s the only reason I ended things. And it was for nothing? Do You understand? I’m in love with You.”
“I’m so sorry.” She bit Her lip. “Believe Me when I say, I never meant to hurt you.”
“Then why? This whole façade, and for what?”
“I was protecting myself—”
He scoffed, “Right, from love and heartbreak, shielding Your poor heart—”
“I was protecting My life.” Her voice came out booming, a thunderclap that stilled the room. She leaned in closer. “Brontes is trying to kill Me. My father is trying to kill Me.”
The red dissipated. There was only Tobias, his slack jaw, his bewilderment.
“I…” He rested his head in his hands. “I don’t understand.”
“Did it not strike you as strange that he blesses the three most heinous killers in this tournament? That he pits them against you, My ally? This tournament was never about marriage. Brontes was grooming My assassin—getting him into this fortress so he could win Me, then marry Me, then kill Me.”
Tobias didn’t move, didn’t say a word. Leila crossed Her arms. “Are you going to let Me speak now?”
He nodded.
“Yes, I disguised Myself. Yes, I lied to you. Because I needed to study My assassins. And I needed to dismantle Brontes’s plan before it…came to fruition.”
“The Sovereign is trying to kill You,” he said.
“In the same vein in which he killed My mother.”
“Wait. But he was devastated when She passed.”
“Devastated?” Leila scoffed. “Is that what everyone believes? Well, perhaps that isn’t completely inaccurate. He was devastated about one thing—the fact that I survived. I was never supposed to be born.”
“No, wait.” Tobias shook his head. “The man who killed Your mother…the Sovereign had him tortured. He cut out—”
“His tongue. How convenient the poor man was unable to speak of his innocence.”
“I don’t understand. If the Sovereign is to have You killed, why not just kill him Yourself?”
Leila rolled Her eyes. “Oh, what a brilliant idea. I never considered that. You have truly opened My eyes.”
“Leila—”
“It is so much more complicated than that. It is more complicated than you could possibly imagine.”
Her breathing had become heavy, Her words dripping with hate. Meanwhile Tobias sat in silence, his gaze yet again pointed at the wall.
“If you long for it, I’ll tell you everything.” Leila’s voice softened, devoid of assurance. “Answer every question you throw My way. But I need you to know, unequivocally: I never intended for this to happen. I never intended to hurt or deceive you. This tournament was about preserving My life and My crown. It was never about a Champion to Me.” She toyed with Her dress. “I didn’t intend to find you. To love you, like I do.”
His eyes flitted back to Hers. “You love me?”
“Of course I love you. I exposed Myself to the whole arena just so I could save you. Because I’m madly and hopelessly in love with you. What a pain in the ass it is too. Made a real mess of My plans, I’ll have you kn
ow. God, do I love you, as if you don’t already know. How could you possibly not know?”
Tobias stared at Her vacantly. It was too late.
She’d lost him.
“If you don’t feel the same way for Me any longer, I understand.” She shook Herself, wrangling strength. “No, you know what? I don’t understand. I may not be perfect, but I am smart, and I am compassionate, and I happen to think My hair is quite lovely and rather soft. And, you know, I helped you an awful lot during this tournament. I risked My life for you, nearly exposed Myself on multiple occasions, not because it served any purpose to My endeavor, but because I care deeply for you.” Her eyes welled. “Because I love you. And if you let one silly lie—hardly a lie, a fib—ruin all we’ve shared, well then, you’re just as mad as they come—”
Lips pressed against Hers—Tobias’s lips, a kiss out of nowhere, silencing the madness of Her thoughts. She froze while his hands snaked up Her back, and when he pulled Her close, She melted into his familiar embrace.
“You’re not upset with Me any longer?”
“No,” Tobias whispered. “I’m not upset.”
“You were so angry just moments ago.”
“Feelings change. You were angry with me last night.”
“You were an ass.”
He chuckled. “I was an ass. You were The Savior in disguise. Call it even?”
Her emotions flooded over, spilling down Her cheeks. Tobias tightened his hold on Her. “You’re shaking.”
“You had Me so worried. I nearly thought I’d lost you.”
“I’m stupid, but I’m not that stupid.”
Leila choked out a laugh, while Tobias wiped Her tears away, his gaze once again penetrating. He was staring at Her light.
“It’s distracting,” Leila said. “I can get the shades.”
“No.” He cupped Her cheeks. “If this is who You are, then I want to see You.”
“If you start treating Me like some untouchable being…”
“I’m touching You right now, aren’t I?” He cocked his head. “You said it Yourself, I know You. The light is a mere detail. Trivial, really.”
“It’s hardly trivial. I’m the Ruler of the realm.”