Lydia trailed off. Telling them Killian was teaching her to fight would only invite more questions, none of which she could answer. Yet as a single tear ran down the Queen’s cheek, Lydia wanted desperately to tell her the truth, because she knew what it was like to be subjected to a speech like Hacken’s.
“Don’t weep, Majesty,” Hacken said, reaching over to wipe the tear from Malahi’s face. “You’ve come too far to debase yourself like that.”
“What do you want?”
“For you to reign as queen, of course.” And when Malahi lifted her head in surprise, he added, “Yet like all things, it will come with a price.”
48
KILLIAN
Killian paced back and forth in front of the closed door, his heart thundering in his chest.
Watch your rear.
His mother’s coded warning repeated through his head, her meaning all too clear. Hacken had been the one reading her correspondence. He was up to something, and whatever it was would be motivated by self-interest, not the good of the realm. Not that Killian could do a damn thing about it out in the hallway.
“You don’t think he’ll try any funny business, do you?” Gwen’s voice cut through his thoughts. “Because if he does, brother or no brother, I’m going to crack his skull.”
Killian gave a sharp shake of his head. “He won’t touch Malahi.”
No, it wasn’t her physical safety that worried him. It was what Hacken was saying to Malahi right now. It was that he was comfortable saying whatever it was in front of Lydia, which meant whatever it was, he didn’t care about Killian finding out after the fact. It was that it had been Lydia, of all the girls standing in the corridor, whom Hacken had chosen to bring in with them.
The door abruptly swung open and his brother exited, Malahi on his arm. Pointedly looking anywhere but at Killian, she said, “My guests will be wondering where I’ve wandered off to. Shall we?”
Killian cast a backward glance into the room. Lydia stood frozen in place, that damnable ring dangling from the broken silver chain in her hand.
Twisting on his heel, he broke into a run in the direction Malahi had gone.
“Killian, wait!” Lydia’s voice called from behind, and part of him wanted to turn back. But Mudamora depended on Malahi and her plan and Killian getting back in front of an army, and if his brother intended to disrupt it then Killian needed to stop him.
Ahead, he heard Malahi’s and Hacken’s titles announced as they entered the Rainbow Ballroom, the nobility clapping and calling well-wishes for Malahi’s coming-of-age.
“Killian!”
He slowed to a walk as he entered the ballroom, but Malahi and Hacken were already deep in the crowd, moving toward the steps leading up to the balcony. Easing his way between the wide skirts of the noblewomen, he pressed after them.
Malahi had reached the top of the steps, Hacken at her elbow. As he turned, he held up a hand for silence. “Without preamble, allow me to announce that I, as well as the other High Lords with us tonight, have cast our votes for a new ruler for Mudamora.”
The room went silent.
“Allow me to present Her Royal Majesty, Queen Malahi Rowenes.”
No one seemed to breathe.
“Thank you, all.” Malahi’s voice streamed out over the crowd. “For the well-wishes and for the risk you took in coming to be with me tonight.”
“Move,” Killian muttered to a nobleman in his way, forcibly shoving the man aside when the word was ignored.
“We stand here”—Malahi’s voice took on a serious tone—“under the guise of celebration. Yet I fear we have little to celebrate. War is on our doorstep. Our countrymen starve. Our very skies turn against us the moment night falls.”
A hand closed on Killian’s wrist, jerking him back. He turned his head to see Lydia behind him, her face devoid of color. “He’s tricked her into believing I’m your mistress.”
“I gathered.” He pulled her along with him through the crowd, his eyes fixed on Malahi. “But he’s after more than just spreading gossip about me.”
“Yet there is hope!” Malahi’s voice rose, clear as a bell. “Thanks to my sworn sword, Killian Calorian.”
What?
“In a moment, I’ll have you all join me on the balcony to watch as the fleet sent by our ally and friend Sultan Kalin of Gamdesh arrives in our harbor. A fleet sent at Killian’s behest.”
Lydia said something into his ear, but whatever it was, the cheers that filled the ballroom drowned it out, all eyes going to the sea, which sparkled with