thing, and the wizard in black gave it a little kick, sending it farther from him. I had to viciously rein my temper at the sight of them treating her with such disregard.
“Of course that’s not the Abiding Ring,” I sneered. “That ring is still on Her Highness’s finger, where it will stay until she passes it to her heir. You lose, False Emperor.”
“You’ll suffer for this,” Anure ground out. “Where is Lady Rhéiane? You will watch us torture her, Slave King, and then you will die.”
Percy yawned elaborately, fanning fingers over his mouth in an elegantly polite gesture, holding up three, then five of them. Yeah, that was my count, too. Eight minutes until that bomb blew.
A guard came running into the room, out of breath. Then snapped to attention, bowed deeply, straightened—and hesitated. He brought bad news he clearly didn’t want to speak, but in our favor or not?
“Captain Jan?” Anure inquired silkily. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Your Imperial Majesty. Honored syrs.” Jan bowed to Anure and the wizards. “There’s been an escape attempt. Lady Rhéiane is gone.”
This time Anure didn’t blow. He went white and still, his hard gaze fastening on me. “Where are they?”
I shrugged, nearly giddy with relief. “How should I know? I’ve been here with you.”
“You will die for this,” Anure snarled. “Executioner!”
Finally. My brief hope that we’d be sent out of the throne room for execution died as a large figure in scarlet leather from head to toe—including a full face mask with slits for eyes and a few holes around the nose for air—stepped out from behind the throne, carrying a large double-bladed axe. Handy to have an executioner so nearby. Not so handy for us, when we’d been counting on being removed from the throne room, for imprisonment, torture, or execution, it didn’t matter what, so long as we weren’t near that bomb. Seven minutes to get out of here.
The figure strode toward us, and I eyed his axe, liking the look of its heft and balance. Maybe I could get it away from him. Risky, though.
“If you kill us,” I said in a loud, carrying voice, “you’ll never get to Euthalia. Your wizards know they can’t penetrate the enchantments of Calanthe. Lord Percy and I are prepared to offer you a deal—but the first stipulation is that our heads remain attached to our necks.”
Anure studied us, looking from one to the other, then to the false orchid ring lying among the glass fragments. Enraged, impetuous, greedy, self-involved—but not stupid, I reminded myself. We’d pretty much played this out. Lia was right as usual: We’d never have spun this audience to an hour.
Ten minutes sure went fast, though.
“If you can offer Me that…” Anure said slowly. Much too slowly. I reined in my anxious impatience. “Then why try to trick Me with this fake flower?”
I shrugged nonchalantly, baring my teeth in an insulting grin. “I thought you might be stupid enough to fall for that. Better for me, if I could get away with it.”
“A miscalculation, Slave King and worthless cousin of Mine.”
“I wasn’t so worthless to Your Imperial Majesty once,” Percy crooned, bowing with an elaborate twirl of his hands. “I care not how you handle this beastly rebel, but I could be of service to You, as I once was. I beseech You to end my exile. The bargain we have still to offer Your Imperial Majesty is enticing indeed.” From the depths of his obeisance, Percy slid me a wide-eyed look, placing five fingers against his cheekbone. Yeah, right. We needed to go or be blazed with the rest of them.
Anure shifted restlessly on his throne, ignoring Percy, glaring at me. Pursing his lips as he thought, trying to see through the trick he sensed.
Time ticked away and I looked down at Vesno, waiting quietly at my heel. Could I risk sending the wolfhound out of the room? If he’d even go. Likely not, with his steadfast loyalty. I sent a silent apology to Lia. She wouldn’t forgive me for getting myself killed, but I wanted to offer it anyway. I also greatly regretted that I’d never see Rhéiane again. Never see Oriel. Never know if this gambit succeeded.
At least Lia would be safe, and she’d have our child. I would’ve given her something for all she’d done to show me what it was to live, and love.
“What could either of you worthless curs possibly offer Me?” Anure finally asked, his greed getting the better of him.
“Queen