Felix spread his hands. “Allow me to explain my lengthy silence, your majesty.”

“The only reason you’re still breathing,” the king said, leaning forward on his throne, “is because I very much would like an explanation. And make it a good one. I’ve been disappointed many times by those I formerly held in high estimation in recent months. I cannot tell you how much I despise being disappointed.”

Lord Gareth’s expression darkened. “Your majesty, I don’t understand why you’ve chosen to give this stupid, insolent boy even a moment of your valuable time. He’s committed treason, and treason is punishable by death.”

“At what time did I commit treason, might I ask?” Felix ventured. “I don’t seem to recall.”

The king’s attention remained firmly on Felix, his gaze sharp and assessing. “You don’t seem to recall assisting Jonas Agallon in freeing two rebel prisoners I’d chosen to execute? You have no memory of being responsible for the explosions that caused the deaths of many loyal citizens?”

Felix blinked. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, your majesty.”

Lord Gareth let out an exasperated huff. “You were seen, you stupid boy. The guards’ uniforms you and the rebel stole didn’t cover your faces.”

Oh, shit.

“I can explain,” he began.

“Save your breath,” the king hissed. “I had given you the task of getting close to the rebel, not to assist him in opposing me.”

Had Felix honestly thought it would be so easy to stroll into the palace and go back to life as usual after all he’d done?

His mouth had gone dry, but he tried to find the words to speak. To explain. “I served you and the Clan very well for many years, your highness. I gave my life over to the kingdom and I learned how to survive, how to thrive in that environment, and how to kill in your name without question. I was only eleven when the Clan took me in.”

“Eleven, yes.” The king nodded. “I remember you, Felix, more clearly than any of the others. When you were brought before me—a boy only a year older than my own son, who had seen his family killed, his village destroyed—you did not look at me with fear. You met my eyes with defiance and strength. Eleven years old. I knew there was something special within you. A rough spirit that I could harness to create greatness. I thought I had succeeded. Clearly, given your recent choices, I was wrong. Admit to your crimes, boy, and then let’s be done with this foolishness.”

There was once a member of the Clan of the Cobra, an old man who’d served as the group’s wise guardian. When he was on his deathbed, he’d said that, in life, a man only comes to a few crossroads that can shape his future for good or for bad. Sometimes one recognized these crossroads, and could stop and think about the right decision. But other times, the choice could only be seen with the clarity that came afterward.

This crossroad was well-lit and impossible for Felix to miss.

While Felix considered himself a skilled liar, he knew that the king might be the one person able to see right through him to the truth.

Felix took a deep breath and gathered every last ounce of courage and bravado he had left. “It’s true, I helped Jonas save his friends, and in doing so I committed treason against you, your majesty. Abandoning the Clan wasn’t a plan I’d had in the works for ages, but it happened. I made a mistake. I came to trust the wrong people—to believe I had a choice in how my future could unfold. But I was wrong. I am exactly what you see before you, your loyal servant who regrets his recent actions and wishes to beg for your forgiveness.”

“I see.” The king pursed his lips. “And where is Jonas Agallon now?”

Felix hesitated. “I don’t know. All I know is that he’s an unlucky, untrained fool who runs headfirst into danger without thinking. That he’s managed to live this long is a miracle in itself. He is no threat to you, your majesty. And his only remaining follower is one equally foolish girl.”

He didn’t like to think about Lysandra. From the moment he’d helped rescue her from execution, they’d argued and squabbled about anything and everything, and he’d enjoyed every moment of it. The girl was a handful and had an attitude harsh enough to reduce any normal boy to a sniveling wimp. But Felix was no normal boy.

And he’d rapidly been falling for Lysandra, with no idea whether she realized it or not.

But at the very first moment of doubt, she’d sided with Jonas. The girl was in love with him, which was too bad for her, since Jonas was already in love with Princess Cleo.

“In summation, your majesty, I have learned now without question that I wasn’t meant for any different life. I’d already been leading the life I was meant to, and had a job I was skilled at. I stand before you today as your loyal servant, with renewed commitment to you, the Clan, and my duties. And I have brought with me absolute proof of that loyalty, something I wouldn’t have if not for my short-term association with the rebel.”

He reached for the air Kindred in his pocket, but found it was empty.

“Are you looking for this?”

Felix shot his gaze up to the throne to see King Gaius, holding the moonstone orb in the palm of his hand.

“Uh, yes. That’s exactly what I was looking for.” Felix was astounded by his own stupidity. Of course Lord Gareth would have him searched him after he’d claimed to have the Kindred.

“Do you even know what this is?” the king asked.

“I do.” Felix nodded. “Do you?”

“Speak to the king with respect,” Lord Gareth snapped.

“Lord Gareth,” King Gaius said evenly, “perhaps you should leave us to speak in private.”

The kingsliege frowned. “I meant no disrespect, your highness. He is the one who’s being disrespectful.”

“My son is currently seated upon my throne in Limeros, but only after having to explain his rightful place to your disrespectful son. If you want to remain in my good graces, Lord Gareth, then do as I say. I won’t ask again.”

Without another word, Lord Gareth descended the steps and slunk out of the throne room.

Felix watched this exchange with a heady combination of interest and fear.

The king rose from his throne and descended the stairs. He stopped and stood just inches away from Felix and raised the moonstone orb to eye level.

“This, Felix, is something I have desired my entire life. But it is a great surprise, to say the very least, to have it delivered to me in this manner. How did you come to acquire it?”

“Jonas received a message containing its location and instructions for its retrieval. We were successful in our search, and then I stole it from him.”

He wasn’t going to admit that he and Jonas had also uncovered the earth Kindred, and that the message was from Princess Cleo. It wasn’t as if he was trying to protect anyone—and he certainly wasn’t trying to protect Princess Cleo, whom he didn’t know from a blond hole in the ground. But he’d rather not give away all his valuable secrets to this powerful man all at once.

The king stared at the air Kindred as if it were a long-lost love that had finally returned. He was so engrossed by it that Felix figured he could slip out of the room without him noticing—if there weren’t a dozen guards behind him, that was.