Morgan Rhodes - Rebel Spring

“ Into the Forbidden Mountains?” Jonas whispered. “What good is a road that leads where no one wants to go?”

What was the king up to?

A flash of gold in the sky caught his attention and he looked up to see two hawks circling high above the crowd.

Even the Watchers are interested.

Such ridiculous thoughts he’d hold on to rather than share with Brion. The stories of immortals who entered the mortal realm in the form of hawks were just that: stories told to children before bedtime. His own mother told him such tales.

The king’s lips stretched back from his teeth in a smile that would look warm and genuine to all who did not know the darkness behind it. “I hope you are as pleased as I am about this road. I know it’s been a difficult time for everyone and I take no pleasure in the blood spilled in the process.”

There was a swelling of displeased and uneasy murmurs in the crowd, but not nearly as many as there should have been.

It’s working , Jonas thought. He’s fooling those who wish to be fooled.

“Yeah, right,” Brion said. “He loved it. He would have bathed in all that blood if he’d had half a chance.”

Jonas couldn’t agree more.

King Gaius continued, “As you all can see here today, your Princess Cleiona is very well. She was not exiled or imprisoned as the daughter of my enemy. Why would she be? After all the pain and grief she’s bravely endured, I have welcomed her into my new home with open arms.”

He made it sound as if he’d given her a choice, but Jonas didn’t believe it.

“My next announcement today concerns your princess.” King Gaius stretched out his hand. “Come here, my dear.”

Cleo cast a wary glance at Aron before turning toward the king. She hesitated only briefly before crossing the balcony to stand at the king’s side. Her face was unreadable, her lips tight but her head held high. A sapphire necklace sparkled at her throat and jewels also dotted her hair to match her dark blue gown. Her skin glowed radiantly under the sunshine. Excited murmurs now rose through the crowd about the daughter of their former king.

“Princess Cleiona has suffered great personal loss and heartbreak. She is truly one of the bravest girls I’ve ever met and I see why those in Auranos love her as much as they do.” The king’s voice and expression both seemed to hold affection as he gazed at the princess. “It is well known to all that she is betrothed to Lord Aron Lagaris, a fine young man who defended the princess in Paelsia against a savage boy who meant her great harm.”

Brion grabbed Jonas’s arm again and dug in tightly with his fingertips. Jonas hadn’t realized he’d taken a step forward, his fists clenched at his sides, prompted by the lies about his brother.

“Stay calm,” Brion growled.

“I’m trying.”

“Try harder.”

The king drew Cleo even closer to his side. “This is how Lord Aron proved his worth to the late King Corvin and was given the princess’s hand and the promise of a wedding I know Auranians have been greatly anticipating.”

A smile played at Aron’s lips and a look of triumph lit his eyes.

It suddenly dawned on Jonas what this was leading to. The king was about to announce Aron and Cleo’s wedding date.

King Gaius nodded in the boy’s direction. “There is no question in my mind that Lord Aron would make a fine match for the princess.”

Jonas silently seethed that this bastard got to preen and glow in the light of his wrongdoings-to be rewarded for them. Jonas’s hatred was a palpable thing, an ugly monster that threatened to renew his obsession with vengeance and blind him to everything else.

The king continued, “Yesterday I came to an important decision.”

The crowd went completely silent, leaning forward collectively in anticipation of what he would say next. Jonas couldn’t look away from Lord Aron and his bright and cheerfully vile expression.

“I hereby end the betrothal between Lord Aron and Princess Cleiona,” King Gaius said.

A gasp went through the crowd and Aron’s gleeful expression froze.

“Princess Cleiona represents golden Auranos in all ways,” the king said. “She is the daughter of you all and I know she is in your hearts. I see this as an opportunity to unite Mytica even more than it already is. Therefore, today I am pleased to announce the betrothal and upcoming marriage forty days from today between my son, Prince Magnus Lukas Damora, and Auranos’s beloved Princess Cleiona Aurora Bellos.”

King Gaius took Cleo’s hand and Magnus’s hand and joined them. “Immediately following the wedding, there will be a wedding tour-Magnus and Cleiona will travel across Mytica as a symbol of unity and the bright future we all share together.”

There was a moment of silence before the majority of the crowd began to cheer with approval-some nervously, some with full appreciation of such a proposed union and tour.

“Huh,” Brion said. “I wasn’t expecting that at all.”

Jonas stared up at the balcony for several stunned moments. “I’ve heard enough. We need to get out of here. Now.”

“Lead the way.”

Jonas turned from his view of blank-faced Cleo and began threading his way through the madness. It was the news of the Imperial Road he was most concerned with-what did it mean? What were the king’s true intentions? The fate of a princess now engaged to her mortal enemy should be the very least of his concerns.

Still, Cleo’s new betrothal bothered him deeply.

CLEO

AURANOS

“Today I am pleased to announce the betrothal and upcoming

marriage forty days from today between my son, Prince Magnus Lukas Damora, and Auranos’s beloved Princess Cleiona Aurora Bellos.”

Cleo’s breath left her in a rush.

The world blurred before her eyes and there was a ringing in her ears. She felt a tug as the king pulled her closer, and the next moment something warm and dry grasped her hand. She looked up to see Magnus next to her, his face as impassive and unreadable as always. His black hair hung low over his forehead, framing his dark brown eyes as he focused on the crowd-a crowd that cheered and yelled as if this stomach-churning horror was wonderful news.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Magnus dropped her hand and turned toward his mother, who had taken hold of his arm.

Aron grabbed her wrist and drew her back into the castle past the others on the balcony. His breath, as always, smelled like wine and acrid cigarillo smoke.

“What just happened out there?” he hissed.

“I–I’m not sure.”

Aron’s face was as red as a beet. “Did you know this would happen? That he planned to break our engagement?”

“No, of course not! I had no idea until. . until-” Oh goddess, what just happened? It couldn’t be true!

“He can’t change what is meant to be.” Aron was so livid he was literally spitting. “We’re supposed to be together, no one else! It was decided!”

“Of course we are,” she managed to say, much more demurely than she felt. She had no deep affection for handsome but vapid Lord Aron, but she would rather spend a thousand years in his constant company than an hour alone with Magnus.

The dark prince had killed the first boy she’d ever loved-stabbed him through the back with a sword while Theon had been trying to protect her. The memory of Theon’s death made a fresh swell of grief rise within her, hot and thick enough to choke on.

Imprisoned for weeks at the palace after her capture, Cleo had experienced the very depths of despair and grief-for Theon, for her father, for her sister, Emilia. All ripped away from her. Such sorrow had carved a cold, bottomless hole in her chest that could never be filled. She could lose herself in such darkness if she wasn’t careful.