The King Will Kill You--The Kingdoms of Sand & Sky Book Three by Sarah Henning

Author:Sarah Henning
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

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AMARANDE awaited Luca with cooling food and a sharp eye.

“I don’t see blood on that blade.” Her eyes snapped to his as he placed her unused dagger upon the table and dropped to the chair across from her, covered dishes sweating between them. “You’ve decided on a trial, then? A public accounting of his crimes? And those who would follow him—surely there are others. Did he give you names?”

Indeed, Luca was working on his penchant for confrontation at all points in his life—disagreement with Amarande was no different. She’d clearly been stewing on this since he’d left. Placing the tiniest bit of hope for justice on this cruel day upon the blade she’d handed him. After the loss of Koldo, she was yearning to make anyone who paved the way for the morning’s attack pay.

Luca reached across the table and took her hand. He forced himself to look her in the eye. “I let him go.”

“You … what?”

“I let him go. And I’m bringing him to the conclave in the morning.”

Amarande’s eyes blazed as if he’d slapped her. That stung because he would never ever hurt her. And yet, Amarande’s anger only seemed to intensify with his answer, mingling with her sadness and determination. “Tala should not be walking free tonight—”

“He fought with us when we needed him.”

“He did. But he has lied to you, to your people, to all of us, and you cannot let that pass. And you certainly cannot trust him to advise you with his history—”

Suddenly, it was as if she could sit no more. Amarande wrenched herself from him and the table, pacing furiously toward the fire before whirling back on Luca with stiff, angry steps.

“He did, but only after prodding. Don’t you think it might have been more helpful to know that he was the man who murdered your entire family before you began to trust him?” She stopped inches from him, her fury rolling off like smoke from the fire. “Luca, when you revealed yourself to the Warlord—was that Tala’s idea?”

“No, it was mine.” Just like it’d been today—even if Geneva hadn’t called to him, he would’ve called to her. It was only by either her love or hatred of Ferdinand and Amarande’s well-timed block that she hadn’t run them through. They both knew it. “Ama, please. The bigger picture is more important—”

“That bigger picture where he lied about who he was to you?” Amarande tossed her head back and shouted at the tent spire. “Not to mention lying to the entire resistance for years.”

“Yes. He did. And he’s done lying. I trust him and I will not betray that trust.”

“Luca, one battle should not earn him your trust! Not given what he did! What if he turns upon you later? When we see Geneva again? You know we will—and whose side will he be on?”

Amarande’s frustration had its own heartbeat but so did his—Luca couldn’t be so callus to a man who had time and again proven he would fight for and with him.

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