Page 13 of The Queen's Shadow

He raised the dagger, readying it to throw. “He’s going to get thousands killed, and all so he can get some sort of stupid, petty revenge on his father. The Inetian emperor is going to be sorry he ever claimed him.”

The ground dropped out beneath Cassandra’s feet. For a moment, she couldn’t breathe. And then anger was coursing through her veins in a sudden, raging flood as the world came rushing back, and she couldn’t stop herself from rounding on him. “Don’t you dare say that!” Her nostrils flared. “You have absolutely no idea what it’s like to have a father who doesn’t want you!”

Arphaxad’s gaze snapped to hers, his eyes widening briefly. That only made her angrier.

“You had a father who claimed you,” she said, her voice rising. “You have no idea what it’s like to be without a family for most of your life!”

She jerked away from him, yanking her bow into position. Damn it, damn it, damn it! She reached for an arrow, sending it hurtling toward the stump. Then another. And another.

Arphaxad was standing rigid now beside her. “I—” He took a step forward and then stopped.

“All I’m saying,” she blundered on as she nocked another arrow, “is that I understand why a man like Sethos Amanakar might feel like he’s owed something.”

She sent another arrow into the stump. Her heart thundered wildly in her throat. What was wrong with her today? She should never have said anything. Would never have said it if he were anyone else. But she couldn’t bear to have him think that.

Arphaxad was the first to break the silence. “Cass,” he said softly. “You’re right. You’re absolutely right. I don’t know what it’s like.”

She knew he didn’t. He was the son of one of the king’s brothers. He had loving parents, by all accounts, and a younger brother who adored him. He’d always had family.

Arphaxad swallowed. “But you do, Cass. I know. I know about who you are.”

Her head snapped up, and she lowered her bow. “What?” Her world tilted again.

He slid the dagger he’d drawn back into its sheath. “I—it’s my business to know these things. That you’re the queen’s sister.”

The world seemed to spin around her, the darkening trees whirling faster and faster as her mind tried to catch up with what he had just said. He knew she was the queen’s sister. He knew.

“Half-sister,” she said before she could stop herself. She clenched her jaw, a cloying frustration spreading through her gut. If he hadn’t been certain before, she’d beyond confirmed it for him now. “How?” she demanded. “How did you know?”

He shifted his weight, looking suddenly uncomfortable. “I—you look like her. And you came out of nowhere. Andre Alarcon took a seemingly random girl off the streets and trained her to be the queen’s shadow. There had to be a reason.”

Her chest tightened. A random girl off the streets. That’s what she was, what she had always been. No amount of royal blood could change that. Just as Amanakar would always be the emperor’s bastard.

“I found an old record of payments made to your grandmother. From the king. I deduced the rest.”

Her mind whirled. He’d known all this time. Her greatest secret. “And you never told anyone?” she said, annoyed at how small her voice sounded.

He held her gaze. “I didn’t.”

“Why?” It didn’t make any sense. He could have easily used that knowledge against her before now, against the queen.

“It’s not...it’s not something I would ever want to do to someone.”

“It’s not?” she said flatly.

“It’s not,” he repeated, his voice rumbling with emotion.

He knew. And he hadn’t told. Hadn’t used that information against her. And now he’d told her he knew. Revealed his greatest hand. She wanted to cry, to flee, to get as far away from here as she could, to escape the emotions raging inside her. Damn it, damn it, damn it. Why did he have this effect on her?

“And for the record,” he said, “I don’t think you’re just a random girl off the streets.”

Her heart gave a quick thud. She had to change the subject. They’d already strayed too far into forbidden territory. Territory that had never been a part of their game. Territory that was well beyond safe.

“Well, then,” she said, doing her best to keep her voice steady. “Since you know my greatest secret, I’d say I’m owed yours.”

“Oh, you are?” He crossed his arms, his eyes glinting with challenge. “If I’m any judge of our years working together—”

“Working together?” Her brows shot up. “That’s what you call it?”