Page 104 of Silver & Gold

“Only because he’s a man,” Nasrin said angrily.

“And an arcanist,” Zarina pointed out. “A powerful one. He would undoubtedly make the Gold into something grander than I will. At least, that’s how some would see it.”

Nasrin argued, “The people, the actual people, love you, and they will love you all the more when they have an heir to celebrate. And with a boy, even the princes may be appeased. We will raise him to be a good man.”

Raider asked, “Will you acknowledge the child as Nasrin’s?”

Nasrin answered, “No. We decided long ago that Zarina would make of it a mystery. People can think what they want. Some may call him a bastard. Others may think him divine. Such is the way of mysteries.”

“But why hide your relationship? You could declare each other but still hide the child’s parentage, if you think that necessary. I think you’re making things hard for yourselves.”

Zarina shook her head. “A lover can be leveraged against someone, and can be hurt in the process. Who could know that better, Raider, than you?”

Raider’s throat tightened. “You want to protect Nasrin.”

“Yes. And myself. I would yield to save her, as Seth yielded to save you.”

“You should have told us the truth, Zarina. You didn’t need to blackmail us.”

“Oh, but I did. I could see in Seth’s eyes that his principles were too strong, that they would only bend for love. But even there, he found a way around me.”

Seth said, “I could not bring you the Alchemist’s Stone. That was as absolute as my love for Raider. So I accepted that you might have us hunted—because I thought you would not.”

Zarina’s lips twitched. “You called my bluff.”

“I could tell you cared about Raider. At first, I wasn’t sure. But when you allowed us leave the palace, I knew.”

“And yet, here you are,” Zarina noted, “back in the palace. To help me?”

Seth said dryly, “You don’t even have to blackmail us.”

Zarina sighed, “You must forgive me for that someday.”

“Hm. Maybe.”

Zarina’s eyes shifted to Raider. She said softly, “You must forgive me too. And not just for the present but for the past.”

Raider swallowed hard. “None of it was your fault.”

“You may face him, you know, if you help me.”

Him.

Kahzir.

“I know that, Zarina. I knew that coming back here.”

Seth’s hand clamped onto Raider’s knee. Raider took that hand and threaded their fingers together. He told Seth, “I need you with me. I need you there while I …”

Seth looked wary. “While you what?”

“Try to remember.”

CHAPTER 32

SETH HATED EVERYTHING about this.

He hated seeing Raider staring at that table in the dungeon cell. Even more, he hated that Raider was telling him to leave.