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was clearly important to the king, which made it important to her as well.
    â€œWhy do you think it’s possible?” she asked.
    Tarus’s expression grew pensive. “I met a witch once, an old friend of my grandmother’s. She could light the fireplace just by staring at it.”
    Lysandra had heard similar accounts but had never witnessed anything like that for herself. “How old were you?”
    â€œFive? Maybe six? But I know it happened.”
    Childhood memories wouldn’t help them. They needed facts. They needed action, a plan of escape.
    Her brother had fallen asleep. Perhaps he was dreaming of beautiful immortals, but she was left awake with a thousand questions and doubts.
    â€œForget about Watchers, Lys. Jonas will save us,” Tarus whispered. “I know he will.”
    She wasn’t so sure. But if there were any magic in this world for wishes, that was exactly what she’d wish for.

CHAPTER 4
    CLEO
    AURANOS
    C leo was regarded with uncertainty by the people who had lived in the palace before, when times were good, who hadn’t given King Gaius reason to cast them out or kill their families. They remembered what it was like when King Corvin sat on the throne, a kind king who would never rule with an iron fist clenched around the throats of his subjects.
    Cleo saw the confusion in their eyes, questioning how she could bear living on in her father’s palace with a smile on her face only a few short months after his death. How she—a self-indulgent girl once known for her love of parties, friends, and wine—could be forced to wed the son of her enemy without constantly, desperately looking for a way to escape.
    But these people had never really known Cleo. And they had no idea how far she would go to reclaim what had been stolen from her.
    Some sought revenge against their mortal enemies with the edge of a sword. Her plan for vengeance began with the edge of a smile.
    And if she was careful, no one, not even the man who’d crushed everything and everyone she loved into dust, would ever think of her as a true threat. .
    She’d recently begun to believe that the handsome rebel who’d both kidnapped her and kissed her might be able to aid her. She hadn’t seen Jonas in over two months, but she thought of him often and worried about his fate. She had no idea whether he lived or died.
    But she knew she couldn’t rely solely on him.
    Cleo emerged from the palace and found Lucia in the palace garden. She forced herself to remain calm, to ignore her racing heart as she steeled herself and approached the other princess, who was cutting red roses from their stems and placing the blossoms in a basket.
    What an ordinary pastime for a secret sorceress.
    â€œGood day,” Cleo said as she came up alongside her.
    Lucia’s shoulders stiffened, but she continued to pick her flowers. “Good day.”
    There was no friendliness in the greeting, which sent a whisper of worry through Cleo. They’d parted as friends only a few days ago, but, what with Magnus’s return and the lavish victory banquet, Cleo hadn’t had a chance to speak with her alone and solidify their bond since.
    No matter. Cleo had decided. They would be the best of friends.
    Cleo conjured up her natural talent for being social and charming—a skill she hadn’t required in some time.
    â€œIs there something you wish to say to me?” Lucia’s tone was alarmingly suspicious.
    This would not be easy.
    But Cleo remained composed. “Only that I hope I’ve said nothing to offend you. I was under the impression that we’d grown close after . . . what happened the other day.”
    Lucia’s expression darkened. “I don’t want to talk about that.”
    â€œI understand how difficult it must be for you.”
To wield
elementia
so powerful that you can kill a living creature
,
Cleo thought. “But I’m here for you. I