wreaking havoc on our island.”
“Yes, and you should have met him at sea long ago! Yet here you sit, stewing in your anger as I lecture you about your rash decisions!”
William pressed his lips together. “Ensuring her safety at the party was not my responsibility, alone.”
“Are you attempting to blame me for my daughter’s disappearance?” Christopher stepped behind his desk again.
William averted his eyes. While he couldn’t completely blame Christopher, he knew he was part of the problem. Christopher always seemed lost in his own thoughts and consumed with his own agenda, which left Larkin to fight for his attention in any way she saw fit. This normally added up to her inappropriate behavior in society—meaning she often voiced her sonorous opinions about politics in the Orient and relations with the Octent, not to mention she had habit of sneaking off to the shore late at night. She remedied this by doing anything Christopher asked—like marrying William.
Christopher leaned across his desk. “Do you think I arranged this marriage because I’m fond of you?” His voice was low and gruff. “I agreed because you are the king’s nephew and may someday become king, especially since Tetherion’s sons have gone rogue. But if you defy Tetherion’s rule, how do you expect to become king?”
“With force,” William replied simply.
“Force? This is politics, William. Plain and simple—your job is to show them you’re king material, not act the part of an ex-pirate.”
“If King Tetherion hasn’t removed his sons from succession by now, what makes you think he will? I will have no choice but to take the throne by force, and Larkin’s disappearance is just the beginning of that.”
“And how is that?” Christopher wasn’t hiding the fact that he felt William was an imbecile, but William knew the old man by now. If he weren’t intrigued, he wouldn’t have asked.
“The king can easily be blamed for Larkin’s disappearance,” said William at last. “His orders have stopped any attempt to destroy that ship. Now, with the embargo and Larkin missing—well, the public will only take so much. Maris has already stomped several revolts because of Barren.”
Christopher’s brows perked, and he sat back in his chair. “What are you suggesting?”
He had had a lot of time to consider what he was about to propose to Christopher Lee. Through the night, he’d sat on the shore near the ocean, fighting the anger that welled within him at the realization that Barren had gotten the best of him, but perhaps that was not so…perhaps this was the perfect situation to accomplish an even greater goal.
“This situation has put us in the perfect position.” William finally met Christopher’s gaze, and with a shrug he said, “What if we say Larkin has been killed? And blame Tetherion for not taking care of Barren when he became a nuisance? For not dealing with pirates properly?”
“But she is not dead,” said Christopher.
“Barren will not return her until I meet him at sea. Who’s to say we are lying?”
“The people will want proof.”
“Is it enough that I cannot prove she is alive.” William held up the scarf. “I am a grieving lover, do I need proof?”
Lee was quiet for a long moment. He tapped his fingers together as he considered what William was saying. “And you think this will be enough to shake the foundation upon which Tetherion stands?”
“I do,” William replied. “Would you not agree it is the perfect storm?”
“Perfect storm, perhaps—but you would incite rebellion. You realize this is treason?” Christopher raised his brow in question, as if William were stupid. The Ambassador wiped his sweaty palms on Larkin’s scarf. They’d waited for this opportunity for a long time. Here it had presented itself in the strangest of situations, enabled by his brother, and he wasn’t about to let it slip away from fear of prosecution.
“We barely have a king,” said
“Yes, and you should have met him at sea long ago! Yet here you sit, stewing in your anger as I lecture you about your rash decisions!”
William pressed his lips together. “Ensuring her safety at the party was not my responsibility, alone.”
“Are you attempting to blame me for my daughter’s disappearance?” Christopher stepped behind his desk again.
William averted his eyes. While he couldn’t completely blame Christopher, he knew he was part of the problem. Christopher always seemed lost in his own thoughts and consumed with his own agenda, which left Larkin to fight for his attention in any way she saw fit. This normally added up to her inappropriate behavior in society—meaning she often voiced her sonorous opinions about politics in the Orient and relations with the Octent, not to mention she had habit of sneaking off to the shore late at night. She remedied this by doing anything Christopher asked—like marrying William.
Christopher leaned across his desk. “Do you think I arranged this marriage because I’m fond of you?” His voice was low and gruff. “I agreed because you are the king’s nephew and may someday become king, especially since Tetherion’s sons have gone rogue. But if you defy Tetherion’s rule, how do you expect to become king?”
“With force,” William replied simply.
“Force? This is politics, William. Plain and simple—your job is to show them you’re king material, not act the part of an ex-pirate.”
“If King Tetherion hasn’t removed his sons from succession by now, what makes you think he will? I will have no choice but to take the throne by force, and Larkin’s disappearance is just the beginning of that.”
“And how is that?” Christopher wasn’t hiding the fact that he felt William was an imbecile, but William knew the old man by now. If he weren’t intrigued, he wouldn’t have asked.
“The king can easily be blamed for Larkin’s disappearance,” said William at last. “His orders have stopped any attempt to destroy that ship. Now, with the embargo and Larkin missing—well, the public will only take so much. Maris has already stomped several revolts because of Barren.”
Christopher’s brows perked, and he sat back in his chair. “What are you suggesting?”
He had had a lot of time to consider what he was about to propose to Christopher Lee. Through the night, he’d sat on the shore near the ocean, fighting the anger that welled within him at the realization that Barren had gotten the best of him, but perhaps that was not so…perhaps this was the perfect situation to accomplish an even greater goal.
“This situation has put us in the perfect position.” William finally met Christopher’s gaze, and with a shrug he said, “What if we say Larkin has been killed? And blame Tetherion for not taking care of Barren when he became a nuisance? For not dealing with pirates properly?”
“But she is not dead,” said Christopher.
“Barren will not return her until I meet him at sea. Who’s to say we are lying?”
“The people will want proof.”
“Is it enough that I cannot prove she is alive.” William held up the scarf. “I am a grieving lover, do I need proof?”
Lee was quiet for a long moment. He tapped his fingers together as he considered what William was saying. “And you think this will be enough to shake the foundation upon which Tetherion stands?”
“I do,” William replied. “Would you not agree it is the perfect storm?”
“Perfect storm, perhaps—but you would incite rebellion. You realize this is treason?” Christopher raised his brow in question, as if William were stupid. The Ambassador wiped his sweaty palms on Larkin’s scarf. They’d waited for this opportunity for a long time. Here it had presented itself in the strangest of situations, enabled by his brother, and he wasn’t about to let it slip away from fear of prosecution.
“We barely have a king,” said
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