My blood went cold. "You think he's planning to kill all of you? Become king by murdering his way through the family?"
"Why not? I raised him to value power above all else. He's just applying the lesson." Father's voice was fading. "Stop him, Elara. Stop him before he destroys everything. Please."
It was the first time I'd heard my father say please to me. The first time he'd asked rather than commanded.
"I'll stop him. But Father... why did you really marry me off to Shadowmere? Was it just alliance or was there something else?"
"Wanted you safe. Away from here before Marcus made his move. Knew it was coming, couldn't prove it, couldn't stop it directly. So I sent you away. Thought Shadowmere might be brutal but at least you'd be alive." He looked at me with something like regret. "Was I wrong?"
"No. Shadowmere saved me. Made me strong. Gave me a life worth living." I took his hand. "But you could have just told me the truth. Could have explained instead of forcing me."
