Bound to the Alpha King novel · Chapter 18 of 24

Chapter 18: The Price

I stood at the door of the Houses' cell for the rest of the afternoon, as I had said I would.

It was an iron-banded door in a damp passage behind the throne hall.

Through the grille I could see my brother sitting on a stone bench with his back to the wall.

He was white and straight and he did not cry once.

At dusk the Chancellor came down the passage with a lantern, alone.

"Healer," he said. "I thought I'd find you here."

"Go away."

"I have come to make an offer, and I would rather make it to the king."

Rorik had been standing in the shadows behind me for an hour.

He stepped out.

"Make it," he said.

Gisbert held up the lantern and looked at us both with that terrible warmth.

"The Houses will count their stones at dawn tomorrow," he said. "Six of twelve for you, I think.

"Perhaps fewer by morning.

"Either way, the boy hangs, because the poison was his.

"I can prevent that."

"How?" said Rorik.

"Sign the regency over to me tonight.

"The crown to rest on your head in name, and mine in fact, until the healer's gift has been properly understood.

"The boy goes home to the Fen with a purse.

"The healer goes with him."

"And me?"

"You live quietly, Majesty, in the north."

"As long as she lives, you live.

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