He Took the Heirs' Emblems, Then Became Their King novel · Chapter 6 of 32

Chapter 6: Felix Crosses the Line

"It's three in the morning," James said. "Why are you awake?"

"Because three people in this room are on a schedule," said Felix, "and I'm the only one who isn't on it."

He stood up, took the kettle from the stove, and poured two cups.

Then he walked to the tape line, held up one hand, and knocked three times on the empty air.

"May I come over?"

"Is that tea poisoned?"

"Let me check." Felix sniffed his own cup, then James's. "Mine's fine. Yours is fine. I'd tell you if it wasn't."

"You can tell?"

"Rootspeak. The Serpent clan can taste poison and lies in a drink. It's mostly lies, to be honest."

He crossed the tape and sat on the end of James's bed, holding out a cup.

James took it.

Felix's fingers brushed his, warm and a little rough, and the tea was sweet with honey.

"I should say this plainly," Felix said, "so you can't think it's a trick."

"Go on."

"Bella sent me. She told me to be your friend and get you to sign."

"And?"

"I owe her family, and I said I'd do it." He looked into his cup. "I wanted you to hear it from me first."

James watched him.

It was a very strange feeling, to be told a plan by the man the plan was against.

"Why do you owe her?"

"The Ashfall Winter." Felix turned the cup in his hands.

"I was twelve. The roads were buried and the Thornwood stores ran out in a month. I ate bark, James. My sister ate bark."

"And Bella?"

"Matthew's clerks came with grain, and Bella came with soup. She held my hand while I cried." Felix smiled, tired. "She's warm, and she remembers everything you ever told her."

James's own memory had a different answer, from a folder of grain receipts he had never opened.

He did not say it yet.

"So you came over here to confess," he said.

"I came over to get warm. And to confess." Felix glanced at the stove. "Come on. Your hands are freezing."

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