The prince's eyes flutter open, blinking rapidly as he adjusts to the sunlight streaming in from the windows. I pulled the curtains back when the sun began to rise; I've never seen a more beautiful sight than the sun drifting higher and higher with every minute passed.

Renit's chambers have the best view. Now I sit on his windowsill, waiting for him to realize I'm there, watching his every move. This next step is going to be the hardest as the king has already left and I have no choice but to tell Renit the truth. I didn't want to but the thought ate at me all night, the possibility that he would hate me if I didn't say anything.

Everyone is aware the king is on his way to the flower meadows. He left with a group of guards, including Binx, and they won't be back until the threat is removed and the rebellion is completely shut down. That could take a day. Or more. And I can't have Renit believing something else is going on. It's best to hear the truth from my lips, rather someone he doesn't trust or know.

Renit rubs at his eyes and slowly looks around, taking in everything his chambers have to offer. Like my own, his were cleaned and everything on his desk was straightened to look like he hadn't been here in months. The only mess in his room is the ruffled duvet on his bed from the healers tossing him underneath the covers and leaving me to take care of the rest.

He was completely unconscious, Dalis managed to pull off what I asked of her. And as the sun rises, I do as well, standing to show him I'm there. Renit's stare snaps over to me and he pauses, brows furrowing as he tries to recall what happened last night. After he was taken to be examined, we didn't see each other again and he's trying to place what exactly took place to get him here.

If it wasn't for me, he would be aware. I'm the reason he's confused, I was the one that went behind his back and devised a plan to harm the entire kingdom. All before I could figure out the extent of Silas's injuries. The truth has remained hushed throughout the night, Dalis didn't say anything and I wasn't about to venture into the halls to find that information.

The only venturing I did was to order the guards away from the bottom of the tower. I made them believe Renit and I would be doing something else other than speaking—if the guards hear the possible argument we'll have, I'll end up in the dungeons.

"What...what happened?" Renit asks. He sits up, resting his back against the bedframe. The healers had removed his shirt to examine what was left of his wound, revealing the missing bit of ink on his chest.

Although his question is simple, I can't seem to find the right answer for it. There are so many things I could tell him, the plan I made with the rebels, the betrayal, or the apology I need to share. I wish there was a correct answer as to what I should start with.

Easing myself into it, I sit down on the edge of his bed and rest my elbows on my knees. Immediately, he knows something is wrong as his voice demands to know the unsettling truth. "Roux, what did you do?" Every word is harsh. "Why was I asleep? I didn't need a sedative to be healed last night."

He throws the covers back and I hold up a hand to stop him from storming out of this tower to find the answers. This is what I didn't want, the healers shouldn't be in the middle of this and neither should Dalis.

"Let me explain," I urge. "I'll tell you everything."

His nostrils flare with annoyance. "Start talking."

To distance myself from him and the truth, I stand from his bed and walk towards the middle of the room. "Your father is on his way to the flower meadows. He left this morning."

Renit blinks. His next threat is tied around his tongue. "There is nothing in the flower meadows, we were taken to Fosux." He grips onto the edge of his bed and hoists himself to a standing position. The sedation, lingering, sends him toppling to the side but he grapples for the wall before I can help him.

The bedside table rocks and the wax candle spills onto the wooden surface but Renit is too distracted to care. Death is in those silver eyes and I can make this worse by talking. But if I don't say another word, the prince will find those answers elsewhere. I need to be strong.

"The rebels are waiting there for him on an abandoned farm," I say carefully. Renit's eyes widen. "They are going to attack—the rebels want Silas on the throne. Not your father."

I swallow down every bit of my nerves as silence stretches from one end of the room to the other. I can't back out now, I might as well tell him every little truth. The lies I told him...he trusted me. Renit trusted me to tell the truth.

"I made a plan with the rebels and gave you another. I convinced them to let you and Silas live, if it meant your father would not rule. That was the plan."

Renit's hand slowly drifts from the wall and clenches at his side. He looks to anything, the ceiling, the floor, the windows, but the truth has been laid out before him. "How could you do this?" He whispers.

"I had to, I had to do this for—"

"That is my father!" Renit screams. I jump, my blood running cold. Already, I'm reminded of all those times he screamed at me for other reasons—when I failed at training, when I left with Silas to find Celestine a birthday present. All of that is coming back to me and my wrists begin to burn with the reminder of those scars, now healed.

I clamp my hands together in front of me. Renit begins to pace. "You said yourself that you don't love your father. I am doing this for the people and for you! If your father does not come back, you won't have to deal with him anymore."

Renit steps towards me and I don't back down like all the times I've done before. He places two strong hands on my shoulders and grips tight. "Roux, he is the king. You involved yourself with the rebels, you devised a plan to kill him. If you're found out—"

"That's why you can't tell anyone." I take his hands from my shoulders and grip them tight. His palms are clammy with anxiety, at the realization of what I've done. "I told you because I didn't want you to find out from anyone else but if you care about me at all, you won't say a word."

He tears his hands away from mine and tries to find something to do. Placing his palms on the desk, he pushes himself back and turns to me. "I can get him back. I can say the information he received was false because the rebels lied. I can do something to fix this," he says.

I shake my head. "He's already gone, he left hours ago and they weren't planning on wasting time. This will be finished and you won't have to fear him anymore."

I try to close the distance between us but with each step I advance, he takes another back. The prince is lost inside his own chambers. Through his eyes, I can see his mind searching for answers about what he should do, what he can do, and what can't be fixed. I want this to be over, I never should have involved myself in the first place. But the kingdom will be better for it.

"You did this," he hisses. "If he dies, the blood is on your hands." Renit points a strong finger at me. With the sunlight streaming across his cheek, I can't tell if the sparkle in his eyes are tears or the bright warmth blessing his features.

I straighten my spine for the words I planned on saying all along. "That's something I've already come to terms with. Better on my hands than him spilling more from innocent witches."

Again, his nostrils flare as he looks me up and down. Like he's seeing a different version of me with the sunlight basking off my skin. He doesn't agree with what I've become. If the downfall of the king comes to truth, I will be the one to blame and the prince will know exactly who started all this. The rebels...and Roux Aimrey. Myself.

A small part of me hopes he won't share that information with anyone but I know Renit's duty is to the king. "Get out," he growls.

"Renit, please. I did this to help you."

"No!" He throws an arm wide, as if slapping my apologies away. "You did this for yourself. And if you are discovered, I will do nothing as you are dragged away and sent to death. Now get out before I take you to the dungeons myself."

I stare at him, waiting for him to take that back. But he doesn't. So I turn away from the prince, forcing myself towards the door when what I really want to do is rush towards him and get on my knees to beg for his forgiveness.

With the door open in front of me, granting me an exit, I turn back towards Renit. "I'm sorry," I offer one last time.

He turns away from me, hands on his hips, and I take that as me cue to leave.