Ruling Sikthand (Clecanian, #7)

by Victoria Aveline

“Based on evidence found in her home, the belief is she was killed some time ago…before your arrival in our city.”

“A rider gains nothing by taunting their mount.” What the hell did that

“They are elected. Each guildmember is the head of the sacred six: the people, the law, money, defense, trade, and the mines. Speaker Besith is the head of the people. He sees to their needs and to Vrulan infrastructure.”

Alno scanned the space around him, checking they were alone. “Under any other circumstance I would agree that he’s paranoid, but…” He stared down at her, lips tensed, brows creased, holding back whatever it was he wanted to say. Then, expelling a deep breath, he swooped forward and began whispering furiously. “His mother was assassinated. Ten years later, his father met the same fate. He had a brother he never got the chance to meet. Why? He, too, was murdered.” At Sophia’s horrified expression, he nodded smugly. “And those are just his direct relations. The further back you go, the bloodier it gets. They’re cursed. My father used to say the royal line must have picheti on their breath.” Sophia shook

She’d either forgotten or deliberately omitted Japeshi’s name. Sikthand’s muscles went rigid, his fingers twitching in agitation. What did the omission mean?

“One, you will let Heleax go. There’s no reason he needs to be kept locked up here.” She spoke over the murmuring guildmembers. “Two, I will be allowed to go wherever I want, whenever I want, and speak to whomever I want, without an attendant. I’ll get a communication code so I can receive private messages from outside the city. In short, I am not a prisoner here anymore. I am a future queen, and I expect to be treated as such.” Sikthand sat back on his throne, looking down his nose at Sophia. “And three…” She licked her lips again, knowing this demand might be the one that broke the camel’s back. “Our city votes for the planetary representative of my choice.”

She pulled away from the shelves and peered inside. “Do you follow me around in those tunnels, Sikthand?” Sophia whispered the words, but she kept squinting into the cracks of the wall. They appeared solid from this direction.

Sophia watches you as if her heart will stop if you don’t gaze back.”