Seduce Me in Flames by Jacquelyn Frank Page A

poisoned,” the Tarian female said in her blunt way, clearly not considering that this was Ambrea’s blood they were talking about. “But your uncle had him decimated. To hide the evidence no doubt. Nothing left to test after a decimation ceremony.”
    “My uncle has no claim to the throne as long as I—”
    “Be assured, you were next on his list,” Ender informed her dryly. “Lucky for you, the IM was already involved in Allayan affairs, investigating accusations made by some of the nobles that the succession had been made illegally. The fact is, your father’s laws disinheriting you were unjust and illegal under the tenets of the monarchy laid down centuries ago. We had already come up with the plan to liberate you from the catacombs and see the matter fairly arbitrated in an IM court. Once we heard your brother was taken ill, we had to step up the plan. Your uncle is no doubt very hot to announce his ascendancy. The only thing he needed to do was tie up a loose end,” Ender told her. “If you werestill in that prison come dusk, I assure you he was going to cut your pretty head off and mount it on the palace gates so everyone would know there was no hope of the long lost princess ever coming to claim her rightful spot as empress.”
    “Even my uncle could not be so stupid. Such an act would provoke the IM into declaring martial law over Allay and trying him as a criminal against the rightful ascension.”
    “Only there is no one else in line for your throne, Blue Eyes.” Ender gave her a grim smile. “Your father saw to that during his own reign so there wouldn’t be any uprisings against him or his son. To be honest, I have no idea how you stayed alive this long. He was a paranoid son of a bitch.”
    “I am well aware of what my father was,” she said sharply to him. “I am also aware that the IM took their bloody time about doing anything to put a stop to him.”
    “Your father always skirted IM involvement,” Commander Chapel said. “He knew just how far he could push the envelope of the law. Infanticide would have been crossing the line. Your own tenets say that a ruler can do whatever is necessary to secure the safety of his monarchy, except the murder of direct blood. Meaning his or her own children, siblings, and parents.”
    “I didn’t know that,” Ambrea said softly. “All these years, I didn’t know that.” So, it had not been any lingering affection for her or sense of decency that had held Emperor Benit’s hand against his firstborn child. It had been the law and his fear of the ramifications of breaking it. “Still, he could have seen me murdered in a hundred ways that could not be tracked back to him.”
    “There’s always a link. Always proof. The IM is exceptionally good at finding proof like that.”
    “Are we going to sit here talking about this or are we going to get some distance between us and Balkin’sguards?” Ender asked brusquely. “If we get caught, IM or no IM, it’ll all be over before it begins. Right now it’s all about your life, Blue Eyes. Your life is the only thing standing between your uncle and his direct ascendancy to the throne.”
    “What does it matter to the IM which of us ends up on that throne?” Ambrea asked quietly. “For all you know, I’m a monster just like my father.”
    “That doesn’t matter,” Ender said. “We’re here to ensure that the rightful heir is safely put in her place.” He gave her a soft sideways look. “But I’m going to take a wild stab and say you are nothing like your father. And Allay could use a bit of that.”
    “You have that right,” Suna piped up. “My great lady is a kind and generous person. She would bring fairness and a gentle touch to a nation sorely in need of it.”
    “But like Ender said,” Commander Chapel spoke up, “this is all going to be a moot point if Balkin’s guards find her. Let’s get going.”
    Ender and Justice hauled a huge fallen tree over the hole, making it invisible.