~ ZARA ~
I hated that my instincts had been right. Hated that I knew exactly what we needed to do—because it meant putting up with more of this ridiculous Rite.
But when I looked at David and imagined all those people who could be trying to work against him… my stomach clenched.
"I need a chance to show them. Prove myself to them. We need them all on our side, David."
"I could give two shits what the nobles think—"
"You will when they're scheming against you because they think I'm a risk. Don't go to war with them for me, David. Help me. Help me learn what I need to learn. Show me what I need to know, or how to approach the evaluations, whatever it will take. But let me prove myself to them. If you have to protect me from people within your circle, and enemies outside it… we're splitting our allies into two different wars, and we're going to lose at some point. It's inevitable."
