Heena looked at them incredulously. "Why do you think I'm going to kill them? They're my 'husbands'."
Kieran's mother gave a self-deprecating smile and said, "Your Majesty, I am also from a royal family. I know that the death of consorts and children is not uncommon in palace politics. And now that you have a new favored consort—Larus—it would not be unusual if soon our sons were to 'accidentally' fall into treason and die."
She looked directly into Heena's eyes.
"We know how these things work."
Heena looked at them in genuine surprise. "And you're still willing to help me, knowing I might kill your sons?"
They paused, and tears gathered in their eyes as they spoke:
"If we don't help you, our sons will die anyway—one way or another. You'll find reasons. Create situations. They've made themselves your enemies."
