“Who is he to you?” I ask, wondering if she’ll answer any of my questions or just deflect the way my father did.
Stepmother raises a delicate brow as she pats at her immaculately coiffed hair. “Truly none of your concern, dear.”
I blow out a breath and glare at her. She’s in my home, and I’m no longer beholden to her.
As if reading my thoughts, her smile turns wicked. “You’ve made quite the mess of things, Raelyn. You really ought to have done what you were told from the start.”
“You’ll have to be clearer. I’ve done quite a few things recently.”
She purses her lips before saying, “I’m trying to figure out what to do with you. You were never supposed to find out.”
I tilt my head. “Find out what?”
“Oh, don’t play coy with me, Raelyn. You know exactly what I’m talking about. I know all about your godly heritage. Once Idiscovered your father’s secret, it was easy enough to draw the rest out of him. His shame makes him oh-so-easy to control.”
I try not to wince. My father’s love had never been a question until I discovered all the lies . . . and still, it hurts to think it was all an act to protect his reputation.
Rolling my shoulders back, I feign confidence. “Why do you care? I’m no longer your concern. You have no control over me anymore.”
I spot the subtle flinch before she smoothes her features. “You see, if I were to tell the king about your—let’s call it breeding—he very well could take it one of two ways.”
“Yes, I’m fully aware of that.” I sigh.
“My bet is he will make sure you produce a godly heir before disposing of you.” Stepmother sneers.
I shudder. “Kian would never allow that.”
“Wouldn’t he?” she says, her voice sickly-sweet again. “We both know your marriage is nothing more than a farce. There is no love between you.”
While I know she’s telling the truth, it doesn’t stop the hurt from aching in my chest.
“What do you want, Stepmother?” I spit out, my loathing for her growing with every moment that passes.
“What any stepmother wants.” She smiles sinisterly. “A place at court near my darling stepdaughter.”
“Never going to happen,” I bite back.
“Well, the choice is yours, dear. You either make a place for us, or I inform the king of who you really are.”
“And if I accept that risk?”
She leans forward in her seat, her eyes boring into mine. “You’ll find, Raelyn, I get what I want without fail. If you refuse me, there are always other ways.”
My brows furrow. What could she possibly be up to?
“Dylan!” she calls out, and he appears in the doorway. “My darling stepdaughter needs a little more incentive.”
A pit of dread forms in my stomach, and a wave of weakness rushes through me. What is happening to me? My limbs are heavy, and my eyelids start to droop.
I shoot an accusatory glare at Dylan. “What did you give me?”
He throws me an almost apologetic look before he picks me up off the settee, cradling me in his arms. It feels wrong, repulsive, but I can barely lift my head.
Stepmother struts over, pulling at my hair and clothes.
“Please, stop,” I manage to get out.
She looks up at Dylan. “Make it look good and do what you will with her. I’ll make sure someone sees to back up my story.”
