“I don’t have the energy for this, Callan.”
“What’s going on between you isn’t good.”
“We’ve barely talked in years; what makes you think you know what’s good for my life?”
“I’ve always considered you a friend andnonoble is good for us.”
“You’re wrong about that.”
“He won’t give up his money and wealth for you.”
“I don’t expect him to, but he would choose me if it came between me and all that money. I have no doubt about that.”
It had only been hours since we established our relationship, but I knew that was true. He would choosemeevery time, and I would do the same for him.
“Ellery—”
“I love him, and he loves me. That’s all I need to know.” Done with this conversation, I changed the topic. “After the sun rises, I’ll return to the earl’s to claim my mother’s remains, and thenwe’ll find Luna. I don’t have any clothes for you, but there’s food, and you can shower.”
Callan still looked troubled, but he responded, “Thank you.”
“I have to shower and change. I can’t stand wearing this anymore.”
I pushed myself away from the door, and he stepped out of the way as I trudged toward him. I felt like the weight of the world rested on my shoulders as I walked.
When I reached the doorway, he gently clasped my arm to stop me from passing him. “I’m sorry about your mother. She was one of the best women I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. This realm isfarworse without her.”
I blinked away the tears filling my eyes. I feared that only a wail would come out if I opened my mouth to talk.
He squeezed my arm before letting go. “I’ll keep an eye out to make sure no one comes while you’re in the shower, then I’ll take one after you.”
I nodded before brushing past him and into the hall. In the hallway, I gathered the tattered remains of my skirt before climbing the stairs.
Once in my room, I removed the remnants of my clothing and shoved them into my trash can. I turned toward my bathroom but only made it three feet before I sank to the floor, lowered my head into my hands, and wept.
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
Ryker
The earl’scastle was a mess when I returned to it. They didn’t restrain the carnage to the ballroom, as bodies littered the dining area, entrance hall, and bailey. I already knew more bodies were in the gardens, and I was sure the battle and bodies had spread to other parts of the castle.
No one came out to greet me as I strode through the main hall, sidestepping corpses and puddles of blood. I’d survived the Ghoul War, Doomed Valley, and the ophidians, but something about this scene disturbed me.
This wasn’t a battlefield, and it wasn’t a cloying, oppressive jungle full of monsters who thrived on flesh. This was the heart of my homeland, and many of the dead were unsuspecting men and women.
Yes, many of them were also assholes, but some were like Ellery and forced to attend to kiss the asses of their tormenters. None of them had asked for this.
I understood why the earl’s servants banded against him and wanted to take down the king, but they’d also unleashed their wrath on the innocent.
When I arrived at the ballroom, I hesitated on the threshold. Corpses were scattered everywhere, but my eyes immediately found Ellery’s mother. She remained where I’d last seen her, propped on the spear with her heart at the end of it.
I almost strode across the room to pull her off the spear but restrained myself. I wasn’t alone in this room and would only draw unwanted curiosity if I did so.
I shifted my attention from the woman who deserved much better than this to the men and women gathered on the dais. A contingent of guards surrounded them.
Ivan and my father stood in the center of the dais. Bria stood at my father’s side, but while her violent introduction to Tempest should have rattled her, she remained composed as she surveyed the destruction with no indication it disturbed her.
Blood coated almost every inch of the floor and splattered the walls. The floors were coated in cloying, drying blood and puddles from the rain. Nothing remained on the walls.
