I trusted him. I imagined a future with him. My heart shreds in my chest, tears well in my eyes, and I fight with every ounce of my being to hold it together in front of all these warriors.
This is Idirhalla. And I am the future queen. All respect for my title would be lost if I were to crumble like a small child in front of them now. Several warriors begin eyeing me, my step back a sign of weakness.
Odessa analyzes me as well, a slight glimmer of something in her eyes. Lachlan grinds his teeth together, the movement the only flicker of emotion he’s shown this entire time.
I dip my chin. “Nice to meet you, Captain. I’m sorry for that display. I mistakenly thought you were a friend of mine.”
The words come out cool, but the fire in my eyes cannot be mistaken. His eyes meet mine, widening a fraction. I nod to my aunt and the warriors before squaring my shoulders and walking away as steadily as I can back to my room.
The door clicks shut, and with it safely between me and the outside world, my breath saws out of my chest as my heart shatters. I collapse to the floor, sobs wracking my entire body.
Tears fall in a race down my cheeks and splatter onto my lap. The evidence of my heartbreak and embarrassment pours out of me. He tricked me into coming here. My entire life, everything I knew, was a lie. And he was a part of it. He was my first friend, my only friend, and it was only a facade.
He knew who I was.
For several long moments, I allow the flood of emotions to rise to the surface, a dam breaking.
16
FEELINGS
This cannot be happening.
As if I haven’t already suffered enough. He did not just spend our entire lives lying to me.
My despair begins to dim as rage burns through my veins. Brick by brick, I build the dam back, pulling myself together until I’m slowly standing and walking to the bathroom to splash water on my face.
My eyes are swollen and bloodshot. I glance at the necklace that shimmers in my reflection. The necklace he gifted me. He orchestrated this whole thing. Wait, he knew this whole time? My breath comes out in hiccups. I want to scream, but with the open windows, I know someone will hear and come running.
I take deep, slow breaths, hoping to dissolve some of the fury building inside of me. But I need answers, and I want them right now.
I sling my door open, and it crashes loudly against the adjacent wall. Spiderwebs stretch across the cracked marble. I hadn’t realized I was that strong, but I don’t even pause to consider the damage as I storm down the hall. He’s not in the council room, dining hall, or any of the other meeting rooms.
My fury grows with each empty room.
The sound of metal on metal reverberates all the way up to the terrace, and I turn my rage to the training ground.
The breeze whips the loose strands of my hair around my face, and dirt kicks up around each of my thundering steps. Crossing under the archway, I see Lachlan sparring with Tane while Mathilda sips water by the refreshment table.
“Back so soon, Lena?” she calls.
Her smile is bright as she waves excitedly in my direction. Lachlan freezes at her voice, causing Tane to stumble to keep from slicing him in half with his sword.
“Hey, what’s the—” Tane cuts off as I round on them, fury radiating off me in waves.
“Oh shit,” Mathilda mutters, and she lurches off the table, heading in our direction.
“You fucking lied to me?” I scream at him, shoving past Tane. I stand toe-to-toe with Lachlan. He drops his weapons to raise both hands in surrender.
“Lena, I am so sorry. I dinna ha’ a choice.”
The misery reflected in his eyes is almost enough to make me pause, his accent becoming thicker than it usually is. At least now he is finally showing some emotion, but it’s too late. My rage has burnt all other emotions away.
“You didn’t have a choice? Where was my choice?!”
How many people were implicated in this scheme? And why didn’t anyone ever tell me?
But it’s hard to focus on the intricacies. All I see is red.
