“It’s my fault.” Her voice fractured the air between us.
The confession did nothing to dull my fury. It fed it. Her shame rang clear, brittle.
“I asked to see the city,” she said.
The words struck like a hammer against my chest.
She did not trust me—didn’t wait for me. She defied my order,knowingthe risk. Foolhardy. Rash. The same wildfire that once drew me to her now threatened to consume her.
A battlefield did not bend to passion. It demanded structure. Procedure. Discipline carved by loss.
Frivolous desire had no place here.
I wanted to order Ronan to drag her back to the estate at once. Yet doubt gnawed. Would he heed me? Would she defy me again, drawn toward danger by her immature curiosity?
Fatigue pressed in. My bones throbbed. I needed rest. Just a few hours.
“This is his home?” I released Ronan.
Nienna met my gaze. Tears clung to her lashes. Her teeth sank into her lower lip as she steadied herself. “Yes.”
“Then we rest here.” The word was foreign. “Greaves, call for a runner and–”
“His family is still here.”
My command died.
Greaves’ attention locked with mine. He understood what she was saying. Those brown eyes held steady, unfaltering, grounding me when I felt like falling apart.
“His family,” I repeated.
“His wife. Two children.” Her voice trembled. “And their goat.”
The image pierced deeper than any blade. It struck right into my soul. He survived Tallon’s overthrow. Endured siege and hunger, certain he would return home and watch his family thrive.
Then a queen crossed his threshold.
A symbol of hope stepped through his door.
And killed him.
Her request ended his life. Her command made a wife a widow and stole a father from his children.
That guilt settled across her shoulders. A burden I knew too well.
“Where are they?” Pain laced my demand. I would bear this—for her sake. She was too pure, too shattered already, knowing what she’d done.
“In the bedchambers. I’ll show you.” She wiped at her cheeks and pushed upright.
“No.” My hand caught Ronan’s, tugging him forward. “Take her to the main streets. Andwaitfor me.”
“Kallias, this is my fault.” Her chin lifted in defiance. Her jaw was set, but terror rimmed her eyes. She was petrified.
“Go.” Agreement burned at the back of my tongue, yet I swallowed it. I couldn’t soothe her fears, nor lie and tell her the blame wasn’t her own. But what would further condemnation do other than scar her deeper? She already knew.
I could only hope this death on her hands would be enough for her to learn from.
“Kallias, I–”
