“I’ll go and order some tea for ye,” Amara murmured, sounding rather shaken.
Marissa just nodded, unable to look at anyone as the reality of everything that had just occurred crashed around her.
Someone—she wasn’t entirely sure who—placed their hand on her arm and tried to guide her further into the castle. But she shook her head.
Breaking out of their grasp with a quick shrug, she stalked toward the drawing room just off the entryway. It had large, open windows that overlooked the walkway to the castle.
Immediately, Marissa found her way to one of the stuffed chairs next to the window. The sound of multiple footsteps filled the room, letting her know that her family had followed after her.
“I’m nae goin’ anywhere,” she said to no one in particular. “I’m nae movin’ until Arthur is back in the castle.”
No one argued with her. Instead, a low murmuring filled the space as they spoke to one another in low enough voices that she would not overhear.
Marissa didn’t care. She kept her eyes fixed on the lawn outside.
Anythin’ could happen out there. Someone just tried to kill me. Mayhap they’ll try to kill him, too.
She tried to banish the thoughts, but they only echoed louder.
Slowly, the guests began to leave the castle grounds. She had no idea how long she sat there for. Long enough to watch as the last of the partygoers fled, along with the councilmen. Long enough that the torches that had been lit to mark the pathways toward the courtyard began to flicker and sputter as they died out.
Finally, just when Marissa had half convinced herself that it would be a good idea to race out into the night and find the assailant herself, she caught movement along the edges of her vision.
Pushing herself out of her seat, she rushed to press herself against the window.
Someone came to stand beside her, and a quick sideways glance revealed Abigail, looking out over the castle grounds with the same attentiveness.
Slowly, a group came into view. Marissa’s eyes searched them frantically, trying to find Arthur.
It didn’t take long, as he stood nearly half a head taller than any other man there. He was at the very rear of the group, his eyebrows knitted together in concern as they all purposefully strode toward the door.
In the center of the group stood a man, bound and shackled. A guard was on either side of him, their hands clamped firmly on his shoulders as they dragged him toward the castle.
Something about him niggled at Marissa, a familiarity that she couldn’t immediately place. As he drew closer, that familiarity grew.
The doors to the castle swung open, and all those who had been waiting with her rushed out of the drawing room and out into the entrance hall.
The guards poured through the door, roughly leading the man inside.
“Take him to the dungeons,” Arthur boomed the moment he crossed the threshold. “We shall interrogate him later.”
Joseph nodded before turning and barking orders to his men.
Marissa felt Arthur’s gaze on her, but she didn’t return it. Her eyes were fixed on the man they’d apprehended.
His blonde hair was a mess, and the side of his face was bloodied—no doubt from someone’s fist. A sense of dread was building within her, and a pressure for her to dig deep and realize how she knew the man standing before her.
“I’m surprised ye’re awake,” Arthur murmured, his voice sounding closer than it had just a moment ago.
“I wanted to wait for ye,” Marissa responded, still not taking her eyes off the man. “Is that him? The one who tried to kill me?”
“Aye. We still cannae figure out why he did it, though. He was murmurin’ somethin’ after Geralt pummeled him a little, about how ye werenae mine to marry. But we still cannae make sense of it or get anythin’ else out of him.”
I’m nae Arthur’s to marry?
A gasp flew from her lips as realization dawned on her. She had seen that man before, she was certain of it.
Hurriedly, she rushed out into the hallway, her footsteps echoing as she tried to follow after the guards. They were leading him away from her, but as they turned the corner, she caught another glimpse of his face.
