Hearing those names, I stopped.
"They have found a worthy successor to our late Emperor—a man for the queen to marry." He paused. "You."
"What?" Raild snapped.
Staggering back, I searched his face, hoping he was joking.
Why in Solathair's name would they choose me?
"Hear me, Reese," Lord Tiernan said in a low tone. "Don't you dare go after that girl. I will not let you tarnish our family name when the seat of the Emperor awaits."
"I don't give a damn about your family name."
"But you care about her, don't you?" He took a step closer. "Stay here—stay away from her. In return, I promise to support you. She'll be crowned Paragon, and I will forbid any from harming or disparaging her."
His offer would protect Mare—but could he be trusted?
"Chase after her," Lord Tiernan said. "And I can't promise she'll leave this fort alive."
"Are you threatening her?" I asked, hand flying to my blade.
"No. I hear what my fellow Lecovair say. And they are not happy about two women usurping their roles. They intend to remind them of their place."
Rape, murder, dragging them naked through the streets . . . I could think of a thousand ways the lords could tear them apart.
They'd do something that would send a message. Something that, even if Mare survived, would leave her with far too many scars.
"And I can trust you?" I asked, teeth grinding together.
"Yes. It behooves us both."
My jaw tightened until it ached. I clenched my fingers around my sword hilt until I could no longer feel my hand.
"Fine," I breathed. "But you best keep your word."
"Then let us return," Lord Tiernan said. "Your fiancée will be eager to see you." He flicked his hand, motioning for Raild to follow him.
My brother shot me one last sour glare before turning his back.
I hesitated, staring through the trees, though Mare was long gone. What would she think when I did not go after her? I couldn't bear the thought of her alone, terrified, thinking I didn't care.
When Ailithir had asked me to protect his new Paragon, I had agreed without question. The thought of falling in love with her had never crossed my mind.
At first, everything had been as it should: I treated her as I would any squire, a weapon to sharpen, to mold. Somewhere along the way, I'd glimpsed the sun in her smile and seen it over and over in my dreams.
Every day, I had listened to her bicker with her brother, watched her mouth scrunch slightly as she thought of a witty jab. I'd seen the fear in her eyes each time we faced danger, fear that she hid behind a brave face.
No other woman had so effortlessly enraptured me. And I knew myself well enough to understand that trying to rid myself of these feelings was hopeless.
I wanted to run after her, pull her into my arms, and beg her forgiveness for putting her in such danger.
But protecting her was what mattered. I should never have kissed her.
I was a reckless idiot. No punishment would come my way for such an affair.
The Aenir nobles, the Solhearts . . . they would destroy Mare if they learned.
Father would use the opportunity to teach me a lesson, to keep me in line. I could imagine the horror he would inflict upon Mare, just to spite me.
