Page 52 of Facade

“Are you planning on staying at Marigolds? As I said, there aren’t many travelers through here this time of year. No one wants to risk getting snowed in on this side of the cliffs. She should have a couple of rooms. It’s a small inn, but her food is the best in this town.”

“Thank you, friend,” Aiden responded warmly. Asshole. “We’ll go and see Miss Marigold now.”

My fingers dug into my arms hard enough to bruise as the cold cut through me without Aiden there to shield me from the wind at my back.

“Evanee, a moment.” Aiden scratched the back of his neck as he nodded his head toward a stone bench by the river.

I ground my teeth, forcing my feet to move. He sat, patting the spot next to him. Every muscle stiffened as I obliged and lowered myself onto the farthest edge, leaning opposite him, to the point I almost fell.

He sighed. “I’m sorry. For tying you up.”

“You think that’s what I’m mad about?” I bristled. His brown furrowed, mouth hard. “You killed those men.” My voice shook as my jaw tightened, eyes burning.

“We didn’t kill the men at the camp.”

“And the riders?” I bit out, looking at him from the corner of my eye. “They were only trying to help me.” His jaw ticked—expression hardening.

“They were part of the rebel group that’s been killing innocents on the road.”

“And that makes what you did okay?”

A cross between a growl and a snarl reverberated deep in his chest.

“I have orders to follow. I don’t expect you to understand,” he said in a low, dangerous voice.

Only the trickle of water filled the silence between us. I chewed on my lip a moment before angling my head toward him.

“Do you feel any remorse?”

“Not when it comes to you.”

I blinked several times. “You don’t even know me.”

“Maybe I see more of you than you think.” He looked up at me through lowered lashes. “Your fierceness, goodness, empathy. Maybe I wish I had your qualities and morals.”

My world narrowed to the depths of his eyes. It was the first time I felt like I really saw a piece of him. The part of him buried beneath the facade of the hardened knight. Maybe he really did battle with the atrocities around him. Disagreed with them—forced to follow and obey.

Just like me.

“You can always make the choice to change,” I breathed.

“What if it’s too late?” His knuckles turned white as he gripped the edge of the bench.

I placed my hand on his—the warmth of his skin seeping into mine.

“It’s not.” I offered him a smile. Anger and hurt still burned within me, but understanding edged beneath it.

“I didn’t realize we’d have to keep pretending we’re a couple,” I whispered as we observed Malachai and Dimitri from across the small room.

The place was quaint; a fire blazed in the far corner, where several patrons huddled with steaming mugs. Murals covered the wall—a mix of multi-colored flowers and trees, with vines intertwining to connect them all. A contrast to the cold, dreary region around them.

A few tables were scattered about, and there was a small bar with a kitchen off to the left. Dimitri and Malachai stood at the bar speaking to a beautiful, tall Fae female with golden ringlets flowing down her back. She was radiant—naturally rosy cheeks and lively hazel eyes. She smiled broadly at Dimitri, her hooded gaze unabashedly roaming over his body with a few nervous flicks toward Malachai, who stiffly stood to the side with his arms folded.

“Easier that way.” Aiden adjusted the bag over his shoulder, his eyes cutting toward me. “We’ll get you a new coat while we’re here.”

“What’s wrong with this?”

His eyes grazed over the coat Thaddeus had gifted me. “Nothing. It’s just not meant for the weather we’re heading into. If you wore the gowns, they’d add warmth with all of the skirts. But if you insist on wearing that, you’ll need heavier layers.”