Page 95 of Queen of War and Ruin

“You think this—” I wave my hand at Petrys, “—is necessary? You think I need a chaperone? A babysitter?”

Blayne clears his throat again. Maybe he thinks that makes him sound distinguished. Noble, even.

“Yes,” he replies. “That’s exactly what you need. Given your history.”

And suddenly, the rage on my face isn’t a show.

“My history?” I sputter. “You seduced me!”

Blayne’s calm composure finally cracks. For once, he looks surprised.

“You told me no one would care if the princess wasn’t a virgin,” I cry. “That was a lie, and I’m damn certain you knew it! You were hoping I’d be sent back, weren’t you? That the prince of Ethiria would reject me so you could offer to take me off my father’s hands and marry into the nobility? Gods, you must have been thrilled when I was sent to Vsenrog instead! Then you could beg your way into Vsenrog, not just weak little Marion.”

Blayne looks like I’ve just smacked him. His mouth falls open.

“You planned this all along, didn’t you?” I shout, realizing the truth as the words spill from my lips.

Blayne was working with Malrik, yes. But he was also working for himself.

“I was your ticket into the palace,” I yell. “You ruined my life to get your shot at nobility. You never gave a damn about me!”

I fall silent. The elegant sitting room rings with the echo of my words. Petrys stares at me. Blayne looks like he’s about to say something horrible. I do not want to give him the chance. I turn on my heel and stomp into the hallway.

“I’m terribly sorry,” Blayne stammers to Petrys as I disappear down the hall. “She’s quite unstable, as you can see.”

Petrys says something in response, but I’m too far away to make out his words. Doloros follows me as I stomp back up the stairs and into my little prison.

Before she pulls my door shut, Doloros smiles at me for the first time.

Chapter 49

Lilias

TO THE PALACE

Idon’t realize I’ve fallen asleep until Doloros opens the door and I blink at the sudden rush of sunlight spreading across the ceiling. Doloros says nothing, as always, but the breakfast she brings me is bigger than usual, and my empty stomach groans at the smell of bacon and biscuits. I eat while she arranges my hair into something complicated with lots of curls, then stand while she pulls an emerald dress over my head. It’s one of the nicest dresses in the massive wardrobe wedged awkwardly into the corner of my room.

We must be going to the palace today.

Doloros leads me downstairs and through the open doors. There’s a carriage waiting in the street. For a heartbeat, I freeze in the doorway.

It looks so much like the carriage that carried Anura and me away from my wedding. Gods, I think it is the exact same carriage.

Behind me, Blayne clears his throat. He sweeps past me, then steps into the carriage like he owns the damn thing. He leans out of the door and waves his hand.

“Bring her,” he says.

Doloros looks at me and raises an eyebrow like she’s asking me a question. I nod, then make my way down Blayne’s front steps, wondering if it was an accident that King Malrik sent this exact carriage to bring me to the palace. Maybe he doesn’t remember.

Or maybe he’s trying to be cruel.

I climb into the carriage and sit opposite Blayne. He’s staring through the window, the light of dawn washing over his thin lips and golden hair. I once thought he was handsome, this man who served as my tutor. But as I stare at him, another memory surfaces, of another man’s face in the light of dawn. Singing prayers.

The carriage door slams shut. A moment later, it lurches forward. The air in the carriage is thick and heavy, like there’s something coiled between Blayne and me waiting to strike. Finally, Blayne clears his throat and turns to me.

“There will be no more outbursts,” he declares.

I stare at him with my mouth closed.