Page 83 of Blood Curse

“Then don’t.”

Lenora left with the dagger and left the door open behind her.

Bryony shifted closer on the bed. She offered no excuses for the words the Crown had stolen or the fear the weapon had left in us both.

She kept hold of my hand.

I remained beside her.

15

BRYONY

Stellan stayed beside me after Lenora left.

The open door let in a strip of corridor light. Someone took position outside, out of sight but within earshot.

I still held Stellan’s hand.

“Are you afraid of me?” I asked.

His pale eyes met mine. “No.”

“You were afraid when you came back with the dagger.”

“I was afraid of what the Crown could make us do. I wasn’t afraid of you.”

“That feels like a narrow difference.”

“It isn’t.”

The answer came without hesitation. I believed him.

My thumb moved over his knuckles. “I’m not going to apologise for giving an order I didn’t choose.”

“Good.”

“I hate that it used my voice.”

“So do I.”

“And I hate that you had to wonder whether you’d tell me everything.”

His fingers tightened around mine. “That part belongs to me.”

“You told me.”

“Because Lenora saw it.”

“You still said the words.”

He looked towards the open door. “I don’t want fear turning me careful with the truth.”

“Then don’t make it pretty. Tell me when it’s ugly.”

“I can do that.”

“Even if you think I’ll hate it.”