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Chapter 23
Vienne
Allera’s smile was overly bright and tense as she gazed up at the prince and batted her lashes. “Why, whatever do you mean, dear brother?”
“Don’t play ignorant with me. She’s distressed,” he bit out. I knew he was talking about me, even though he didn’t even glance my way. “I felt it all the way across the fucking castle and outside. What did you do to her?” Accusation gleamed in his eyes as he marched close, glaring at his sister.
“Well.” Allera tapped her chin thoughtfully, before answering, “I told her about the dream-sharing thing. So she knows about that now.”
His gaze swung to me, his chest still heaving since he was out of breath from the sprint he must’ve run to get here.
My eyes went wide. Oh God. I wanted to sink through the floor and die. He knew I’d wanted him to do dirty delicious things to me. Against a wall.
His gaze glittered with the knowledge of it, too.
This was so humiliating.
“And then she told me about the dream you keep having about Jazon,” his sister went on.
His attention zipped back to her, where guilt and pain ravaged his features. “Allera…” he started.
But she held up a hand and shook her head. “Just tell me if it’s true. Is that really how he died? You were supposed to go on a scouting mission but he stole your place and went for you?”
Urban hung his head before he mumbled the admission. “Yes. That’s how he died.”
Tears tracked down Allera’s cheeks. “Why didn’t you just tell me? All this time, I thought he died alone, among enemies. I would’ve felt so much better if I’d known you, his best friend, had been there with him, holding his hand as he started his journey to the other side.”
Urban looked up, his eyes wide with shock and pain. “You’re not mad?”
“Mad?” she sneered. “Hell, yes, I’m mad. You could’ve alleviated my worries all these months if you’d simply told me the truth from the beginning.”
“But it was my fault he—”
“Did you stab him in the heart?” Allera demanded.
“Of course not, but—”
“Then it’s not your fault those wicked Lowden bastards killed him, you idiot. Stop carrying around such a stupid pile of guilt. You have enough weighing you down as it is.”
Urban glanced away as if he wasn’t sure what to do with his sister’s forgiveness. I could tell he didn’t want to accept it while in the same breath, hearing it relieved him immensely. But in turning away from her, his gaze caught on me, and he crinkled his brow before spinning back to Allera.
“And how did any of this distress her?”
Allera paused with her mouth half open, guilt written all over her features. Urban instantly frowned. “Sister,” he growled. “What have you done?”
I sat forward to defend my friend, but his voice had caused Anniston to jump in Allera’s arms and let out a squeak of protest.
Urban jerked a step back, reaching for his sword before he halted suddenly, his eyes going wide.
“Is that the baby? Her baby?”
“Well, it’s certainly not mine. I’ve only been married a couple hours. And though I did indeed enjoy my honeymoon night, I believe it takes a bit more time than that to conceive and bear a child.”
“Allera! Really? Must you tell me anything about your honeymoon night?”
I muffled my laugh by covering my mouth with both hands.
“Well, who else can I tell? You and Vienne are the only close, confidential friends I have in Donnelly, and you’re both present, so I see no reason to watch what I say. And seriously, Urban, stop staring at me as if you think I’m going to drop her. I never dropped any of Erick’s children, now did I?”
