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Chapter 27
Bree
Rafe’s wordsthrilled Bree all the way down to her toes. It had been one strange night, that much was for certain. She had started out as Lord Dagen’s “date” or whatever they liked to call it here. He’d brought her a gown and paraded her out in front of the rest of the Court. Prince Taveon had yelled at her, as always. And a random fae named Fillan had kissedher.
And now she was here withRafe.
She didn’t want this moment to end. As soon as this night was over, everything would go back to how it had alwaysbeen.
“So, where are we going next? There’s so much of the castle I haven’t seenyet.”
“We are not staying in the castle,” he said, his lips twisting into a wicked grin. “This is your chance to see our realm. I know you only experienced a small portion of it when Taveon brought youhere.”
Bree raised her eyebrows. “We’re...leaving the castle? But what will Taveonthink?”
“For once, I do not care what hethinks.”
A thrill went down Bree’s spine, heart trembling from both his words and the conviction in his eyes. Was he willing to risk his friend’s wrath, just to show Bree more of this realm? She wanted nothing more, but she couldn’t help the dread and hesitation that twisted in hergut.
“Rafe. I don’t want him to punish me again,” shewhispered.
And as much as she hated herself for it, a tear slid down hercheek.
Frowning, he reached up and brushed that tear aside, gazing into her eyes with a strange intensity. It was the kind of look that felt as though he saw far more than what was merely before him. He saw deeper than that. Further into hersoul.
“There is something you should know, but I fear it is not my place to tell you,” hemurmured.
“What is it?” sheasked.
“I truly do not know if I should tell you,Bree.”
“It’s a secret of the Prince, isn’t it?” Her heart began to race again, though this time, it was for a different reason. Was this the information that Dagen wanted? Did Rafe hold the knowledge that could get her set free? She hated the idea of betraying his trust. It was one thing to weasel things out of the Prince, and it was another thing entirely to do it toRafe.
“I would not call it a secret but more of a lie that he told only toyou.”
Bree frowned. “Another lie? I’m not surprised. He’s been feeding them to me since the moment wemet.”
“He did not order that arrow to be shot at you,” he said, suddenly and all in one breath. “That was not your punishment. Hell, he did not even want to punish you in the first place. Some of the Court think the arrow was meant for him while others are convinced it was intended for you. As the Prince’s champion, any opponents of his would want youdead.”
Bree blinked and stepped back, her mind tripping over Rafe’s words. “I don’t understand. He said he ordered a guard to shoot that arrow at me to make me suffer. To scare me into doing whatever hesaid.”
“He lied,” Rafe said. “He thought if he told you that then it would make you stay in line. He will not say as much, but I am convinced he is worried about your well-being. He is scared the attacker will try again if given thechance.”
“That’s why he was so angry I showed up tonight,” Bree murmured, almost toherself.
All of this was almost impossible to believe. Bree had formed such a clear picture of Prince Taveon in her head. A cruel monster, one who would do anything to make her suffer. One who didn’t care what happened to her. One who took joy in seeing the pain in her eyes. But all of that had been dependent on one thing and one thing only: his order to shoot thatarrow.
And it had been all alie.
“He should have told me the truth,” Bree said. “It would have made the last few days a hell of a lot more bearable. For me and forhim.”
“He is not interested in his life being bearable. He cares far more about keeping you safe than his owncomfort.”
“I’m sorry. I’m finding all of this very hard to believe.” In fact, Bree kind of wanted to sit down. “He’s been nothing but an asshole to me. He’s keeping me here as hisslave, for fuck’ssake.”
“I never said he was perfect,” Rafe said, running a hand down his face. “He should have told you the truth, and your involvement in the Battle for the Crown should be voluntary. But...he did not have you shot with the arrow. I just thought you shouldknow.”
Bree loosed a breath. “Well, I’m not going to just forgive him for everything else. One not-horrible thing doesn’t make him my best friend oranything.”
