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Chapter 42
Bree
Bree paced back and forth,her mind whirling, her stomach clenched tight. It had been several hours since the funeral, and Taveon and Rafe had not shown up, even though they said they would take her to training later in the day. Her conversation with Lord Dagen had put her on edge, and her mind kept conjuring up memories of the moment when Rafe had been shot again and again by arrows. Arrows meant forBree.
What if the assassin was here? What if he tried to go after Rafe again? The Prince could withstand any attack that came at him, but Rafecouldn’t.
Another hour passed, and there was a light knock on herdoor.
“Ethne,” Bree said when she opened the door, disappointment flooding through her tired body. She’d really hoped Rafe had come back, or evenTaveon.
“Prince Taveon asked me to pass this note to you,” she said with a curious tone to her voice. “Destroy it after you readit.”
Bree ushered Ethne inside, closed the door, and tore open the note. The words that met her eyes made her entire body sag inrelief.
Rafe and I got caught up at a council meeting. Training postponed until tomorrow. -T
Bree stared down at the note and started laughing, the delirium finally taking over. This realm was driving her mad. The slightest thing happened, and she thought people were getting killed. Now that she knew everyone was safe, all of her adrenaline whooshed out of her like water over a dam. She stumbled back and plopped down on the bed, still laughing. Prince Taveon had signed his note asT. It was one of the most ridiculous things she’d ever seen, and she didn’t even know why. The whole thing just felt so surreal coming from him. The big, bad Prince Taveon in his stuffy tunics and constant scowls.T.
Ethne was looking at her strangely, and Bree realized just how delusional she probably came across in that moment, laughing hysterically at a one-linenote.
“Sorry.” Bree crumpled up the paper and tossed it into the fire. “It’s been a long day. Hell, it’s been a long past fewweeks.”
“Perhaps a walk would do you good. Some fresh air and a chance to clear yourhead?”
“I’m not supposed to go wandering around by myself,” Bree said with a scowl. “Not without all those guards who are standing outside that door. It kind of makes the walk thing not aspleasant.”
“They will not follow us if you are with me,” she said with a shrug. “I would not mind a walkmyself.”
Bree stared at the fae, hesitating. As much as shedidwant to move around right now, she had felt a bit wary about Ethne ever since the night of the attack at the feast. Lord Dagen had assured her that Ethne had nothing to do with it, but Bree wasn’t totally convinced. Bree had given her the perfect alibi. No one would ever suspect her of being the mastermind behind it all because she’d been sitting right there beside Prince Taveon when it had happened. And she’d almost gotten shotherself.
Ethne cocked her head. “I know what is going through that human mind of yours. You believe I had something to do with the attack that night. So, you think it is a bad idea to come with menow.”
“You can see how I might be suspicious,right?”
She gave a low nod. “I can see. However, I had nothing to do with it. This Court is my home. Prince Taveon is an old friend. I would never harm anyone in thiscastle.”
“So, then what was all of that about?” Bree asked. “Where were you? Why did you want me to go to the feast? I’ve been mulling this over and over in my head ever since it happened. If you thought I’d overhear some interesting piece of information while being glamored as you, then why wouldn’t you just go yourself? My presence wasn’t necessary.Unless...”
Unless you planned to attack theCourt.
“Truth be told, I was meeting with my lover.” Ethne blushed and glanced away. “My family does not approve of him, so...well, I did not want them to wonder at my absence and put two and twotogether.”
Bree gaped at the fae. “Your lover? Who ishe?”
Ethne merely pressed her lips together like a seal she would never, everbreak.
“Come on.” Bree couldn’t help but smile. “I haven’t told a single soul it was me there that night instead of you. I’ll keep your secret. It’s not like I can tell anyone. If Prince Taveon found out I’d tricked him, he’d string me up in front of the entire Court again aspunishment.”
A pause, and then another shy smile. “My lover is one of the Wilde Fae. His name is Anken. He is not welcome in this Court. Only Lord Dagen knows about our relationship, and he has helped me sneak out of feasts and balls so I can meet him. Indeed, my lover might be hanged if the guards ever caught him here,” she said quietly. “There is great prejudice in the realm of the Dark Fae. Anythingotheris considered to be lesser than. The Wilde Fae, the shapeshifters, the Light Fae. And thehumans.”
Bree lifted an eyebrow. “And you don’t think thatway?”
“I try not to. That is all I cando.”
Bree gave a nod. It was an honest answer and probably the best one she was going to get. So, Ethne had been meeting her lover that night. Which mean she couldn’t be the one behind the attack. It hadn’t been Dagen either, at least as far as Bree could tell. And it might not have been Fillan. He was an assassin, not some master manipulator who hired others to do his dirty work forhim.
Regardless, Bree really could use a walk. If she stayed holed up in Rafe’s room alone much longer, the delirium would only increase a million timesover.
