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She lowers her brows and looks away, but not before I see a rare bit of shame coloring her cheeks.
I’m frozen in place, rooted to the spot while I wait for her to dig the knife into my chest and carve out what little is left of my heart.
I wish I could take the question back. Truthfully, I’m beginning to wish I could un-know every single part of this fiasco.
But the question is out there, and I need to know if she killed Louis.
“No.” The word is low, but earnest.
Relief courses through me so fast it makes my knees want to give out. I shouldn’t believe her, but I do.
Maybe because before, when she was Gemma, I always knew when she was lying. I didn’t realize the scope of her lies, but even in hindsight, I could tell when she was giving me the truth.
Like now.
Feeling slowly returns to my body. She examines me, noting every reaction I’m careless enough to show her.
“I have never killed any royals,” she says more firmly. “I didn’t know she had either until…”
She trails off, and I realize when that subject might have come up.
“Until she told you to marry me,” I finish for her, my tone flat.
A shadow of guilt flickers in her eyes, but she says nothing. The silence yawns, vast and empty, threatening to swallow us both. I would almost be tempted to let it, but there are still so many things I need to know to keep my family safe.
To keep my sanity.
Before I can open my mouth to speak, though, the balcony door swings open, a gust of cold air rushing in with a loud whistle. Aika looks utterly unsurprised even as I spin toward the sound, my hand already on the hilt of my sword.
My heartbeat speeds up at the sight of a slimly built figure in a hooded cloak, my sword halfway out of its sheath when a familiar voice stops me in my tracks.
“Honestly, A, leaving the balcony door unlocked? This is no time to be getting sloppy, little sister.”
Then two elegant hands lower the hood to reveal the exasperated face of Lady Zaina.
CHAPTERFIVE
REMY
As far as grand entrances go, Zaina’s wasn’t unimpressive. Though, her ability to sneak in through the most guarded room of the entire palace is troubling, to say the least.
“Ah, what a charming and unexpected way for my new dead cousin-in-law to visit,” I mutter irritably, shoving my sword back into its sheath. “Or is it sister-in-law? I really can’t seem to keep these things straight.”
She narrows her eyes at me, then turns to my new reluctant wife.
“Have you really told him nothing?” Zaina sounds more frustrated than actually surprised.
I sit on the bench in front of the giant canopy bed and take another sip of whiskey, my gaze darting between the two women. As much as I would love to demand answers from both of them, I have a feeling they’ll give more away if I observe silently.
“Did your beast not come with you?” Aika deflects.
Zaina closes the heavy white curtains in front of the balcony window before looking back over her shoulder.
“Khijhana can hardly climb balconies,” she responds.
“I was talking about Einar.” Aika smirks, and Zaina merely shakes her head, though her lips tilt up at the corners.
Well, I’m glad someone is amused.
