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“I killed him,” I said simply. “I killed Florian.”
Draven was silent. His eyes moved from me to the floor where Florian’s body lay, then back to me, inspecting me from head to toe.
Abruptly, I realized my gown was gaping. The neck had fallen open, exposing the skin just above the curve of my breasts. I reached to tug it up and retie the fastening but it was too late.
“Stop. Is that his fucking name?” Draven’s voice was icy. “Is that his fucking name on you?”
I felt a chill of terror come over me as he stepped closer. He sounded so angry. If what Sir Ector said was true, this man was more dangerous and deadly than Florian could ever have dreamed of being.
Reluctantly, I nodded, my fingers trembling as I found the loops and fastened the dress again.
Draven looked at me wordlessly, his emerald eyes filled with cold fury.
“We’re leaving. Now. Tonight. Do you understand? Are you packed?”
I stared at him, confused. “What? Leave now?”
He nodded curtly. “Take a rag from one of the stalls. Find a bucket of water. Wash off as much blood as you can.”
“I’ll be sopping wet. I won’t be able to get the blood off. Someone will notice,” I babbled.
“No one will notice. It’s pouring rain outside. Stand in the rain for a few minutes until you’re soaked through and your dress is too wet for anyone to see the blood. Then go to your room, gather your things. Dress warmly. Talk to no one. Tell no one. Do you understand?” He paused. “I’ll give you twenty minutes. If you aren’t back by then, I’m coming to get you.”
I felt numb. “What about Whitehorn?”
“I’ll deal with Whitehorn,” he said shortly. “Just do as I say.”
I gulped. “What about Florian...”
“I’ll deal with the body.” He was already kneeling beside Florian. He glanced up at me. “Don’t think about this fucker. Stop thinking about any of it. Now go.”
I nodded.
I ran over to a bucket of water I had seen near one of the horse’s stalls, picked up a cloth hanging on a rack, wet it and passed it over my skin. The water might have been dirty. It might have been clean. I didn’t know and I didn’t care.
When I was done, I turned back to where Draven crouched, hesitating.
“The cloth...”
“Here. Toss it to me.” He looked me up and down, then nodded. “Good. Better. Now go.”
I stepped out of the stable and into the deluge. Within moments, I was soaked, my dress a second skin that clung to me.
I tilted my head up, letting the rain pour over my hair, my cheeks.
When I looked down at myself again, the blood was gone. I had been washed clean. So easy.
I forced myself to focus, to walk steadily back into the castle. I chose corridors and stairwells that I knew would be less frequented. Most of the servants would be celebrating out in the city or in the servants’ quarters. The party in the Great Hall would be in full swing. Everyone had seen Arthur call me away. No one would be missing me.
I reached my room, passing only one maidservant who I gave a tight-lipped smile. “Caught in the rain. Going back to change my gown.”
She bobbed and curtsied with a disinterested expression, then scurried off.
The door to my room was slightly open. I had left it unlocked. There would be no need to lock it from now on. Florian was gone. He would never be coming back.
I might not be coming back either, I reminded myself. I thought of the look on Draven’s face, his terrifying expression.
I pushed the door open.
