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“Now bend over like a good lady and let Lord Geralt test you out before he buys you.”
“When are you going home?” Leo’s question drew me out of my thoughts, but my fingers still trembled.
I’d booked a flight for tonight, but for some reason, I felt compelled to change that. I didn’t like the idea of Leo suffering for what the king did to me. I needed to talk to Isabelle about reinstating him.
“Tomorrow,” I replied, deciding on the spot to stay an extra day and fix Leo’s career. It was the least I could do.
“Then why does your itinerary say tonight?” he asked, taking a step closer, punctuating his accusation.
“Because I changed my mind. I’ll talk to Isabelle about reinstating you. You shouldn’t be punished.”
He tipped his head back and let out a bitter laugh. “That’s not your problem to worry about. I deserved this punishment. They couldn’t let me keep my station. Sweet, innocent Christine Abernathy killed a lord on my watch. I was in the fucking hallway when he…when he hurt you. I wish you’d had a bit more fanfare when you ended his life. You could have cut off his dick.”
My stomach curdled, and it took a considerable amount of effort not to vomit. “He was vile.”
“The worst,” Leo agreed. “You know, I don’t hate you for killing him. I don’t hate you for leaving. I don’t even hate you for getting me sent to the middle of nowhere.”
I swallowed nervously. “So why do you hate me, Leo?”
He laughed. “Lady Abernathy, I hate you for coming back.”
I sucked in a breath of air.
“I hate that you’re standing on Aldrich soil. I hate that you attended the funeral of the man that ruined your life. I hate that every second you’re here puts you at risk. And I’m going to make your life a living hell until you go back where it’s safe. Where I know you won’t get sucked back into this world.”
“Leo…”
He stalked after me, anger pounding through his boots. “We both know that August will convince you to stay, and I can’t let that happen. It was better when you were out of sight and he was getting drunk on his yacht. Get the fuck out of here, Christine. Go back home.”
I hung my head in shame and spun around to face my parents’ graves. I didn’t want Leo to see the way hot tears formed in my eyes and traveled down my cheek.
Leo moved to stand beside me. I didn’t look at him, but I breathed in his familiarity. Leo Winthrop always smelled like the outdoors. Woods and spice. Masculine musk you couldn’t buy in a bottle. It was a scent completely unique to him.
“I’ll leave in the morning.” My whispered promise sounded hollow to my ears. I followed his gaze to stare at my father’s tombstone.
Lord Donald Abernathy
Royal House of Rose
General in the Royal Guard
1961-2012
Beloved husband and father
Devoted to the Crown
Knighted by King Frederick
It hurt to see. Questions I once buried crawled up and clawed at my soul.
My father had insisted that I submit to the Crown in every way, and hatred had plagued me ever since King Frederick bartered my body for power. I still vividly remembered how he summoned me. How he forced me to grow up in the span of a night. He stripped me of my innocence.
The blood.
I remembered the blood.
Lord Geralt’s grunts.
