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I ignored the baffled looks as the nearby witnesses half-bowed, recognizing me, but their alliance wasn’t really to Ironhelm. Anderlane was a free state. They governed democratically with a respectful nod to the throne, which was why Zephy had been hidden so easily among them. All of my announcements, seeking her whereabouts, had been back page news in those parts.
She came far fast,I thought, glowering at the few eyes I caught.
Everyone looked away under my glare. I was feeling murderous, although I couldn’t fault them for not informing me. Half of them probably didn’t know the comings and goings of Ironhelm, and those who did couldn’t have known Zephy belonged to me, not in these clothes, working as a maid, under a false name.
Someone must have helped her, and that drove me into a jealous frenzy, imagining another waiting for her in the shadows.
It was not until we were outside of the pristine, blue and teal hotel that I finally planted Zephy on her feet, but I ushered her into the back of my armored SUV before she could get her footing.
“I am not going with you!” she cried defiantly, struggling for the door. “Stop it!”
“We’re not going anywhere… yet,” I reassured her quickly. I wanted her to be calm, to explain what was going on. “See? The car isn’t moving, Zephy.”
She appeared to relax with the realization, but she wasn’t easily placated. “You can’t just burst in anywhere you like and grab me. I don’t belong to you!”
The words stabbed me directly in the chest, but I held myself. “I’m owed an explanation,” I told her firmly. “What you did was hurtful, insulting, and disgraceful—not only to me, but to your parents. Not to mention Maywin and Rufus. Did you stop and think about what kind of consequences your actions would have on them?”
She paled and stared at me. “Did you hurt them?”
I frowned, my brow knitting. “Why would I hurt them?” I demanded. “Did they know you were going?”
“No! I said as much in the letter. Did you find the letter?”
“I found it, but it didn’t make any sense to me.”
Zephy scoffed, folding her arms under her breasts as she swiveled her body to look out of the SUV window.
“Zephy,” I growled. “Look at me.”
“No.”
The firmness of her tone took me aback. “Why not?”
“Because I can’t look at you after the way you’ve led me to believe you cared about me. You’re a liar. And I gave you a chance to be with Stralia, but you insist on continuing with this lie because you want the crown so much—”
I reached for her face, forcing her to look at me. “What are you talking about?” I barked. “I don’t want Stralia. I—”
“STOP IT!” she yelled, her tone freezing me. “I saw you. I heard you. Go back to her and leave me in peace!”
Baffled, I blinked, my hand dropping as my mind raced. “I-I don’t know what you’re…”
Suddenly, I remembered the unexpected visit that Stralia had paid to my room on the night of the rehearsal dinner. I had been running late.
What does she think she saw?
“Oh? Do you remember now?” Zephy asked, unable to keep the anger from her tone. “When you told Stralia that you were mates and you kissed?”
I began to chuckle, my chin dropping to my chest. Zephy’s eyes grew wide as she gawked at me.
“You’re laughing?” she spat. “How charming.”
My hand reached up to touch her cheek, but she drew away, shaking her head.
“Don’t you do that, Cade. I’m not so easily manipulated.”
I offered her a half-smile, not lowering my hand. “Zephy, I was talking about you,” I informed her. “Stralia came to me, asking to be together one last time. I explained to her that I couldn’t, that I didn’t want to. I am in love with you and only you.”
My fingers contacted her cheek now, but Zephy seemed frozen in place. “She kissed me, that’s true, but I immediately pushed her off—did you not see that?”
