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“Let’s take her upstairs to get cleaned up,” said Graham, his voice uncharacteristically harsh. “I don’t want her stinking up the Academy during the investigation.”
I didn’t know exactly what he had planned for me, but it seemed as if I’d finally get a chance to speak.
Despite Graham’s feigned cruelty, I deeply trusted him. After the way he’d fought with Cael to attempt to stop him from blowing up the boat, I knew he cared even more about me than keeping Cael’s alliance—a fact that scared me as much as it comforted me.
I wanted Graham to be afraid of Cael for his own safety, but the stronger and more confident he became, the less he seemed to fear Cael.
I, on the other hand, feared Cael more than ever.
Grahamand the guard led me up several sets of stairs until we came to a spacious stone bathroom. A patch of sunlight shone on a large tub of water in the center of the room, cast by a circular window high on the wall.
Once I stepped inside, they locked the door behind me, Graham giving me a final reassuring look that told me he’d return.
I left my grimy uniform on the floor and gratefully stepped into the lukewarm water, washing off the dirt, sweat, and dried blood that speckled my skin. I hadn’t noticed when I’d gotten hurt, but with all the recent pain, it didn’t surprise me that I hadn’t gotten out unscathed.
When I got out, I dried myself on a towel that was more scratchy than soft, but even so, it was such a relief to be clean and dry again.
Someone knocked on the door.
I froze instinctively, then realized it was probably Graham. “Um, come in?” I said unsteadily.
Sure enough, he stepped into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
We faced each other, me in my towel, Graham in an impeccable suit.
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t come for you sooner,” he said. “Cael has launched a barrage of accusations against you and he wouldn’t allow your release. I’ve been petitioning the Academy for days to permit you to speak in a formal investigation, and they’ve finally granted it—despite Cael trying to quash my attempts.”
“I have so many questions.” I adjusted the flimsy towel around my body. “Number one: may I get dressed?”
“My apologies,” said Graham, “but your clothing hasn’t arrived yet.” He glanced down at my bare legs, his face reddening, then quickly looked away.
I went closer to him. “I like seeing you blush.”
The color in his cheeks deepened, and he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me, inhaling as if he meant to breathe me in. His hands stroked the bare skin on my back, sending a tingle down my spine.
I reached around him, pulling him as close as possible. “I was so worried about you. After Cael had you handcuffed, I thought you’d lost his loyalty for sure.”
“Nearly,” he said, “but since then, I’ve pretended to be on his side, especially now that we know the man has no qualms about murder. If I weren’t the heir, I could very well be dead or in prison for standing against him.”
“I’m so glad you’re alive.” I smiled. “Or else I’d still be filthy and lying on the floor in a prison cell.”
He laughed. “That’s a very good reason for me to live.”
I shook my head. “In all seriousness, Cael has proved he’s more dangerous than I ever knew. You need to keep yourself alive, soplease, be careful.” I went quiet for a solemn moment, recalling the deadly explosion that was unlike anything I’d ever seen. I still hadn’t come to understand how anyone could be capable of that kind of brutality. “I had no idea he would do that to the men on the boat.”
“You were hoping to set them free, weren’t you?” he asked.
“Yes,” I admitted. “I know I told you I could betray Keane, but when it came down to it, I couldn’t.”
“You should’ve shared your true plans with me,” said Graham. “Maybe we could’ve prevented Cael’s violence if we’d worked together! If you’d just told me . . .” He let go of me andsighed. “You’ve made the same mistake over and over, Mara. You’ve kept me in the dark, lied to me, and left me out of your schemes.” He glowered at me from under his dark lashes. “What were youreallyafter with that hostage exchange?”
“Well . . . I did hope to exchange the hostages and bring Dunn home, but in truth, it was access to the arsenal that I was aiming for,” I said. “I planned to take some of the technology—a boat, maybe. I didn’t even know what it might be—so I could be free of Cambria for good.”
“And yet,” he said, “when you had a chance to leave with Cait and Lachlan, you didn’t take it. Why not?”
“When Cael blew up that boat, I knew without a doubt I couldn’t leave him in power.” I looked into Graham’s clear blue eyes. “And the truth is, I didn’t want to leaveyouat all.”
“I appreciate the truth, but I’m particularly partial toyourtruth,” he said, running his finger up my jaw and around my ear. His lips brushed across my forehead. “Why not be honest with me so I could help you?”
