Relinquish(98)

“Illyria?” she whispers as she kneels beside me. “Are you okay?”

I sink back in my chair, pressing my hand to my forehead. “I can’t keep this ruse up any longer,” I mutter. “I need air. I need to get away.”

She smiles as she pats my hand and rises. “I believe the final decisions have been made. Our lady is weary from the day and would like to rest. Please see to it that all of the food selections are prepared for tomorrow’s festivities.”

The group of men and women, all dressed in fine purple dresses and suits trimmed with golden tassels and buttons, bow and hurry from the room. Alesta waits for the doors to close before she lowers down beside me once more. “I’m sorry that took so long. It was important that we blended your tastes with the king’s.”

“But I don’t care,” I whisper, feeling how dry my mouth has become. “I don’t care what he likes, what he wants, what he thinks will make me happy.”

Alesta’s gaze shifts about the room. “You shouldn’t say such things. People will hear.”

“Maybe I don’t really care.” I slump in my chair.

“You must!” She clasps my arm so suddenly I cry out in surprise, but she doesn’t let go. “If the king knew you were not under his control at all times, he would seek to change that. Who knows the damage he could do if he dug deeper into your brain.”

I watch as she shudders. “You really care, don’t you?”

She smiles. “Of course I care. You are to be my queen.”

I place a hand over hers, grateful to have a friend within the palace. “I need you to swear something for me.” She waits expectantly as I lean in to whisper in her ear. “Don’t let Bastien out of your sight after the wedding.”

“Bastien?” She draws back. “Why would you care—” She breaks off with a sigh. “I knew there was something between you two.”

I wave her off. “It was a thing that could never be, but I know him far too well. When the fighting starts, he will head straight for me. I need you to promise that you’ll do everything you can to stop him. I can’t bear for him to get hurt.”

She lowers her gaze. “I’ve warned my family not to attend the wedding. If their absence doesn’t go unnoticed, they could be punished.”

Grasping her arm, I wait for her to look up at me. “I promise I won’t let that happen. No one else will die under the hand of the king.”



I pace beside my window, wringing my hands as I watch the moon rise. Eamon should’ve been here by now. What if something went wrong? What if he was captured trying to see me again?

“Psst.” A whisper slips past the curtains. I whirl around, searching the darkness

“Eamon?” I push aside the privacy screen to look out over my window but can’t see anything.

“Step back.” I hardly have a chance to get out of his way as he swings down from above and lands lightly in my room, the screen clattering as it swings back into place. As he straightens, I throw myself in his arms, relieved to see him safe.

“I was so worried. I thought you’d be here at sunset, but it’s been hours.”

Eamon cups my face with both hands and gently brushes his lips across mine. He pulls back and smiles. “Hi.”

I laugh and sink into his embrace. “Hi back.”

“What’s going on out—” Bastien cuts off as the light spilling from his room illuminates us. He goes rigid. “Never mind. I’ll leave you two alone.”

“No,” I call as he turns. “You don’t have to go.”

“He doesn’t?” Eamon arches an eyebrow.

I ignore him and step out of his arms. “Please, Bastien. You need to hear this too.”

He hesitates, obviously not wanting to be anywhere near Eamon at the moment, but he turns and leans back against the wall, in the room but with some definite distance between us. That will have to do.

I turn back to Eamon. “Why were you late?”

“There was a skirmish over in Merolina, a city about fifty miles south of here. Carleon ran into some trouble and we had to bail him out.”

“Is he okay?” I can’t bear the thought of something happening to Carleon.

“Yeah. Kyan managed to wipe the guard’s memories with the help of Balan and Delyth.”

I remember the first time I met Balan. I was mesmerized by his ability to transport people from one place to another in the blink of an eye. He’d been one of the reasons we managed to survive Drakon’s attack when he discovered Kyan’s base in the mountains. Balan fought bravely then and ever since. I’m grateful to have him here.