Page 107 of A Rose Among Snakes

My hands rested on the tabletop, and Jehiam reached over and rested his one hand over both of mine. “Thank you for finally getting us the answers we needed.”

I smiled at him, marveling at how much he had changed in such a short amount of time.

My mother frowned, “So you’re engaged to the son of the man who essentially got your father killed? What am I missing here?”

I swallowed hard. There was barely concealed rage in her voice, and I knew I needed to make her see the truth.

“Yes, but it’s more complicated than that. Velian was forced into all this by his father, but he’s nothing like him. Velian is kind and loyal, he’s thoughtful, and takes care of everyone around him.” She arched her brow at me, as if to say,‘get on with it.’“He’s a good man, Mama, and I love him.”

“That’s all I needed to hear,” Ambrelle said, smiling as she wiped her face.

"Women," Jehiam mumbled, shaking his head in disappointment, but my mother pinched his arm and offered me a watery smile.

“I’m happy for you, little dove. I’m so glad you came home to me.” She leaned forward and planted a kiss on my forehead.

Chapter Sixty-One

Mihrra

There was still plenty of light left in the day, and after checking that Velian was still alive with the twins, I made my way through the village. It was a good time for me to process all of my thoughts in a place more familiar to me than anywhere else. There was so much for me to come to terms with regarding my father’s life and death, but my own actions, as well. I couldn’t quite explain it, but I felt different.

It was almost as if the hole in my heart from my father’s death was cracking, and every human life I took sent a new fissure scattering through. The cracks opened up new spaces for the guilt to seep into and fester inside my heart, twisting into something ugly, something that resembled smug satisfaction. It scared me.

It also seemed that the truth about my father had added to those cracks, my heart threatening to collapse inward at any moment, rather than filling the hole as I’d hoped it would. It left me wondering if I’d really made it out of that throne room alive, or if I was I just pretending for everyone else’s sake.

Before I knew it, I was outside Taz’s house and found my beloved friend walking back to the barn.

“Taz!”

Her dark head swiveled around, and her golden face lit up when she spotted me. She dropped the bucket she was holding and ran across the field.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came back for a visit,” I said, hugging her tightly.

Pulling back, Taz pointed to the cut on my face. “Did you upset one of the kitchen maids?”

“Funny you should say that because I share a room with one and she hates me.”

Taz scoffed. “I didn’t know it was possible for anyone to hate you.”

I rolled my eyes but shook my head. “No, I actually got it from King Leoro.”

Taz narrowed her eyes, and when I didn’t cave to her scrutiny, her jaw hung open. “Tell me everything right now. Come with me, though, because if I don’t milk this cow she’s going to break loose and trample me.”

So I did. I told her everything, except the details around Velian, saving those for last. It was fun having such a wild tale to regale my wild friend with, and she gave me all the perfect reactions.

“You not only went to a ball at the castle, and had conversations with Prince—I meanKingLeoran—but you’re telling me you’re the one whomadehim a king?” She blew air through puffed cheeks. “We all heard King Leoro died suddenly and the crown passed to Leoran, but I think everyone assumed it was anillness or something.” She lowered her voice and leaned closer to me. “Was he really that evil? People always describe him as kind.”

“It was all a facade. He didn’t care about anyone other than himself.”

Taz looked at me, her deep-blue eyes sparkling. “You are Terrune’s hero, and no one knows it.”

“Let’s keep it that way,” I said in a hushed tone. “Not everyone will understand.” Before leaving the castle, those of us who had been in that room decided it was best to keep the details between us.

“I won’t tell anyone, but I can’t believe you actually did that!” She studied my face as she squirted milk into the bucket. “I feel like you are holding out on me… like there’s more to this grand story of yours.”

I smirked. “What do you mean?”

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