Page 67 of Her Cruel Redemption

‘That’s just the problem. She used to be suspicious of everyone. She was almost paranoid,’ he said, mouth twitching in a brief smile. ‘But magic has made her cocky. She thinks she’s untouchable. When they turn on her, she won’t see it coming.’

‘I’m telling you I’d never allow it.’

‘You have yet to realise that a crown doesn’t hand you absolute power. You’re the head of the beast, but you’re carried by a body that determines your direction. Sometimes, you’re forced into a move that wasn’t your choice.’

I studied him, seeing so much I didn’t want to see. ‘Why have you come to me with this?’ I asked slowly. ‘I have more reason than anyone to hate you, and absolutely nothing to gain from helping you.’

‘And through this conversation I’ve revealed a weakness you could exploit. But you care about her. And you might be the only one who can protect her. That made it worth the risk.’

As I watched him speak, I was struck by another, even wilder realisation. ‘You think you’re going to lose.’

He rose to his feet. ‘There are no winners in a war. And no matter the outcome, it’ll likely end the same for me. Separate your hatred for me from what I’ve said to you. Protect her the way she protected you.’

With those final words, he was walking back out of the room, ending the conversation before I’d even realised it was over. Mae entered the room as soon as he’d left it, quickly dropping into the seat next to me and taking my hands.

‘Are you alright?’ she asked.

I nodded, though I didn’t feel alright. I felt jittery and my thoughts were tumbling over each other as they tried to arrange themselves into a semblance of meaning.

‘What did he want?’ Her voice was hushed, like she was worried he’d overhear.

‘To talk about Rhi,’ I replied, and I sounded incredulous even to myself, like I still couldn’t believe that was what it had all been about. What this wholenegotiationhad been about.I’ve revealed a weakness you could exploit….

Mae seemed less surprised than I thought she’d be. She simply nodded. ‘Then let’s go and join the others. They’ll want to know you’re alright.’

By the time we left the room, Draven was nowhere to be seen. I thought about our conversation as we mounted our horses, thought about the soldiers he’d paid for it. I had understood him better before, when I’d thought him a brute, a monster, something terrifying and aggressive and dangerous, even mindless. I wished I could go back to believing that.

And even more so, I wished I could go back to believing that Rhiandra had been just a victim in their relationship, an unwilling participant acting under enchantment. I wished I could go back to thinking she saw him as a monster, too.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Iwent running to find Gwinellyn as soon as I had word that she’d returned to our camp. Safe, apparently. Unharmed, I’d been told. I wouldn’t believe it until I clapped eyes on her.

The guard at the door announced my arrival at the huge, airy tent she’d been allocated, and I entered to a strange, waiting silence. Gwinellyn sat at the table, scribbling across a sheaf of papers she was curled over. She looked up as I entered, placing the pen down. There was a strangely grim set to her face as she regarded me, but other than that she looked well enough.

‘What happened? Are you alright?’ I demanded.

‘I’m fine.’

‘What did he want with you?’

‘To talk.’

‘What about? Did—'

‘Rhaindra,’ she said, firmly, cutting me off, ‘you lied to me.’ Her voice was so calm. Whatever I’d been about to say immediately curled up and died in my mouth.

‘Lied to you?’ I repeated, but I couldn’t give the words any substance. They were brittle and small, ready to shatter as soon as she tapped at them.

‘You must think I’m so stupid.’ She dropped her gaze to her lap and offered it a small, bitter smile. ‘Stupid, naïve little Gwinellyn.’

‘Of course, I don’t think you’re—’

‘He wasn’t your captor.’ She shot the words at me and they hit like bullets. ‘You were lovers.’

I gulped at the silence left in the wake of those words, wishing I could pretend she’d never said them, wishing they hadn’t cleaved our relationship in two.

‘I suppose you won’t try and deny it,’ she continued. ‘Anyone who was in that room could see it.’

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