Page 85 of Unseen Eye
“Why do I find that all too easy to believe?” I add with a smile.
We arrive at the castle moments before Lyda, the Queen of Skorda, arrives with a handful of advisers.
“What do you think of the queen?” I ask Cal quietly.
“Skorda has always tried to stay neutral, avoiding sides,” he explains. “But when they do choose, they always choose the less violent option. The gnomes are generally peaceful, and Lyda is a fair and just queen. But even she knows there’s no staying neutral forever.”
During introductions, Lyda gives me a knowing look, glancing between Cal and me. As she walks away, I mutter, “Is it that fucking obvious?” earning a small chuckle from Cal.
The throne room is now adorned with tables and refreshments, and it’s not long before Baron and Garet arrive. Baron is dressed as regally as ever in a deep-blue velvet doublet with intricate silver embroidery, a polished silver crown resting on his perfectly styled hair. His cold, piercing green eyes survey the room with an air of superiority. My fists clench at the thought of him wanting Cal’s mother dead.
Cold, heartless bastard.
Garet trails behind him, his eyes finding mine the moment he enters. I’m standing between Cal and Izzy. Both wear their casual masks of indifference. As refreshments are served, Garet wastes no time walking up to me.
“Eva,” he begins, his voice hesitant, his eyes flickeringnervously between my companions before returning to me. “Can we talk? Alone?”
Despite knowing this was coming, his audacity still stuns me. I straighten, not bothering to hide my coldness. “Why, Garet?” I challenge, my voice as sharp as a blade. “Planning to mess with my mind and make me forgive you? Hate to break it to you, but that’s not happening. I may have been dumb enough to listen to you once, but those days are over.”
“Harsh,” Izzy mutters, holding back a laugh.
Garet’s frustration is evident. “So what,” he counters, “you suddenly trust everything these people say now?” He gestures to Izzy and Cal. “I thought you were smarter than that. Did you suddenly forget the monster this guy is?” He points to Cal.
Oh, he knows how to make my blood boil. “These people and that monster,” I spit, my voice hardening as the anger burns hotter, “have been more honest with me than you’ve ever been. They treat me like a person—not some pawn to manipulate. So maybe take a good look in the mirror before you so casually call Cal a monster.”
As soon as the words leave my mouth, I realize my mistake. “Cal?” Garet echoes in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” He throws his hands up in the air. “Come on, Eva. I’m getting you out of here.”
Cal steps forward, but before he can react, I do what I’ve been itching to do since learning the truth—I punch Garet square in the face, just like Theo taught me, putting all my weight into it. His hand shoots to his cheek, his face flushing crimson.
“That’s my girl,” Theo mutters, while Izzy chuckles. Cal, still wearing his cold facade, allows a smirk to play at his lips.
“What the fuck? Was that really necessary?” Garet stammers, wiping his face, his voice edged with anger and disbelief. “You know what? Whatever. You want to know what I was going to tell you? Here it is.” He pauses, as if weighing his next wordscarefully. “Despite what you may think of me, I never once touched your memories. Did I change Nessa’s and Finn’s? Yes. The merchant I claimed to be my father? Absolutely. But never yours.”
“And why such a noble act?” Cal asks dryly. “You’re telling me you never tried to touch her mind?”
Garet fidgets for a moment, his discomfort evident, before answering, “I did try, but I couldn’t touch anything. She was shielded—something was blocking me out.”
“What the fuck?” Izzy says, her disbelief palpable. “Why should we believe you?”
“You don’t have to, but it’s the truth,” Garet insists, locking eyes with me, his gaze pleading. “I tried several times. Even now, at this moment, I can’t access her mind.”
My mouth drops open in shock. So he doesn’t have to touch me for his affinity to work... “What do you mean shielded?” I whisper.
“It means,” Garet begins, his voice suddenly serious, “that something or someone is protecting your memories. Or,” he hesitates, looking uncomfortable, “someone beat me to it, manipulated them so much that they’re untouchable now.”
Doubt swirls in my mind. Could he be telling the truth? What does he gain by lying now? However, I can’t shake the feeling of being violated.
Garet gives me a sad smile before stepping back. “Think what you want, but I’m not completely the villain you paint me to be.” With that, he turns around and walks away.
“What the absolute fuck was that?” Theo exclaims, still staring at Garet’s retreating figure.
“I don’t know,” I admit, my brain still processing everything. You’d think by now nothing would catch me off guard like this, but sadly, the punches keep coming.
“He loves you, you know,” Izzy says, earning a look from bothCal and me.
“How do you know?” I ask, skepticism creeping into my voice.
“I’ve seen that look before,” she replies simply, shooting Cal a knowing glance before walking away.
