Page 51 of A Touch of Iron
I needed to consider my options carefully. Identify the pros and cons. Determine the risks and rewards, then assess if the reward outweighed the danger. But…
If I could free Alec from the Unseelie King and fix the rift between him and his family, it would be worth it. After everything he’d done for me, it was the least I could do.
“Fine … I’ll do it,” I announced.
“Violet!” Alec nearly shouted. “You can’t make a decision like that without thinking it over!”
“I know, but I’m sure about this. I want my freedom, but I want to secure yours as well.”
* * *
Rosemary returned shortly after,and I left Alec and Jon to discuss the semantics of the coup as she escorted me back to my room. I knew Alec wasn’t happy with my hasty decision, but it was for the best. Jon wouldn’t stop badgering me until I said yes, or worse, he learned about the necklace that could control me. I didn’t want to think Jon was capable of something like that, but you never knew. It was better to be safe than sorry.
As we rounded the corner outside my room, we bumped into Ansel.
“Whoa!” I raised my hands to steady him as we nearly collided. He was coming from the direction of my room, where he had no business being. I raised a brow. “What are you doing here?”
He cleared his throat and scratched the back of his head, looking guilty. “Looking for you. The Seelie Queen requests your presence.”
“Oh,” I murmured. I’d hoped he felt bad about the way he behaved yesterday and was coming to apologize. I guess I was wrong. “Where is she?”
He jabbed his thumb in the direction I’d come from. “Back on my side of the castle … in her room.”
“Why not the throne room?” I questioned.
He shook his head. “She wants privacy.”
“I see …” I turned to Rosemary, who stood beside me and tried to pretend she wasn’t hanging on every word so she could report back to Alec. “I’m going to go with Ansel. Please don’t tell Alec.”
Rosemary’s large eyes nearly bulged out of her skull. “Lady Violet! Alec must be told if you’re going to meet with the Queen …”
I patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, Rose, everything will be fine. I’ll explain it to him myself when I get back.”
She was hesitant, but finally nodded. I had a sly feeling she would tell Alec regardless of my plea.
I turned around and followed Ansel back in the direction from which I’d come, walking in pained silence until I couldn’t keep my mouth shut one second longer.
“Don’t you have something to say to me?” I snapped.
“Like?”
I scoffed. “Like anapology. You owe me that much.”
Ansel stopped walking and turned to face me. “Would you accept it if I apologized?”
I rolled my eyes. “What kind of question is that? If it’s sincere enough, yeah, I would.”
“But now that you’ve requested it, is it truly sincere? You’ll never know now.” His mesmerizing green eyes stabbed me in place. “Then again, you don’t truly want an apology now, do you? You want me to accept your choice and give you my blessing to be with my brother.”
My eyes widened. “Excuse me? That’s not what I’m asking for at all!”
“Why not? Aren’t you blissfully in love with Alec?”
I felt as if he’d just slapped me. I knew he was bitter, but I didn’t expect him to be such an arrogant jerk.
“I never said I was in love,” I muttered.
“Come on, Vi,” he spat. “You were in love with me and now you’ve moved on—”
