Page 141 of A Crown of Tears and Treason
“I might be a busy man, but I would have remembered a plan of breaking into one of the advisors’ most prized buildings.”
“I asked you about the throat slitting.” My voice turned icy. “About the Quoriliths.”
His brows furrowed. “Yes, you did. So?”
I fisted my palms at my sides. How could he be so calm when I was almost accusing him of hiding this from me?
“You failed to mention the Quorilith Clan was absorbed by the Blood Brotherhood,” I seethed. “That some of your own members might be descendants. That maybe they might’ve inherited their grim spells and horrific killing practices.”
There. The truth, as ugly as it was. A lie by omission was still a lie.
Instead of denying it, Zandyr sighed in relief. “So that’s what this is about.”
His reaction only made me bristle more. When Zandyr’s hands gently reached for mine, I yanked my palms back.
“Menace.” Zandyr shook his head. “The Blood Brotherhood has fought and absorbed hundreds of other Clans throughout the centuries. To me and others who know our Clan, the Quoriliths are just another ancient name. Among the thousands my tutors tried so very hard to teach me. When they weren’t busy attempting to murder me, at least.”
I crossed my arms in front of my chest. Try as I might, the traitorous, soft part of me was begging me to believe. Him, his words, everything.
I refused, fighting against myself once more. If I’d been burned so badly by my parents, the only beings in this world who had the responsibility to have my best interests in their hearts, what hope could I have that others wouldn’t do the same?
It was a wretched thought that wormed its way inside me, leaving painful gashes behind.
“This is my fault.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I keep forgetting you weren’t raised Clan.”
I let out a mirthless laugh. “How could you ever?”
“You fit in more in this ruthless world than you realize,” he said gravely. “But I should have realized that the information I take for granted is new for you. It made perfect sense to methat if I knew about the Quoroliths, it was obvious my Clan had dealings with them in the past.”
“Are you trying to tell me you simply forgot to mention?”
“No. Itsimplydidn’t cross my mind that after I told you I’d send my spies to investigate the murders The Huntress mentionedandtold you everything I knew about that Clan off the top of my head, you’d think I was keeping this secret from you.” He clenched his jaw.
The fight left me and I deflated. But some scared part of me wouldn’t give up, clinging to doubts like they were lifelines, when, in fact, they were the chords pulling me further into the abyss of my fears.
“I promised you I will investigate this and that’s what I will do.” He stepped closer. My body begged to lean toward him, to let his heat envelop me and thaw the horrid memories in the Library. I held my ground. “Evie…”
My name on his lips sounded like a plea.
“Before I came to the wedding, nobody in the Blood Brotherhood knew where you were,” he went on. “Even if one of them had discovered you, by some miracle of the fates, they would have left you there. Hidden away from me, Clans, and all the power you could yield on the Blood Brotherhood throne. I was the only one who wanted to come after you. Who fought my Brothers and Sisters to do it. I didn’t bring you here to hide your parents’ murderers from you.”
Another ugly truth, but one that made sense. The Blood Brotherhood Clan didn’t want me. The advisors had tried to kill me. If they had known where I was, they would’ve slaughtered me right then and there, when I’d been completely defenseless and covered in my parents’ blood.
He reached for my hands again. This time I let him take my palms into his, the warmth quieting the doubts inside of me, like he’d instantly flicked a switch.
I shook my head and looked down at our intertwined fingers. The change was too sudden.
“Look at me,” he murmured.
I did, a frown twisting my brows.
“I didn’t mean to keep this from you,” he said. I could taste the honesty on his tongue.
I gulped, a million thoughts racing through my mind. The truthfulness of his words pounded against me.
“Do you believe me?” he asked.
“I do.” I swallowed deeply. “You’re telling the truth.”
