Page 98 of Rook of Ruin
“What else would it be?” She laughs. “Simon.”
“What?” I laugh. That’sodd.
“Simon.” She sighs. “Sly. Man. Slyman. Sl-i-man. Siman. Simon.” She laughs like it’s a fucking inside joke that everyone thinks I’m in on. I tilt my head and smile like it’s all part of the game. Bile rises in my throat. I screamed his name as we made love. Not even his name.
Our first meeting runs through my head.
“I’m Simon.”
“I’m—”
“I know your name. But what do your friends call you?”
“My friends call me O. You can call me—”
“O. That’s nice.”
Sly-man. Said very fucking quickly. I start laughing. Finally in on the joke. Everyone called him Sir. The title for a prince, not just knight. They used Caddel, not his given name. When I married him, it was only Prince Caddel, I was only Lady Verlan. I’m such a fool. Such a fucking fool.
“I need to go relieve myself,” I say quickly, and they nod as I steer Sal to the woods. Moving through the trees until I’m out of sight, I dismount and drop to my knees. Vomit spews from my mouth, and tears run down my face—but I pull myself together long enough to wash out my mouth and collapse onto a stump, still shaken.
“O? Are you okay?” The sly bastard of a man has found me.
I wipe my eyes quickly. “I’m indisposed, so go on ahead.”
“I’ll wait.” I hear him sigh.
Shit.“No, go ahead. I’ll be there in five minutes.” My voice cracks just a bit.Silence. I put my head in my hands. I need time to think. “Did you hear me?”Nothing.
I hear rustling behind me, and I don’t think, I move. I take out one of my chest daggers, and a hand comes crashing down onmine. The brown-eyed man looks down in obvious disapproval. “Don’t lie to me, O.”
“Don’t lie toyou?” I snap. “You are the one who lied to me. I don’t—”
“Red told me everything. She was worried that maybe you were upset over your Warrior’s Name or sick from the battle and seeing the tragedy of that village.”
Anger rushes out of me, not at Red—she was just concerned—but at this dickhead. “You fuckinglied.”
“I did.” He doesn’t even look sorry.
“Why?” My eyes deceive me, showing him exactly what I’m thinking.You hurt me. You betrayed me. You left me.
“Thatismy name. That is my Warrior’s Name, the name I choose to go by. When I saw you in the carriage—” He sighs and shakes his head. “O, we need to get back. We can’t let them get too far ahead of us.”
I want answers, I deserve answers. “What is yourrealname?”
“Cian Emyr Caddel.”Truth.
I rip my arm from his grasp and stomp over to Salann. She nuzzles me, then I mount her and flee. Cian Caddel. The hero of Bethal. He is alive, and I’m married to him. I’m married to Cian Caddel, not Simon . . .
Then who was the brother who died?
Only a few hours later, Isle steers her horse to my side.
“You fought well, ma’am. You led them into battle—it takes great courage to do that. Our prince chose well in you.”
Genuine surprise crosses my face. “Thank you, Isle. You fought well today too. With great honor and bravery. They alldid.” I give her a smile, and all the turmoil about who I married vanishes for a few moments.
“Almost to Bethal.” She points to the slope up ahead and turns her sharp eyes to me. “You will be loved there. Just as we all love you now.” I smile at being found worthy by our warriors.
