Holy Four, just when I thought every one of my betrayals had been revealed, another came to light.
But this presented a new kind of pain. I would be a monster in Helene and Isabel’s eyes, much the same way Aiden had been one in mine. We’d both taken loved ones.
I glanced between mother and daughter. “Yes, it was me in Garyth’s study. Renwell sent me there to spy on him.”
Helene gasped and yanked her daughter away from me. “Who are you really?” she spat. “Are you still working forhim?”
“No,” I said quickly. “I did. For a while. I am—Iwas—Princess Emilia Torvaine. After my mother was killed, I gave up my crown to become a spy.”
Helene shook her head as if she didn’t believe a word I’d said. “Are you the reason Renwell attacked our house and arrested Garyth? What did you tell him about us?”
Truth, Kiera. Remember, no more lies.
Thorns seemed to grow in my throat, making it hard to breathe, to swallow. But I tried to keep my voice even. “I found some secret correspondence in Garyth’s desk. I couldn’t decode the letters, but I told Renwell about the People’s Council symbol inked on them.”
Aiden shifted next to me, but I couldn’t bear to look at him. I hadn’t told him any of this yet. This could extinguish what little trust we’d reignited.
Helene’s eyes filled with anger. “It’s your fault he died, then. You betrayed him. You betrayed his ideals. Why bother helping me and my daughter? Why not turn us in as well?”
Her words felt like knives to my stomach. I’d rather face down a border patrol—or even Korvin, if he were still lurking about—than a wife and daughter I’d caused so much grief.
“I didn’t understand yet what a terrible man I was serving,” I whispered. “I thought I was protecting my kingdom and my family. When I realized my mistake too late, I did the only thing I could and got you out of Aquinon.”
“You could have warned us,” Helene snapped. “You could’ve gottenallof us out of Aquinon.”
I flinched, unable to argue with that.
“Renwell would’ve hunted you down and killed your entire family,” Aiden said.
Helene flung her hand toward the locked door. “We’re not exactly safe now, are we?”
No one answered her.
“And you. You defend her.” Helene pointed a shaking finger at Aiden. “Who are you? Garyth spoke of this man in the shadows who was fighting for the same cause he was. He hoped your plans would help the People’s Council rise again. But he didn’t know who you were.”
I tensed. Would he tell her the truth? I had shared my true name, but Aiden’s carried a heavy weight as well.
He straightened, his jaw tight and his eyes fierce. “I am Aiden Falcryn, son of the late King Tristan and Queen Rhea. Nikella rescued me as a newborn and raised me in secret.”
Relief passed through me as he rewrote history with his words. A new and strange reaction to a lie crumbling under the truth.
Nikella and Maz nodded their heads, approval in their eyes.
But a moment later, Helene turned accusatory once more. “You’ve been hiding. All this time. You are the true heir. You could’ve stopped all of this! You?—”
“I’ve been trying to stop men like Weylin and Renwell for years,” Aiden cut in, not without kindness. “I have failed many people many times, but I have never abandoned Rellmira.”
“Rellmira has abandoned my family,” Helene whispered, hugging her daughter close. Isabel burrowed her face into her mother’s neck. “We have no home anywhere.”
Aiden said nothing. He stared at them, but his mind seemed to be miles, or perhaps years, away.
After a long moment, I whispered, “I’m truly sorry for my part, Helene. Isabel.” Then I retreated to my corner.
Aiden followed me with his bags. I sank to the ground, suddenly too exhausted to even want to change my clothes or wash the blood from my neck. Gods, all this arguing, and Korvincould still be somewhere in the manor. He could be moments away from finding us.
But not even fear could penetrate the hollow drum that stretched tight in my chest.
Aiden stripped off the sunstone armor he wore on his chest and wrists, like they were choking him. He stuffed them and his Wolf mask into his bag.
