I curled my hands into fists. “No, it was because he caught me sneaking out of the palace. I didn’t know he threatened her because of it.”
“She eventually realized the only way to keep herself and her children safe was to get rid of Weylin. Then, when our plan failed, she did the last thing she could to protect you.”
I stared into Aiden’s haunted eyes and tried to find my rage or my hatred. But they were gone. Instead, my heart echoed the guilt and pain he’d felt for the same two years.
He’d stayed and tried to kill Father and make Everett king, like Mother wanted. But I’d gotten in his way.
“You said you decided not to kill my father at the last moment because of me,” I said. “But Mother wanted him dead.”
“I would’ve taken him prisoner and let Everett decide what to do with him,” Aiden said in response to my unspoken question. “That way I could’ve honored my word, in part, to her, but also the promise I made to protect you. Even from myself.”
I remembered how he’d held his sword to my neck, pretending that he would kill me, but Renwell had seen through it before I did.
“Ah, you’ve fallen for my little spy as well, Falcryn. You won’t kill her.”
“No, I won’t.”
But was it because he felt he had a duty to my mother or because he’d fallen for me, as Renwell suspected? He might’ve had feelings for me before he found out who I was. But my betrayal had thoroughly doused them.
A realization that hurt worse now that the truth had peeled away the layers of anger hiding it.
Still, he’d kept me safe even after he discovered my lies. He’d also honored Mother’s last words.
I carefully took Aiden’s hands in mine, trying not to think of them shoving a knife into Mother’s heart. I knew why, now, but the image lingered like a festering sore.
“I said I would never forgive you, and I never will,” I said. He flinched and tried to escape my grasp, but I held firm. “Because there’s nothing to forgive, Aiden Falcryn. You saved my mother from terrible pain and an even worse death.” I remembered Yarina’s words about Davka. “I’m... I’m grateful you were with her in the end.”
Aiden gripped my hands tighter and slowly drew me closer to him. He leaned his forehead against mine, his eyes closed. “I never thought it possible that a few words could pierce the darkness in my soul. But you, Kiera, have always been a light worth fighting for.”
Tears burned in my eyes once more.
I’d never realized what a difference that could make—having someone believe in me, despite the mistakes I’d made.
Mother hadn’t just died a senseless death. She hadn’t just been pruned out of my life like a dead branch, no longer worth keeping alive.
I’d thought Aiden had persuaded her to enact his plans, that she’d been a tool of his revenge. But she’d known the risks. She’d chosen to confront the danger again and again.
A warrior in silk,Maz had called her.
I dishonored her by thinking anything less.
Mother had fought for me. For Everett and Delysia. And gods help me, I was going to make sure they knew that someday.
Aiden’s breath feathered against my lips. He still held me as if he never wanted to let go. “Kiera, I?—”
The fur curtain bowed inward, and Maz burst inside. His eyes widened at the sight of us. “Oh, shit, sorry, wrong lodge!” He fumbled his way back outside.
“Idiot,” Aiden grumbled.
I drew away from him with a little laugh, rubbing my gritty eyes. Truthfully, I was thankful for the interruption. Whatever Aiden had been about to say, I wasn’t ready for it. I wasn’t ready for much of anything after such an emotionally exhausting evening.
I glanced at Ruru, who hadn’t so much as twitched in his deep sleep. “What are we going to do with him? We can’t send him back to Aquinon. I doubt he’d stay here while we go to Calimber.”
Aiden frowned. “You still want to go?”
I hopped to my feet and paced the small room, trying to relieve my tight muscles. “Of course. Especially knowing it’s what my mother would’ve wanted.” I pulled her sunstone knife from my belt and examined its glittering black ridges in the low lamplight.
My gaze flicked to Aiden, who was staring at the knife warily. I sheathed it again.
