My heart sank. Kenna looked past me as Rhyan’s face paled.
“You didn’t know?” Imperator Hart asked, his eyes now sparkling with delight. “Until he was forsworn, Lady Kenna was Rhyan’s lover.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
LYRIANA
His lover.Hislover. Lady Kenna was Rhyan’s lover.
Hello, lover.
Nausea whirled deep inside of me. My chest tightening, a wheezing feeling stirred in my gut like I’d been punched. I couldn’t catch my breath. The backs of my eyes burned like I wanted to cry. But I wanted to throw up at that moment even more.
I knew he’d courted as Heir Apparent. Knew he’d been courted many times. There’d been others before me. Of course, there’d been. But … I hadn’t imagined anyone significant. Hadn’t imagined anyone I’d come face-to-face with. Any previous bursts of jealousy I’d felt for the women who’d been a part of his past had been quickly squashed by their anonymity. By the fact that none had been mentioned by name or in detail. Because it was the past. Because it didn’t matter. Because he was mine.
Maybe this was nothing. She was someone insignificant. Someone Imperator Hart was using to come between us. But my gut kept churning, and at that moment, caught so off guard, it physically hurt to look at Rhyan.
“By the expression on your face, Lady Lyriana,” Imperator Hart said, “I surmise my son did not tell you about Lady Kenna.”
I blinked slowly, my face tight. I tried to take a breath, to remain calm. This was a manipulation. Nothing more. Nothing Imperator Hart said or did could be trusted. I knew that. I knew that too fucking well. And I trusted Rhyan—more than anything in this world. I’d talk to him before I came to any conclusion. Even if this was making my stomach hurt. I knew what I had to do. And though my throat was raw, I straightened my shoulders, and plastered a smile across my face.
“A happy surprise,” I said. “Congratulations, Your Highness.Tovayah maischa, on your happy news. And to you as well, Lady Kenna.” My eyes dipped to her belly.
Imperator Hart frowned, displeased with my response.
Godsdamned fucking bastard.
Rhyan’s chest heaved, a worried look in his eyes as his gaze moved back and forth from his father to me.
“Do you remember?” his father asked Kenna. His voice had softened to something almost sickeningly sweet. “Back before we wed, my love?” His aura darkened, and his eyes narrowed. “How many months it was? Hmmm?”
“How many months?” Kenna looked confused. “Months of what, Your Highness?”
“How many months,” he gritted, “was my son fucking you?”
I couldn’t hold back the gasp that escaped me. Nor could Dario.
“Your Highness.” Kenna blinked rapidly, her hand moving protectively over her belly. “I can barely recall such a thing. It’s a distant memory. I’m your wife now, and that’s all that matters to me. That, and that I am carryingyourchild.” She smiled, but the fear was clear in her eyes.
“A simple question. How many months?” he asked again, his voice hard and loud, ringing throughout the empty room.
My stomach roiled, and I wanted to throw up. I knew this was my fault. I hadn’t responded the way he wanted—hadn’t acted hurt enough. But by the Gods, I didn’t want to know the answer. I didn’t want to hear about it.
Kenna’s chest heaved, her eyes widening with alarm. Rhyan’s jaw tensed, his neck turning red.
“Tell me how long he fucked you for.” He reached for her arm, wrapping his fingers violently around her.
My hands clenched.
“Your Highness,” Dario started, but a sharp look from Imperator Hart, a pointed blast of his aura, and Dario stepped back, staring at the ground.
Kenna pressed her lips together, but the Imperator’s hand twisted, tightening around her arm until she let out a cry.
“Stop!” I yelled. But he only jerked Kenna toward him.
“Seven!” Rhyan shouted, stepping forward. “It was seven months.”
My eyes watered as I looked at Rhyan. He turned back to me, his face red, his jaw clenched. Seven months. That was longer than we’d been together.
