“You freed him?”
She nodded. “I helped. I was already engaged to his father by then, though Rhyan didn’t know it. I didn’t really have a say in that matter.” Her voice hardened. “I used my position as the Imperator’s betrothed to gain access. Soturion Bowen, Rhyan’s old bodyguard,Bar Ka Mokan, did the rest.”
“Bowen died?” I asked, realizing the words she’d spoken. “His soul freed.”
Kenna’s face was grim. “He died helping Rhyan escape.”
I closed my eyes. I had no idea he’d died that way. It was something else Rhyan had never disclosed to me. Though he’d never mentioned Bowen either.
“Does he know what part you played?” I asked Kenna carefully. “Your husband?”
Kenna rested the top of her head against the back of the chaise, and groaned. “Please … can we not refer to him as that?” Then she looked back at me. “And yes, he found out that night when Rhyan was escaping. I was punished accordingly. Probably why he dragged me in there today to do what he did.”
“I thought that was to hurt me.”
“Oh, it was. Rhyan, too. His father loves killing two birds with one stone. Or, in our case, three.” She smiled sadly, looking away.
I was beginning to see what had been obvious from the moment Kenna appeared. Imperator Hart was hurting her just as he’d hurt Rhyan’s mother. It made me want to trust her—and yet—it was also the very reason why I couldn’t.
“Poor Rhyan,” she said. “The look on his face when he couldn’t get to you, couldn’t save you … Being in that room must have been torture for him. That’s where it happened,you know. Where his mother died.” Her lilt had intensified as she spoke, her eyes watering.
My eyes widened. “In the Seating Room?”
Kenna nodded sadly. “In the exact spot you were standing. I was there.” She met my gaze. “I saw what the Imperator did to her.”
Kenna sat forward. “I know you have no reason to trust me. And I understand. Believe me, I do. But I am not your enemy. And I am sorry for what happened to you. The way you were treated by the Imperator, and … by my father.”
“You’re right,” I said. “I have no reason to trust you beyond your word. I want to—but what I don’t understand is why Imperator Hart would leave a potential ally alone with me?”
“He left you alone with someone he expected to hurt you. You’ve met him before, haven’t you? Seen how he works? That’s why he’s trusting me to be here. I was Rhyan’slover.Remember?” She rolled her eyes. “He hasn’t seen past that, hasn’t seen or considered what else I could be—or the possibility that you could move past it either.”
The fire crackled as a log shifted. I turned around, finishing my glass of water, while trying to breathe. Trying to think. I needed to prepare for what was next. Figure out how to help Meera and Rhyan. How to escape Seathorne. Not only were our lives at stake, but we only had a month to get to Jules. A fucking month to infiltrate the capital. And now Aemon knew where we were going.
What if Kenna hadn’t just been sent to upset me? But to betray me?
I stared out the window, taking in how dark the night’s sky was. Hardly any torches could be seen on the horizon with the snow still falling.
“What time is it?” I asked.
“Nearly seven,” Kenna said.
I’d been unconscious the whole day. Twelve hours. Twelve hours Rhyan had been alone and imprisoned. Twelve hours Meera had been in isolation. And twelve more hours Jules was at the capital and I had no plan to rescue her.
“Imperator Hart has requested dinner with you. He has more questions. I was instructed to help you get dressed for your meeting. He’ll call for you in an hour. Your clothes have been set out. I’ll show you the shower and I can help you into your dress.”
I stiffened.
“The ties,” she said, “are not the ones you’re accustomed to lacing in Bamaria. I’ll help you, if you want me to.”
“I’m not wearing some dress picked out by your fucking husband,” I said. And my discomfort aside, I certainly wasn’t going to be dressed up like a doll by Rhyan’s ex-lover.
“Lady Lyriana,” she said, her voice pleading.
But before I could respond, there was a violent pounding on the door. Kenna froze, her eyes widening. The shift in her aura was palpable. Full of fear and apprehension. It felt like I’d suddenly risen too quickly to an altitude that made it hard to breathe.
“Let me do the talking,” she said quickly, moving protectively in front of me.
The door slammed open, and Kane strolled in, his red Arkturion cloak swishing with each step, his elbows bent, hands fisted. His aura filled the room at once, overtaking any sensation of Kenna’s. It was violent and angry. And powerful. I had no doubt now in my mind of who he was. This was the reincarnation of a God. Of Shiviel. Glemaria’s warlord.
