His brow furrowed. “No.”
She didn’t sense a lie, but she still pressed, “It couldn’t have been a mission you were left out of?”
He shook his head. “I would have been brought in for something like that—especially with my position as a palace guard.” The implication in his words was horribly clear, as was his determined resolution. If asked, Bram would have helped assassinate Jayveh.
Suddenly, his fingers around her arms felt too constrictive. But she resisted pulling away. Just as she resisted thinking about Bram as an assassin. That he could be a danger to her best friend.
Bram’s eyes narrowed. “What happened at Esperance? I was told that you, Samuel, and Tam were all part of the Rising. Why isn’t she here?”
He hadn’t been told about Jayveh, then. Amryn wasn’t sure why. Perhaps the Rising had wanted to keep such a potentially high-ranking spy a secret? Or perhaps—as Tam had told them at Esperance—Jayveh’s uncle had already cast doubt on her loyalty. Tam had been fooled by Jayveh’s act, at least for a while. But maybe others in the Rising had already decided she couldn’t be trusted?
“Lady Amryn?” Bram asked, drawing her back to the present.
“Tam betrayed the Rising.” The lie all but leapt out of her. It was pure, defensive instinct.
Bram tensed. “That doesn’t make sense. She was chosen to lead—”
“She was fueled by a personal agenda,” Amryn cut in. Using a shred of truth to weave her lies, she said, “Tam was angry at her father, and at the emperor, for making her go to Esperance while her mother was on her deathbed. She wanted her own revenge against them, and she used the Rising to get it. She didn’t care about the larger mission; she orchestrated her own. She rushed things at Esperance, endangering all of us.”
Bram muttered a curse. Agitation spiked as he released his hold on her, taking a small step back. “Are you certain she betrayed us?”
“Yes. Because of her, Samuel and I weren’t able to fulfill our parts of the larger plan.” No need to tell Bram that Tam had gotten copies of the imperial seals, and whatever else she’d managed to steal from Esperance. “She sabotaged everything for her own vengeance,” Amryn said firmly. “Tam is dangerous, especially to the Rising. She’ll spin any lie to get what she wants. She can’t be trusted.” Amryn didn’t know if that would be enough to protect her if Tam contacted the Rising and told themAmrynwas the real traitor—and an empath. But even if discrediting Tam was only a feeble defense, it was better than nothing.
Bram’s expression was grim. “Tell me everything.”
Amryn proceeded to do so—leaving select parts of the story out, of course. When she finished, Bram shook his head. “I can’t believe this . . . And Prince Argent is really dead?”
Amryn’s stomach clenched. “I believe so. But the emperor believes he’s Tam’s hostage.”
“Regardless, Tam must be found,” Bram murmured. “If we can find her first, we can know for certain what she did with Prince Argent.” His eyes darkened. “And she can be punished for betraying the Rising and endangering you. I’ll tell my superior.”
She pursed her lips, uncomfortable with Bram’s protectiveness. Not when she was being dishonest with him. Still, she asked, “Who is your superior?”
He eyed her. “You know I can’t tell you that.”
It wasn’t suspicion he felt, but there was a stirring of disquiet inside him that made her nod. “Of course. Sorry. This is just all so overwhelming . . .”
His expression softened. “I know. I’m sorry, Lady Amryn.” He glanced toward the door. “I can’t risk staying much longer, or someone may notice the door isunguarded. But I needed to see you. Not just to get your report on Esperance, but because things are in motion here and the Rising could use your help.”
A chill tracked down her spine. “With what?”
“Can you make contact with Samuel?” Bram asked, instead of answering her. “We need as much help as we can get.”
“I . . . I’m sure I can get a message to him.”
Relief spiraled through him. “Good. I have some arrangements to make with my superior, but I’ll get you word as soon as I can about a meeting. I won’t be guarding your door every day—they vary shifts here to keep us from becoming complacent at any post—but I’ll make contact again when I’m able. In the meantime, be careful. Take no unnecessary risks.”
The concern that poured from him made her gut churn. He was deeply concerned for her, yet she was being disloyal to him.
Bram was staring at her. Waiting for her to make some kind of reply. “I’ll be careful,” she finally managed to say, her voice a little hoarse. “Please do the same.”
Bram’s eyes softened. He set a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. “You’ve been so brave, and you’ve done so much for the cause. Marrying that monster . . .”
Amryn’s heart constricted.
Bram misread her sudden tension. His eyes narrowed. “Has he hurt you?”
“No,” she said. Perhaps too quickly to be believable, because a muscle in Bram’s jaw ticked.
