What was he doing? He looked very concerned about her upset with him—which wasveryconcerning to me.
The witch hadn’t done her virgin-test on him.
Was Raewyn so upset because she and Pharis actuallyhadbonded? He said he’d done whatever he had to do to gain her confidence, and apparently he’d succeeded, at least temporarily.
Even now when it was truly over for the two of us, that possibility hurt.
The fact that she could claim to love me then move on so quickly to my brother.
The fact thathewould take advantage of Raewyn’s gratitude to him for helping her and her family to escape and seduce her—it destroyed any notion I’d ever had of him being a good person.
He’d been lusting after her since the night of the Opening Ball, and I guessed he’d finally added her to his list of conquests.
If ithadgone all the way, there was only one consolation for me.
Once Raewyn was put to death, Pharis would spend eternity alone.
And he’d deserve it.
When we finally reached the palace, Raewyn was taken, once again, to the dungeon where soldiers were stationed outside her cell.
I was, once again, imprisoned in my suite. But things were so much worse than they’d ever been.
Raewyn wasn’t at risk this time of remaining a prisoner or even being forced into a retinue—she was going to be executed.
Tomorrow.
Father was convinced that once she died, my heart would be freed from a spell.
I knew the truth—my heart would be forever broken. I really would refuse to bond with anyone else and deny him the legacy he wanted so much.
If he wanted the Randalin name to carry on, it would have to be through my duplicitous brother. For all I knew, he’d be incapable of it because he’d already bonded with the love of my life.
As if summoned, the back-stabber came through the door.
Once again, I refused to speak to him or even look at him, turning away and staring out the window at the rain that struck the glass like tiny arrows.
I couldn’t help but hear him, though. I might have been able to block him out mentally, but my ears unfortunately worked just fine.
“I did what I had to do,” Pharis said. “Father was incensed enough to slay you on the spot in addition to Raewyn—and me as well.”
Furious, I spun to face him. “I wish he had. My life means nothing without her. And you…”
I shook my head, heartsick. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
Pharis took a step toward me, his hands out. “Do you have no faith in me at all, brother?”
“I did—until you stole the woman I love and then threw her under a charging chariot when your own neck was in jeopardy.”
“Don’t you see that what I said saved her life?”
I snorted. “For the moment.”
“A moment was all I had to work with.”
“Brilliant plan,” I said. “And now the whole world will watch and cheer at her death.”
Pharis flung his hands up in apparent exasperation.
