Pharis’ voice turned vicious.
“He didn’t even fight for you. And he gets rewarded for that?”
“He gets rewarded for being a good man, anhonestman who’s up front about his feelings,” I said. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t go back to him and stop the wedding.”
There was a stretch of silence so long I thought Pharis wasn’t going to respond, but finally he did.
“I’ll give you a very good reason,” he said. “On the night of the ball, Stellon asked me to glean the matchmaker’s glamour anduse it to help him locate the best match for him among all the ladies in attendance.”
“And?” I prodded, my heart racing.
“It told me you were theworstmatch for him out of everyone there. My horse would be a better match for you than Stellon.”
“And apart from Dargan and Cimmerian, did her glamour identify abettermatch for me?” I challenged.
Pharis’ gaze darted around nervously, and my fear-sensing glamour was blaring with certainty. He was terrified for me to know the answer.
Which made me all the more desperate to hear it.
I was daring him to confess he was in love with me, that we were meant to be together.
He didn’t. Instead, he looked away and evaded the question.
“It doesn’t matter. Stellon’s wrong for you.”
“And yetheloves me,” I said. “And he’s willing toacton it. I can’t live a life devoid of love, Pharis. I won’t. So either let me go… or give me a reason to stay. Arealone.”
Pharis closed his eyes, a parade of conflicting emotions passing over his face.
Finally, he opened them and then opened the door.
“Tell Kem to pack your things quickly. We’ll have to leave tonight if you want to arrive before the wedding takes place.”
Chapter 19
True Love
Pharis
The night before Stellon’s wedding, under cover of darkness and my shadows, we arrived at the gates of Seaspire.
I’d almost turned back toward my own castle a thousand times, but in the end, Raewyn was right. I couldn’t keep her in limbo forever, even in the name of keeping her safe.
She was also correct that Stellon still wanted her, still searched for her, even up until the day of his wedding.
He didn’t deserve her. He’d failed her too often in the past.
But so had I.
And the things she’d said about him—that he was honest and good and more than willing to love her… they were all true.
Ultimately shewouldbe safer with him. He was safer for her.
I’d been lying to myself to ever think otherwise.
Stellon was King now. He could protect her at least as well as I could, probably better.
Most importantly, if Raewyn stayed with me at Stormcrest, I wouldn’t be able to protect her fromme.
