“So you will choose my brother and bond with him then?” he demanded angrily.
I looked from Stellon to Pharis then back again, another piece of the shell dropping away.
“No. I’ve learned my lesson about both of you,” I said. “You didn’t tell me the full truth, but neither did Pharis.”
I turned to him.
“Andyoucompelled me to come back here and marry your brother, taking away my choice in the matter. I’ve had my fill of Elven princes and their half-truths. I will be with no one,” I said sadly.
“I’m sorry,” Pharis whispered, looking miserable.
Then in my mind I heard him ask,Is that what you really want?
He stepped toward me, and I took another step back, putting my hands up between us.
“I just… I need some space and time away frombothof you. I need to be sure that the thoughts I’m thinking are my own.”
Pharis dropped his waiting hand and said, “As you wish.”
Then silently, he vowed,I will take you directly to your family and then walk away, if that’s what you want. Let’s just get out of here.
Unaware of Pharis’ private promise, Stellon stepped close to me again.
“Youmustforgive me,” he begged. “Give me a chance to make it up to you. In time, the pain of this revelation will fade, and you will find it in your heart to love me. You did once, you can love me again.”
“Anything’s possible,” I said. “But I’m not sure I want to try. You should marry Lady Helina. Maybe the seamstress can let out this dress again and repair it—it was Helina’s to begin with.”
Stellon’s jaw tensed. “I’m not going to marry Helina. You’re the only woman for me, and I won’t give up that easily. I won’tletyou leave me.”
My jaw dropped.
“What do you plan to do?” I asked. “Keep me in the dungeon until I change my mind? I’ve spent so much time in there, they should rename it ‘Raewyn’s chambers.’”
“No, of course not. You can have the finest suite in the palace. I’ll move out of mine and give it to you, if that would please you. You can have anything you want if you’ll just stay and marry me. We’ll have eternity to work things out.”
I took in his familiar blue eyes, his pleading expression. He was beautiful and obviously sincere. Once I might have been swayed by that combination.
“I don’t think that’ll be long enough. Goodbye, Stellon.”
Turning to Pharis, I said, “Let’s go.”
He nodded, and the two of us started walking toward the ballroom exit.
“You’re leaving withhim? No,” Stellon yelled, but when he tried to come after us, he seemed to be frozen in place.
His guards were similarly paralyzed.
“You’redoing this,” Stellon accused his brother.
Pharis stopped and looked back.
“Yes. It’s a paralytic glamour. It’ll wear off once we’re a certain distance apart.”
Though Stellon couldn’t move his body, he was still able to hurl accusations at his brother.
“You’reforcingher to go with you,” he said. “Using the glamour you stole from our father when you murdered him.”
Though I knew leaving was my own choice, Pharis didn’t deny it. He turned back to face the motionless King and kingsguard, sounding wholly unconcerned.
