He holds my gaze, and for a moment he looks nothing like the kind, bashful man I met at my dinner party. Then his expression softens, and that same guilt I glimpsed earlier returns to his face. “I’m your father, Rosaline, and you are my cherished child. I never wanted to hurt you. Everything I’ve done has been to protect you.”
“I believe you,” I say, for I’m sure his intentions were pure from his point of view. That doesn’t mean I agree with them. My voice comes out hollow. “I don’t hate you, nor do I like you. Maybe there’s hope for us in the future, but that starts with you letting me go.”
Father’s beady gaze darts from me to his guards. Soon I’ll know the truth about him. Would he rather risk my life and save his pride? Is he more concerned with keeping me under his control, more invested in revenge, than he is with my happiness? My wants?
“Horus,” Mother says in a sing-song voice. “Why are you hesitating?”
He purses his lips.
Mother’s expression flashes with rage as she rounds on her husband. “Let them go, Horus!”
His gaze whips to Mother’s, surprise tugging his mouth. “Divina—”
“She’s our daughter. What is there to think about?”
He shakes his head as if coming out of a daze. His shoulders tremble. “You…you’re right. Rosaline…go.”
I nearly take off at his words, but I know better than to take a step before I’ve secured a binding vow. “Promise me you will let us leave unharmed and unpunished. Swear that you’ll send no one after us, that you’ll release me, Minka, and Mr. Boris from all obligations as your subjects. That you’ll let Thorne walk free with us.”
Father does as I’ve requested, stating each term, his voice quavering over every word. Mother chimes in with an eager, “I swear to every term too.”
With that, Father waves at his guards and they step away, sheathing their swords and filing along the wall. I study my parents for a few silent moments, seeking any sign that I’ve left too much room in their promise. Father watches me with a tortured expression while Mother dons another one of her out-of-place smiles. Finally, Thorne takes my hand in his and folds his wings down his back. Minka lets out a last hiss at my parents, and we collectively turn down the hall and make our way toward freedom.
“Rosaline,” Mother calls, and my back stiffens. Her footsteps don’t follow, only her too-sweet voice. “We’ll see each other again, lovey! I’ll write to you. I’ll be a better mother, I promise.”
Her words do nothing to my heart. If she wants me to believe that, she’ll need to do more than write a few pretty letters. I swallow my reply and quicken my pace. Hand in hand with Thorne, I leave my family behind and exit with those who feel far more deserving of that term.
49
BRIONY
As promised, no one shadows our retreat as we rush outside to the garden. Once we’re several yards from the palace, Thorne turns me to face him. “We should fly. I want to get you away from here before anyone has a chance to change their mind.”
“Good plan,” Mr. Boris says before I can answer. “Get Her Highness off palace grounds. Minka and I will climb the western wall. We can reconvene at Blue Moon Lake. Do you know it?”
Thorne nods.
“Don’t drop her or I’ll kill you,” Minka says sweetly as she launches off my shoulder. Together she and Mr. Boris sprint for the wall.
A shudder of apprehension ripples through me now that I’m alone with Thorne. I haven’t had a chance to fully reconcile my recovered memories, and he and I have…a lot to talk about.
He seems to feel the same trepidation, as he stares down at me with a furrowed brow. Then, extending a hand, he asks, “May I?”
“Yes,” I say, stepping closer. He crouches down, lifting me beneath my knees and back. I encircle his neck with my arms and rest my head against his chest, lulled by the sound of his heart, the familiar scent of his skin.
How could I have forgotten this?
Splaying his wings out wide, he leaps up, and we shoot into the sky. We fly in tense silence, and once I feel our momentum shift, I realize our flight is almost at an end. My pulse quickens. While I know we need to talk, I almost wish our journey was longer, if only to give me time to gather the courage I’ll need to say what I’m prepared to say. But my wish isn’t granted, and too soon we land on the grassy shore of a small lake surrounded by towering trees. No wonder Mr. Boris suggested this sheltered location to reunite at.
Thorne sets me on my feet, every move slow as he releases me with clear reluctance. I stand facing him, hardly daring to meet his eyes.
“I’m so sorry.” His voice is a strangled whisper. “For everything I—”
“No,” I say, lifting my eyes to meet his. I clench my jaw, grinding my next words between my teeth. “You shut up and listen now. I told you I had a few choice words for you, and I meant that. I have exactly three.”
His throat bobs, but he says nothing, ready to accept whatever vitriol I spit his way.
I tick each of the three words off on my fingers, a glare burning in my eyes. “I. Love. You.”
