I sat beneath the lemon tree, staring at my splayed palms.
“Crimson palms…” I whispered.
Mind firmly back in the present, I remembered what she’d done.
She’d gone to Kingston’s father about what she’d seen and overheard. My outrage over his betrothal. Her belief that he’d lured me into bypassing his father’s will.
She’d expected Drake D’Arthur to be pleased, but he…
She’s going to die.
I found Kingston by the lake. My father had just come. He told me the news.
What Drake D’Arthur planned to do.
What?Confusion colored his expression. He hadn’t heard yet.Landon, what do you mean?
They’re going to kill her!
Who? Who is going to kill who, Landon?
His voice faded in my memory, but he said my name again. Clearer now that he stood right in front of me.
“Landon?”
I lifted my head and met his worried gaze.
My voice croaked, but I forced out the truth. “He took her.”
Kingston hung his head and stepped closer. “Yes, he?—”
“Then, he killed her.”
He froze, confusion lining his features as he searched mine. “What? No, she’s alright. He just?—”
“I remember it now, Kingston. She died because of me. Because I chose you.”
“What? No, Landon, I meant Ben—” Realization filled his gaze. “Wait, you remember?” He shook his head to clear it, reaching out a hand to me. “I promise, we can talk more about that as soon as possible, but right now, Landon, it’s Quinn.”
I was on my feet as soon as her name left his mouth, hand locked around his wrist as he pulled me upright.
He gripped my shoulder, with fear in his eyes like I’d never witnessed.
It reverberated in my throat as my memories blurred. “Your father took her?”
“No,” he rushed out. “No, it wasn’t—It was Ben. Landon, Ben took her. He stole a golf cart and tricked her into going. Morty found her in the Round Tableau. She’s alright, but?—”
Whatever he said next, I barely heard it.
Blood rushed past my ears, the whoosh of it drowning everything else out as I thought through what he might’ve done. We’d left her unguarded.
“We need to go to her.”
Kingston nodded, his movements jerky and frantic. “Landon, my father, he’s coming. He’ll?—”
But before I could respond, another voice interrupted.
“He’llwhat, exactly?”
