“What did Lydrasa offer you?” I asked.
Erina had had a serpent of a friend in this keeper…then again, I’d had one in Lydrasa.
“She didn’t offer me anything,” Velle said. “Kyzaire, I don’t know what this is about. Please, I?—”
“What’s going on?” came a familiar voice from the open door. My thunderous glare flashed up, only to meet Erina’s wary eyes. She must’ve heard the rising voices.
Erina looked from Maudoric to Velle to me. I hadn’t seen her since the healer had attended to her this morning. She’d gone to her rooms to rest, saying that she’d been more fatigued than usual. It appeared she was just waking and had likely been on her way to find food in the kitchens.
“Kyzaire?” she prompted, and I nearly growled. I would needto speak with her about that. Even among company, my blood mate had no duty to use my title when she spoke to me.
“I’m merely asking Velle here a question,” I replied. “A question that would help answer the mystery of why she helped forge a letter in my hand and sent it to my pregnantkyranain Laras.”
Erina didn’t look surprised, but she did step into the room, her eyes sweeping over her friend. Had she already figured that out? Why hadn’t she voiced her suspicions?
If Velle was surprised to see Erina returned, she didn’t show it. At least until her gaze landed on my mate’s growing belly. Then I saw her jerk in surprise.
“Did you do that?” Erina asked softly.
Velle’s gaze swung around to me. “No, you don’t understand. I?—”
“I believe she asked you that question,” I answered, tilting my head toward my mate.
The keeper dragged in a sharp breath and turned to look at her supposed friend. “You don’t understand.”
“Then help me understand,” Erina said quietly. She was much too patient, I realized. More patient than I would ever be. “What happened? You saw my letter come here, and then what?”
Maudoric reached out to squeeze Erina’s arm, as if in apology. She took her duties seriously here, and it was likely she felt responsible for what had happened.
Velle’s shoulders sagged. “We thought you were lying.”
Erina jerked. “Lying? About the baby?”
“Yes.”
“You and Lydrasa?” she asked to confirm.
Velle inclined her head with a tight jaw.
“You know me, Velle,” Erina said quietly, staring at her once friend. “You think I would be capable of everything you told him? You think I would lie to try to getmoney?”
“Lydrasa convinced me that you were lying,” Velle said. “She said she had reports in Laras, that you were desperate for credits.She thought it was a ploy to get theKyzaire’s attention again after he had already rejected you.”
“But you believed her?”
“I don’t know what I believed,” she admitted. “It didn’t sound like something you’d do but…I know how desperation feels. I know that sometimes you do things out of desperation that might not be true to who you are.”
“And is that why you did this?” Erina asked. “Because you feltdesperate? Why? Because Lydrasa was threatening to take away your noble? The one she secured for you after you helped to drive me away from this keep? Or did you do it because you’re just a cruel person who wanted me to fail?”
Velle’s face twisted up. She stared at Erina in silence, an uncomfortable one that reverberated around the entire room.
“I don’t believe you’re a cruel person, Velle,” my mate said softly. “But you only care about yourself. I don’t blame you. I know how you grew up. It’s self-preservation, isn’t it?”
I studied Erina. She was more forgiving than I could ever be too, I realized. Because ifanyonedid that to me, I’d be sure to make it hurt. I would twist the dagger as I slid it out.
Selfishly, I was glad Erina was forgiving. Because what chance didIhave to win her back if she wasn’t?
None.
