“All that matters is we know the truth, Gen, and we make this right.”
She pulls back and looks at me. “We’ll right the injustices in this country together. We’ll share your blue blood, but we’ll make sure Mother, the council, and every member of the court who lauds blue blood over red blood understands the sacrifice that comes with that blood. We’re going to end the divide in this country, and I need you by my side to do it.”
“We have the rest of our lives to make these changes. First, we’ll get through the final years of your mother’s reign and ensure she abdicates. Then we start the changes this kingdom needs. Together. You can make these changes happen, Gen. I know you can.”
She looks at me with those soft, dark blue eyes, and I don’t know how I ever thought I wanted to ruin this woman. This precious, kind, resilient woman has quietly endured her own struggles and becomestronger for them. I know I’ve suffered because of Queen Penelope’s decision to tear us apart, but she has too. She carries her suffering in her blood, in the curse that nearly broke her.
“I’d like that,” Gen says as she takes my hand in her small, warm one. With her free hand, she guides my face to hers. Slowly—as if we have our whole lives in this place—we make love, the promise of a future brighter than our past in every stroke of our bodies, in every shared breath mingling as one.
Afterward, we settle under the blankets together, extinguish the lights, and I wrap my arms around her.
Sleep has always been something I’ve despised, something I’ve tried my damnedest to avoid. But tonight, I know that for the first time in years, I’ll fall asleep a contented man.
39
Genevieve
“Get out of that bed, Genevieve!”
A voice dripping with hatred rips me from sleep, and I jolt upright against Kieran’s strong, warm body.
Kieran stirs beside me with a curse, then suddenly there’s a cold absence where he’d been. He’s already on his feet, looming over my younger brother. “What do you think you’re doing here, Gabriel?”
“Arresting you, you bastard! Get away from my sister this instant!” Gabe snarls, while I yell at him to leave the room. He doesn’t move. I’ve never seen him look at me with such spite.
“I’m not going anywhere without Gen,” Kieran says, and I yank the blankets tighter over my bare skin.
Outside the door, bootsteps thunder up the stairs, followed by a woman’s voice that makes my heart stop.
“What is the meaning of all this?” Kieran demands.
“Kieran Greenbluff, you’re under arrest for kidnapping the Crown Princess Genevieve Ashcroft, for blackmail, impersonation, improper use of helachite, murder, and for treason.”
“No!” I shout, stepping between them. “Get out of here, Gabriel! Have you gone mad? Kieran hasn’t done any of those things!”
Gabe’s brown eyes burn with fury. “I should have had him arrested the moment I knew who he truly was. Now he’s going to pay for his crimes. Leave the room so I can restrain him. That’s an order for your safety—and find some damn clothes, Genny!”
I press back against Kieran. My smaller frame isn’t much of a shield, but I know neither of them will dare harm me. “There is no condition in which I leave him right now, Gabriel!” My voice hardens. “Get out. That’s an order—from your future queen.”
My brother sneers, a look I’ve never once seen on him. “So it’s true? You ran away with him? You’ve gotten us into this mess? Oh, that’s rich. Mother’s going to love that.”
“Leave her out of this and get out!” I retort, shoving him with both ungloved hands.
“Mother’s here, Genny. She’s downstairs.” Gabe points toward the door. “I’ll let you get dressed, but after that I’m arresting this prick and bringing him back to Crawford in chains.”
He turns and leaves without another word.
Kieran immediately pulls me into his arms, shielding me as thoughIwere the one in danger, as though he wasn’t the one about to be shackled and dragged away.
I twist in his hold and cling to him, feeling the frantic beat of his heart against mine. “I won’t let them harm you,” I insist, a promise. I mean every word. I will do anything—anything—to protect him.
“Gen, look at me.”
I lift my gaze. His expression is unreadable, controlled.
“If your mother is here,” he says quietly, “I want you to follow orders. They can drag me back to the palace in handcuffs if they like—I’m sure she’s always wanted the opportunity to arrest me. But we both know these charges are fabricated. We’ll sort everything out at Fairbright. Just don’t give her any reason to strike at you.”
“No.” My words are edged with hatred. “This is wrong. She can’t do this to you. She’s already destroyed your life once—I won’t let her do it again. And Gabe?” My throat tightens. “I hate him for going along with her.”
