“What?”
Gerard didn’t move. He just stared at the floor.
“Is something wrong?” Elias asked.
Gerard exhaled and rubbed at the back of his neck. “Not really. I just … I spoke to Albert and Prince Beau on the way here. Your half-brother—” His lips pursed. “—he made accusations against you.”
“What accusations?” Suddenly Gerard had Elias’s full attention.
Or almost his full attention. Elias could just glimpse the white of the mask beneath the edge of the table. Nothing could have his full attention until that was locked away and hidden in the secret compartment in his trunk.
“I don’t believe them, of course,” Gerard rushed out. “I know your half-brother is a liar. But I wanted to raise it with you.”
“What accusations, Gerard?”
Gerard paced back and forth. He walked past the table and the chair, so close to Elias’s secret. Elias’s heart galloped. His throat clenched.
Gerard stopped walking, right next to the chair with the mask on it. “He said you called me vile and repulsive. He said you called me the dragon wretch.” His voice came out tight and strained. “But I know he lies. I know you would not say that.”
Elias’s heart dropped. Because he had said that. He’d said those exact words to convince his stepmother to arrange the marriage between him and Gerard. He shouldhave thought that it could get back to Gerard. He should have mentioned it before now.
But he could explain now. Tell the truth. Gerard would understand. He would believe Elias.
Elias licked his lips. He stepped forward. “I did say those things, but only?—”
“What?” Gerard swung around. His arm knocked the chair. It teetered.
Elias held his breath.
The mask fell. It clattered onto the floor, right in front of Gerard. The white-and-gold mask rocked from side to side. Then finally it lay unmoving, staring with its empty sockets straight up at Gerard.
Chapter
Fifty-One
Gerard froze. He stared down at the mask, body unmoving. He did not breathe. His heart stopped. The world ground to a halt.
For a second, he could almost swear that he saw the gold lightning on the white mask flash and zigzag towards him, about to strike.
His muscles tensed. And suddenly he was back. Skin searing. Muscles convulsing. His body screaming as he struggled to gain control and fly. He gritted his teeth as an echo of the past reverberated through his body.
And he kept remembering. The second strike hitting him. Everything disappearing. He touched a shaking hand to his right face, over the eye patch.
With a jerky movement, Gerard reached for the dagger hanging at his waist. He took a step back, eyes wide as his gaze remained fixed on the white-and-gold mask.
“Gerard! Gerard!” Elias asked, as if from a distance.
He looked at Elias, whose eyes were filled with concern. Gerard looked backat the mask.
“Wh … whe …” His mouth wasn’t working. His hand on the hilt of his dagger tightened. He yanked the blade free. “Where did it come from?” His head whipped around, searching the room.
But he could see no one. No one but Elias.
Had someone planted this mask? Or was someone hiding?
Gerard prowled, muscles coiled, holding the dagger, ready to strike. All the while, he tensed, preparing for the agony of a lightning blow to hit him.
He’d be unable to shift in a room this small. But he knew how to use his dagger. He knew how to fight and defend and kill. “Get behind me, Elias!”
