She shared every detail of the last three years, how the Dissent found her, recruited her, trained her, and ultimately manipulated her. She shared what she’d learned, how Nadine wasn’t dead at all, but alive and training on Oranos right now. Christian listened intently, hanging on every word. When she reached the revelation about how the Dissent knowingly sent her to her doom, a muscle feathered in his jaw.
“Reymond played me.” She sniffled, her shoulders slouching. “He saw a stupid, seventeen-year-old orphan who desperately missed hersister, and he turned her into a pawn. Stars, I was such a fool.” Gemma shook her head again as a tear ran down her cheek.
“You’re not a fool.” Christian caught the tear before it fell in her lap. “If someone told me that Lysa had been murdered, I’d want to kill them too.”
“But—”
“No, Gemma. Reymond used your love for your sister against you, and I swear to Illari, if I ever see him, I will put a bullet through his brain.” Christian’s gaze was fierce, his eyes full of fury.
She’d seen him in battle. He never missed.
Reymond had better hope he never crossed paths with Christian.
“I really am sorry,” Gemma said, casting her gaze to the floor.
Christian tucked his finger under her chin, lifting so her eyes would meet his. “There is nothing to be sorry for.”
For minutes, Gemma sat wrapped in Christian’s arms, thankful for the quiet that followed. With her ear against his chest, she listened to his steady heartbeat. Its rhythm was soothing, grounding. As was the stroking of his thumb on her hand.
Until his tight voice broke the silence. “How bad was it?”
“Bad enough that I don’t want to talk about it.” She hadn’t meant for it to sound as snippy as it had, but reliving those terrifying moments, remembering the pain and humiliation...She wouldn’t subject him to those memories.
Thankfully, he didn’t pry.
A thought crossed her mind. “How did you know I wasn’t in prison?” She sat up so she could look at him.
“I passed Rami in the hall and couldn’t help but ask about you.” There was a sadness in his eyes. “He told me you were here.”
Gemma frowned. Despite how angry he had been with her, he’d still checked on her well-being. How he could continue to care for her, she would never understand. But she was so glad he did.
Christian touched her cheek. “You look tired. Do you want me to go?”
Her stomach dropped, and she adamantly shook her head. “No, stay with me. Please.”
“I’m going to have to sleep in my underwear. You gonna be able to handle that?” Christian winked.
Typical. Always trying to lighten the mood. Gemma couldn’t help the small smile.
Gemma would have offered the use of her costumery to Christian, but the thought of him sleeping next to her in nothing but his underwear was way too appealing. So, when he didn’t bring it up, she opted not to.
She, on the other hand, made sure to wear the longest top she could find to hide the wounds on her side and back. The last thing she needed was for him to spot the physical ramifications of her naiveté.
Within mere minutes of Gemma’s head touching the pillow, she was asleep.
Gemma stood holding a gold chalice, filled to the brim with red liquid, in a room made of stone. Rami stepped forward and took the cup from her, mouthing words that Gemma couldn’t hear.
He nodded past her, signaling at something behind her. Gemma turned around to find Nadine sitting on a stone altar, dressed in a long, black gown. She grinned at Gemma, her blue eyes bright with joy.
Rami stepped around Gemma and handed Nadine the cup. She took a sip, her gaze never leaving Gemma’s.
A second after the chalice left her lips, Nadine began to foam at the mouth, her blue eyes turning black.
Gemma jumped back, her heart pounding in its cage. What had she drunk?
Nadine clutched at her throat, a scream roaring from inside her, piercing the chamber so violently that the stone walls began to shake.
“Gemma, wake up!”
