“And you were rowing when we lost our way on the lake,” Tor added in a low voice.
“Gods and Angels.” Daena glared at them all. “I already explained that Usna had his dagger in my ribs. And I’m sorry that we got lost on the lake. I assure you that I had even less desire to climb the bloody gorge than you did.”
“But how can you explain that Andred’s men think you’re married to him?” Val demanded.
Daena wiped her hand down her face tiredly. Eventually, she looked up and met their eyes one at a time. “Andred was my lover. He was with me when the reivers attacked the temple, and he pulled me to safety when the beam fell on me. He had his people look after me when I was recovering. And I did live with him, in his tent, for some time. I helped him build his army….” Her voice faded away in misery.
“And then what happened?” Alanna asked more gently.
Daena shook her head, and Keely would have sworn she wasn’t going to answer. Finally, she admitted, “I found out that he had no intention of any kind of real relationship with me. I was a truth seeker and a warm body to him. Nothing more. That was when I realized exactly what he was planning. But by then it was too late.”
“Surely, if that was the case, you would have left?” Rafe demanded.
Daena gave a rough laugh. “Do you think Andred would have let me wander out, knowing what I knew? Let me send a letter to my family? It was never going to happen.”
“No.” Rafe shook his head angrily. “You’re a truth seeker. You would have known if he lied, right from the beginning.”
“I thought so too,” Daena agreed sadly, “which is why I never questioned anything.” She gave Rafe a pointed look. “The arrogance of the Nephilim.”
Daena closed her eyes for a long moment before opening them to look at the Hawks once more. “Andred did tell me the truth…. He just never told me all of it. It’s a hard day when you have to look at your reflection in the mirror and admit how badly you misread everything.” Her fingers lingered on her scar before she dropped her hands to her lap. “Just how badly you’ve messed everything up.”
Damn. That must have hurt. Even Rafe’s gaze softened slightly.
Keely pushed herself closer to Tor, feeling his reassuring warmth against her arm. Despite everything that had happened between them, he had only ever tried to help and protect her. Bard, she was lucky.
Tor scowled down at his plate, a bleak look on his face, full lips turned down, and she knew he would be thinking about Andred. The captain of the Wraiths, general of his own little army, a man with no morals or honor whatsoever, who killed and used people without hesitating. And now he was loose somewhere in Brythoria, with a vendetta against the queen.
There was only one thing they could do. “We have to go back,” Keely said softly. “We have to warn Lucilla.”
Alanna wrinkled her nose. “Val and I must keep going north. We have to get this treaty signed. We’re lucky that the snows have held off this long; if we wait any longer, the passes could close.”
“Yes,” Keely agreed. “You take Val and the men, and Tor and I will go back to Kaerlud.”
Tor wrapped a hand around the back of his neck, slowly shaking his head. “No.”
Keely turned to glare at him. “What do you mean, no?”
He met her glare with his own narrowed eyes. “I mean, no. First of all, it’s too dangerous for you and the baby to be on the road without any guards—”
Her spine snapped straight. “I can look after myself.”
He ignored her and kept speaking. “And secondly, you wanted to go home. You wanted to see mountains and spend time with your mam. If we go back, I don’t know when there’ll be another chance.”
Her whole body softened. “But what about you? I don’t—”
“I’ll come with you, of course,” he stated, as if it was all decided. “Messengers will warn Lucilla.”
“That would be a mistake,” Val countered. “They need you, Tor. You’re the best strategist of all of us. And Andred is a ruthless, intelligent enemy. You should go back.”
“I’m not leaving Keely,” Tor said firmly.
Keely stared at him for a long moment. He meant it all. He would go with her because it was what she had said she wanted. And because he didn’t understand just how valuable he was.
But she did.
She took both his hands, holding them tightly, and looked into his eyes. “I want to go to Kaerlud with you. I know it’s the right thing to do. We can visit Verturia another time. We’ll take the baby and show her around when she’s older.”
Tor shook his head, dark eyes filled with uncertainty.
