Something he was missing...
And as he was thinking, sudden clarity slammed into him like a fist to his jaw. It was staggering and it took him a moment to accept the only truth it could be.
How had he missed it?
The traitor wasn’t the snake inhisgarden that he’d been looking for.
It was the one who’d been whispering hatred in Renata’s ears... The one vile unicorn who had kept pitting her against him.I am blinder than a Stoneman...
And dumber than the boots on his feet.
Because he’d been so distracted by his duties, he’d ignored those off-hand comments that should have made him send the bitch at his sister’s righthand packing.
“Keryna,” he growled the name with all the fury flowing through him.
Tanis exchanged a confused scowl with Ambrose. “What?”
“A friend of Renata’s. She showed up out of nowhere a couple of years ago and ingratiated herself to my sister. She wasn’t one ofmyadvisors. She was Renata’s. Keryna had to be the one who started all this.”
Tanis cocked her head and looked completely baffled. “If she’s your sister’s friend, how could she lead a rebellion against you?”
Dash rubbed his forehead as he saw everything so clearly now. “She was always running her mouth and stirring dissentionbetween my staff and advisors. She even tried to turn Ryper with her maliciousness. Thankfully, he was smarter than that and knew me better.”
Even now, he could hear Ryper laughing about her malignant lies as he told Dash about one of his encounters with her.She actually tried to make me think that you control and manipulate me. Thatyougaslight me, brother.
As ludicrous an accusation as had ever been made.What did you tell her?
What else? Go fuck herself.
Ryper wasn’t one who held back his thoughts or emotions. Which was why he was invaluable to Dash. Everyone knew where they stood with Ryper.
Shaking his head, he met Tanis’s dark gaze. “I told Renata to get rid of her. Repeatedly. Instead, my sister attacked me for being heartless and unkind where Keryna was concerned.”
You don’t understand, Dash. She has no one else in this world. She was run out of the last three homes she’s had. They were so cruel to her. She’s known nothing save abuse. You need to show her kindness. Of all people, you know what it’s like to be hated.
He’d been so furious at his sister and her unfounded support of that troublemaking unicorn no one else could stand.Thrown out for a reason, Ren. Listen to her. She treats everyone around her like shit. She’s a nasty dart donkey.
Renata had just glared at him.That’s not fair. You hate everyone.
I hate assholes. I can’t help it if she’s the reigning queen of them.
And so had gone almost every conversation they’d had about Keryna. From the moment he’d first met her, he’d disliked her to such an extent that he’d gone out of his way to avoid her. Just theway she smirked instead of smiled. The way she curled her lip as if she were forever smelling something foul.
She talked down to their servants and his sister and had tried to do the same with him until she realized he had a tongue that could let more blood than his dagger. Not to mention her backhanded compliments that had set his teeth on edge.
The only thing about Keryna that he’d liked was her absence.
In fact, one of the last conversations they’d had, Renata had sworn to him that she’d send Keryna packing.
She’ll be gone by morning, Dash. I’ll take care of it.
Instead of leaving, Keryna had come to his study to tell him that Renata had runaway after their fight.
But what if the fight they’d had over the centaur rebellion hadn’t caused Renata to leave? What if Renata had told Keryna to get out and that bitch had murdered Renata instead?
No...
She wouldn’t have dared.
