Reyna had not been quick enough in her attack. She had failed Eislyn again, just as she had all those years ago.
Thane vanished, and an ageing male in alchemist robes appeared before Reyna. He murmured softly. “Please, princess. You must release her. We can save her, but you must give her to us.”
Numbly, Reyna nodded and allowed the alchemist to collect Eislyn in his arms. Blood stained his robes immediately. The red burned through the gold.
Thane took Reyna’s hands as she stared after her dying sister. “Tell me what happened.”
Slowly, Reyna looked up and stared into Thane’s concerned eyes, her heart roaring in her ears. “Your mother sent an assassin to murder me.”
17
Thane
Thane stared at his betrothed. She stood before him, soaked in blood in the middle of the dreary Zephyr Tower corridor. Surely she had not just accused the High Queen of the Air Court of sending an assassin to murder her. Imogen was not the type of fae to take these kinds of accusations lightly. She could be vicious when threatened. Already, she did not approve of Reyna. This would merely make it worse.
Reyna Darragh had led such a sheltered life. She did not know the kind of queen she now served.
“You are not thinking straight. Your ordeal has been overwhelming, I know. I will pretend that I did not hear you say such a thing,” Thane replied, clenching his hands. He strode from one wall of the corridor to the next, ignoring the line of leather-clad guards ready and waiting for further orders.
Reyna blinked, and her eyes cleared. “Love can make you blind to the truth.”
He flinched. “Just tell me what has happened. And unless you saw my mother herself, refrain from making accusations.”
“Very well.” Reyna lifted her chin and crossed her arms. Her hands were still soaked in blood, and her gown was covered in it, but she did not appear to even notice it. “We were on our way to speak with you about the Ruin and Eislyn’s access to the libraries. We thought you might lend us an ear. Perhaps we were wrong in that assumption.”
“I would have lent you an ear in regards to the Ruin.” He shook his head. “However, I cannot hear you accuse my mother of attempted assassination.”
Thane’s feelings toward Reyna were growing impossibly complicated. She was not queenly in the least, and she often spoke out of turn. She had more than once insulted him. Still, he found himself growing fond of her. Perhaps not the type of fondness that a male ought to feel for his future bride, but he did not wish to see her harmed. And he would protect her as best he could. That included protecting her from his own mother.
No, Thane did not believe that his mother sent an assassin after Reyna, but the queenwouldretaliate if provoked.
Reyna pressed her lips together. “Regardless, we decided to speak with you about it. On our way, we found ourselves lost. That was when the assassin appeared.”
Thane frowned. “And he was alone?”
“I saw no one else,” Reyna said. “This castle is a strange maze, but it was almost as though he knew we would be there.”
“Perhaps he had merely followed you from a distance,” Thane said.
“He was not behind us,” she said. “He was ahead.”
It was curious, he had to admit, but Reyna herself had admitted to navigating the castle falsely. “You do not know these towers. Some corridors connect in ways you would not have known. The attacker could have followed, and then used an alternate route to cut you off.”
Reyna’s frown deepened. “So, the assassin was someone who knows the castle well.”
“Dammit, Reyna.” With a growl, Thane strode toward her. “You cannot continue with this single-minded attack against my mother.”
She scoffed. “You truly believe thatIam the one attacking in this instance? While my sister is bleeding out in your alchemist’s ward?” With a bitter chuckle, she shook her head. “I actually had begun to believe that you would help us.”
She pushed past the row of guards, and then stormed down the corridor, her silver hair trailing wildly down her back. Thane stared after her, not knowing whether he should order his guards to bring her back or to let her go.
“Let her have some air, Thane. Just send a few guards after her to make certain she remains safe.” Lorcan edged up to his side. “She may be of ice, but she is fiery. You will get burned if you go after her now.”
Thane gave him a sharp look but waved at two of his guards to go. “You will forget what you have heard here this night.”
Lorcan lifted a brow. “You’re referring to the accusations. I would not speak of it to anyone, even if questioned sharply.”
“You cannot lie,” Thane pointed out. “Your refusal to speak of it would be answer enough, particularly for my mother.”
