“Even when nobody in Pendralia is loyal to you?” he calls. “She’s been in his room every night since he returned. Did you know that? Of her own free will too. Genevieve tells me they’ve grown quite close.”
“She’s his wife.”
“And he could have any woman he wants, but he always wants the ones you have, doesn’t he?” Ludis is right behind me, and I realize I’ve stopped walking.
“If you knew anything, you’d know that in most of the stories of our childhood, I’m the villain.” I walk away, hating that I’m tempted to turn back.
Forty-One
Sabina
All I want to do is take a bath and soak in the hot water until my limbs no longer ache. Training with Caiden is helpful, but I think it’s more exhausting than the work I did with Brevan. I had no idea how much using magic could hurt.
Nate nods at me, and I give him a weak smile. I’m too tired for any other conversation and every time I see him, I feel more guilty for not telling him about Rosalyn. Eventually, I need to, but I wanted to make sure it was the same kind of magic before I got his hopes up.
I open my door and step into my room to find it occupied by all of my ladies. That’s not entirely unusual, but the fact that they all instantly paused their conversation and turned to me is.
“What’s going on?” I take a few more steps into the room, then stop.
“Have you seen him yet?” Antonia asks.
“Who?” The second the word leaves my lips, my stomach flips. I think I know exactly who they’re asking about.
Anya must see it in my expression because she hops up from her chair and starts toward me. “He arrived back a couple of days ago. At least that’s the gossip.”
“Days ago?” The words feel like sand in my mouth. Brevan’s back. He’s been back, but he didn’t even say hello. Things must really be over between us.
“So, you haven’t seen him,” Charlotte says sadly.
I look over at her, and the expression on her face is like a punch to my gut. “None of that. There’s nothing between us. Not anymore.”
“I hate that for you,” Charlotte says.
“It’s probably better that way,” Genevieve adds.
Everyone turns to her, and I can feel the tension rise.
“She’s right,” I say quickly.
“But she loves him,” Charlotte whines.
“He’s working with Ludis,” Genevieve says. “I saw them together when he returned, and he was not happy. But I’ve seen them a couple more times. Whispering. They don’t let me close enough to hear.”
“You knew this and you didn’t tell us?” Antonia hisses.
“I didn’t want to hurt her,” Genevieve explains. “I mean Ludis and Brevan can’t be good. And with her history with them…”
I turn and head back to the door.
“Where are you going?” Anya calls.
“To welcome back the enforcer, of course,” I say.
“I don’t think you should do that,” she says.
“Why not? If he’s spending time with Ludis, I need to know why.”
“I’ll come with you.” Anya starts toward the door, but I hold up my hand then shake my head. She stops.
