“I support you,” I’d said, looking at Zandyr. “But I won’t support something wrong just because I care for you. And what happened today wasn’t right.”
“I know,” he’d said, resigned.
“The Lost Daughter will discover the truth, Brother,” were all the words of encouragement I could muster.
Now Zandyr had to pray she would understand.
I knew no such understanding awaited me.
As soon as I passed the guards with a curt nod and stepped into the fortress’ atrium, devoid of life at this hour, I felt Allie’s anger as plainly as my own.
I loosed a stuttered breath.
What the dagger had ripped, this wedding could tear beyond repair.
Mrs. Thornbrew’s quick steps met mine. She already had her robe and woolen night cap on, the tip flopped to the side, but she was smiling at me knowingly, like she’d been waiting all night for this moment.
“You shouldn’t have bothered getting out of bed for me,” I muttered, feeling lousier the wider her grin got.
“Pish posh.” She tsked. “Nadya and Geryll wanted to greet you, but I sent them to bed. That boy was buzzing with questions about the Capital. He can’t wait to see it.”
A heavy sigh ripped at my lungs. At least Geryll was happy.
She furrowed her brows. “Did something happen at the wedding?”
The inevitable.
That still didn’t make any of it right.
“Clan schemes.” I shrugged, hopefully dissipating her concerns. “Everyone’s alive.”
Broken, but alive–and that’s what mattered in this Clan.
Surviving.
“I suggest you leave all that mess and your frown at the door.” Mrs. Thornbrew approached and righted my robe, patting my chest. “She’s waiting in the dining room. She insisted on staying up until you returned, bless her.”
Not in her room. Definitely not in mine.
The dining room, where we’d negotiated our marriage contract.
Where we’d had our first kiss.
I tensed harder. Allie didn’t plan things recklessly, which I usually valued in her, among the myriad of other ways she impressed me daily.
If she was waiting for me there, there was a reason. A sinister one–which I deserved.
“I prepared a nice, grand meal for you two.” Mrs. Thornbrew winked at me. “And you’re both dressed for the occasion.”
I didn’t know what one would wear to an evisceration. Probably red robes, so the blood wouldn’t be as gory.
“Thank you,” I muttered as Mrs. Thornbrew retreated, winking at me one last time before she vanished down the shadows of the hallway.
At least she’d warned me.
I rolled my tight shoulders back and raced up the stairs, feeling worse with each step.
How Allie must have ached when she’d seen her cousin’s devastation in front of the altar. I had no love for her family and my own heart, as frozen as they all said it was, had panged for the Lost Daughter’s sorrow.
