Clearing my throat, I take a small step away from him. “So, any news?”
His eyebrows furrow, and after a moment of pondering, he shakes his head. “No. No news. Still waiting on the medical evaluation.”
“So Daegan is still locked up.”
“Yes. As he should be,” Adrian says simply.
“Not if he’s innocent.”
His eyes narrow, and it’s so slight it could almost escape my notice. But it doesn’t. “I knew the guard who was killed, you know.” He looks away, rubbing his hand on the back of his neck while he lets out a breath. “He wouldn’t…”
“Are you sure about that?”
Adrian stares off into the distance and shrugs his shoulders.
“I’m sorry if it was a friend of yours, but…”
“But what?” he asks, his eyes meeting mine again. This time there’s a hint of frustration or maybe even anger that he’s never shown toward me before.
“I believe her. So it’s hard to feel bad for him.” The image flashes through my mind again. Even if it does haunt me, it doesn’t mean I pity him anymore. “He was doing a terrible thing,” I finish with a whisper, averting my gaze to a tall blue plant instead.
“We’ll see,” Adrian says. I don’t like his tone.
“Yes. We will.”
With that, I turn and storm out of the garden.
Adrian doesn’t follow.
Chapter 12
“Elysande!”
Why do people keep finding me, keep calling out to me, when I’m trying to be alone? I sigh as I spin around, catching a figure running down the long, wide corridor toward me.
“Raef,” I say, surprised.
“Do you have a moment?” He doesn’t look even the slightest bit winded from the jog.
“Yes. What’s wrong?” I ask, but as I take in his expression, I change my question. “I mean… what’s not wrong? Is there good news?”
“They released Daegan,” Raef informs me with a grin.
“That’s… great news.”
“Yeah. I just wanted to thank you. I know you were on his side in the end. Even though he hasn’t… been the best to you.”
I lift an eyebrow.
“Okay, that’s an understatement. He’s not been the best version of himself, I’ll admit. But I’ve known him since we were kids, and he’s not like that. He just cares very passionately about his people and his—” He stops himself.
“His plan?” I ask, folding my arms.
“No.” He shakes his head. “He just cares very passionately about his people, as I said. And about doing the right thing. That’s all. And he doesn’t like anyone who gets in his way.”
“And I’m in his way? How?”
He shrugs. “You’re the daughter of the king who rules over this land so easily because the curse keeps everyone in line for him. You elvessit here in your castle and your village so comfortably while we suffer. So many people suffer.”
