Silence settled between them.
Skye inched forward, twisting her fingers together. “Ye said that ye would leave Mason in the dungeons while ye decided what to do with him. But he’s a victim too, is he nae? So surely he should go free. He’s innocent.”
“Innocent? He drugged and kidnapped ye. I feel sorry for him, having someone he loved threatened in that way, but it doesnae excuse his actions.”
She tasted copper, as if she’d put a penny under her tongue. Her lip began to sting, and she released it from between her teeth.
“Then what will ye do with him?”
He eyed her pityingly. “Ye ken what I do to traitors, lass.”
She gulped. “Ye cannae mean it.”
He tilted his head. “I am thinking of yer safety, lass.”
“Mason is me friend. Left to his own devices, he would never have done such a terrible thing.”
“Most men wouldnae do terrible things without a wee push from someone or something. That doesnae excuse the terrible things.”
“I didnae say that it would. And I disagree. Wicked men do terrible things. Mason isnaewicked.”
Evander glanced away for a moment. “I’ll think about it. I’ll nae make any rash decisions, daenae worry. But these decisions aremine, ye understand?”
She nodded, choking back a gasp of relief. Surely he would not execute Mason.
That thought was followed by a rush of shock that she knew somehow that Evander would not execute Mason. That he hated injustice and the sting of it all just as much as she did.
Perhaps I ken him better than I thought I did.
A minute passed, the seconds dragging by. They stood opposite each other, neither one making a move to either back away or walk forward.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
Evander lifted his head. “Sorry? What are ye sorry for?”
“I… I feel responsible. I brought Mason here. I arranged our wedding. Me coming here is the catalyst for all of this. I ken how hard ye worked to bring peace and stability to yer clan. And now it’s all ruined.”
He eyed her, his eyebrows drawing together. Gingerly, he took a step forward, then another. Slowly, as though afraid she might bolt, he lifted a hand to her face. Warm fingertips ghosted across her cheekbone.
Closing her eyes, she let the sensation sweep over her as he tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The touch lingered, as if he could not bring himself to draw his palm away from her warm cheek.
“If anything, the fault is mine,” he murmured. “The danger and disloyalty came from within the keep, nae without it. This marriage has been nothing but a trial to ye.” He lifted his chin, letting his hand drop. “Ye will be relieved when it is annulled.”
Skye flinched. “What? I thought I had a month to decide.”
“I have made the decision for ye. This marriage doesnae suit us. It has only brought danger. So I will annul it.”
“But why?”
Did he hear the note of desperation in her voice?
Skye shifted, a little surprised by it.
A few days ago, was I nae convinced that I wanted the wedding annulled? I wasnae even sure that there’d been a wedding. Now I daenae want it to end. When did that happen?
“Well, ye daenae want it,” Evander responded, with a tight, not-quite-sincere smile. “And I cannae be chasing after a bride while me clan is in an uproar. I must focus on me people. I need to root out traitors and settle me council.”
“And the council hates me, I take it? That’s why ye are getting rid of me.” Bitterness laced her voice.
