Page 76 of A Cruel Kindness

I felt Soren’s answering hum travel from his chest, right through his arm, and into my throat. “And you brought proof of that with you?”

Another nod, this one with a little more life behind it. Soren’s hand tightened slightly. His eyes were still bouncing all over my face like he was trying to memorize it. “You could have gotten caught a thousand times. You could have just ignored it. But you did something about it, even if it meant coming here. That’s bravery.”

My heart tripped over itself and fell right into his waiting hands. “But I … I lied to you.”

Soren just smiled. “So you did. We were in a much different situation then. Would you like to tell me the truth now?”

Surely, kissing him would be an inappropriate response to his question. “Part of it was true. My father was putting pressure on me to marry, and the likely candidate was Ambrose Greene.” Soren’s jaw pulsed at the mention of the Greene heir. We’d both grown up around him and knew first hand how much of an awful snob he was. “I broke into my father’s office to try to find something to blackmail him with.”

Soren’s thumb swept over the base of my neck, encouraging me. “I really just wanted to find something simple, something that could force him to let me pick a match for myself.” There was that pulse in his jaw again. “I found several letters from the Muli Royal family. We would have known if he’d responded.”

I shook my head, remembering what it was like to sit on the floor of his office surrounded by those letters, my shock harsh in the soft moonlight. “I couldn’t trust anyone to get a message back. If I tried to tell another Royal family, I’d be locked up for treason and called crazy. Maybe going to the priestesses was too far, but it was the only thing that made sense. I thought that if I was able to Cross, I might have a better shot.” I broke off with a laugh, shaking my head. “Maybe it was hasty or stupid to go to them first but…”

“You came to me. It was a good thing,” Soren said, and relief crashed through me so severely, my head fell to his chest.

His hand came up to cup my head, stroking softly against the fall of my hair. “You aren’t mad?” I asked, the sounds muffled against his shirt.

I could feel his smile against my hair. “Not mad. A little annoyed I was in the dark, yes? But I’m impressed you managed to slip Elijah a note when I’ve been watching your every move like a hawk. When did you do it?”

I buried myself further into him. “I slipped it down Carson’s shirt when I had the knife to his throat.”

Soren’s laugh rumbled against my forehead. “Ah, that makes sense. I was too busy trying to control myself. That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”

I slapped his chest, but it lacked any force. Especially when that compliment was making my body warm considerably.

“Oi!” Someone called from outside the barn. “Peter needs you.”

Rude, the Bond grumbled. I agreed.

I’d been starved for intimacy with Soren and people were interrupting every chance I got with him. I guess we did have important things to discuss.

Oh shit, I was probably in trouble. I’d undermined Peter’s authority and—

I hadn’t even realized I’d looked up at Soren with wild eyes until he said, “He won’t get mad. He might act like he is, but he wants what we all want. Peace. You got us closer to that than anyone has in a long time.”

When we left the barn, that same mob formed around us. Word spread like wildfire that we had just met with Elijah. Soren was pulled away from me by someone I only briefly recognized, while Freya walked next to me.

“Elijah seems … colorful,” she said.

“That is the best description I could use,” I said, forcing a smile, even though having Soren separated by several bodies made my skin itch.

The main house wasn’t any better. People were hanging around for an afternoon coffee, shamelessly trying to eavesdrop on the sliver of space underneath Peter’s door.

Soren led me inside and Freya followed. To my shock, Arthur was already inside. It was interesting seeing them interact when I was so used to seeing pairs with at least something in common.

Peter rolled his neck as he sat, the burden on his shoulders heavy. He looked to me first. “I’m not going to comment on the fact that you went behind my back when it clearly had a positive result, besides don’t do that shit again.”

Freya rolled her lips to hide a smile while my jaw went slack.

“I’m sending Freya through the Bridge tonight to summon the Royal Guard. I want you two hand delivering that,” Peter said motioning at the envelope clutched in my hand.

He wanted us to go home. Soren’s hand tightened on the back of my chair.

My gaze drifted to Arthur. He was clearly part of the cover meant to conceal Freya’s ability to Cross by herself. But … how?

He’d been on the other side with her. I’d seen him.

“Which brings me to my next point,” Peter said, prompting Soren to groan, throwing his head back dramatically.