Chapter 10 #2
Scowling, Colm lifted his chin. “This is the first time anything like that has ever happened. There is no need for concern. It won’t happen again. Nonetheless, with no confession, I can’t allow a private conversation.”
I wanted to choke him. To rip each claw ring off his hand and impale them in his fingertips, but I gritted my teeth instead.
They’d probably have a way to listen to our conversation regardless, though I'd have happily risked it. I couldn’t stand the hostile eyes on Briar.
I wanted to sweep her close, brush the matted hair from her face, and whisper vows of vengeance and devotion.
For now, I had to hope that she would understand the truth that lurked beneath the surface and that we all had a role to play.
I inclined my head at Colm’s words, pretending to consider them. “Very well. I suppose it makes little difference in the end.” I turned my attention to Briar.
The oil lamp flickered, and the foul air in the room pressed far too close.
She met my gaze with a mix of defiance and fear.
If she knew I was bluffing, she gave no sign.
In truth, she likely believed I did hate her.
My shadow stroked her ankle beneath the hem of her stained skirt, and she shivered.
My heart shattered into even smaller pieces. It wasn’t your fault. I know it wasn’t you. I’m going to save you.
If only she could hear my thoughts. All the things I longed to tell her.
Wishing was for fools.
I had never dreamed of finding someone whom I would love, let alone someone my sister and father both approved of as well. And these bastards had stolen her from me.
With every ounce of self-control, I hardened my voice. “Speak, woman, and tell me what happened.”
She looked down her nose, and her lips trembled. Her copper hair was all tangled, plastered and matted to her skull. “I did not kill him. I went to Rhielle’s room because I saw the door was open, and then someone attacked me?—”
“Lies,” Colm growled. Venom dripped from that single word as he stepped closer to her.
Her teeth bared as she shook her head. She fixed him with a gaze so murderous I knew she’d bite off his nose if she had the chance. “ You’re the one who’s lying.”
“She is a liar,” Colm continued. “You should not trust a word she says. I have looked into her mind, and I have seen the truth.”
I lifted one hand and kept my focus trained on her. When I spoke, my voice was hard as steel. “I want to hear her words on this matter. Even if they are lies. Lies abound in this place.”
“What would you expect in a prison of traitors?” Thalen asked with a cold smile.
Briar’s face twisted, and her knuckles whitened as she curled her hands into fists.
“I am not a liar or a traitor! I woke up next to the king. Some magic had been used to bind his dagger to my hand, but they had already stabbed him! I didn’t know it was attached when I pulled my hand away.
I tried to stop the bleeding. All he said was ‘lilies.’ That’s all!
Then the guards were there. I swear I didn’t kill him.
How could you think so little of me that you would believe I’d do this?
It doesn’t even make sense.” Her gaze fell to Thalen.
“Please. I’ve been framed. I didn’t do this!
I would never—I would never kill someone innocent. ”
Thalen kept his stance firm, his expression like ice. One wing twitched. “Justice will not be avoided. Whatever aid is due will be granted, and the guilty will suffer. Simple as that, Briar. Can’t be any other way.”
Her expression fell, and her gaze dropped. Only the slight increase in Thalen’s wing twitching told me how much saying that had ripped him apart inside.
“A very clever lie.” Colm sneered at her.
“You don’t see the king as innocent. After all, he was the ruler of the people who forcibly removed you from your home.
While most would understand that Fate led you to take part in this competition as an example to the others, you are too small-minded and self-important to allow for such a thing. ”
“That’s not true. I know it wasn’t his choice.
It’s tradition—and culture.” Briar’s voice hitched, and she turned her focus once more to me.
“Please believe me. You know me. I would never have killed your father. Why would I kill him? He was so kind to me last night, and you heard what he said about me. And beyond that, I would never hurt him because I know how much he means to you. I’d never do anything to hurt you in any way or form.
Please, believe me. I—I love you.” Her words trembled in the air, and she looked at me as if the whole world might shatter if I didn’t believe her.
I clenched my jaw and bit my tongue until I tasted blood to hold back the words I so desperately wanted to speak. My shadows flared against the wall, and the room’s temperature dropped in response.
With great effort, I kept my gaze fixed upon her. “Do not say that again. For a declaration of love to be spoken in a place such as this is profane. For it to be said now…” I forced out a sound as close to disgust as I could manage.
It was enough. I might as well have struck her or stabbed her myself as she blanched, and the light in her eyes flickered. A few tears leaked down her cheeks. “Is Rhielle all right?” she asked, her voice shaking.
“She is resting in the physician’s care.” I used the coldest tone I could manage. “I will be looking in on her shortly after I return."
“Your associates were unable to kill her," Colm said in that smug, icy tone.
“I didn’t try to kill her, and I don’t have any associates.” She balled her fists.
“She breathes and rests now. I will go to see her after I leave here.” And after I spoke with Elara.
“And he’ll see Kaylen as well. Seems Fate has made quite a lot clear.” Thalen lifted his shoulders in a cold shrug.
I barely suppressed a shudder of revulsion. He’d been right to make that comment. If I wanted to sell this, I had to look as if I were open to Kaylen being my bride. “Yes. Quite clear.”
Briar tensed and firmed her lips into a tight line. Her brow furrowed. She knew how I felt about Kaylen.
Colm hmmme d as if considering my words.
I returned my focus to Briar. The look in her eyes was almost too much to bear. And I was about to make it worse. “Can you give me any explanation as to why you would kill my father?”
Her voice shook. “I didn’t kill him.” She emphasized each word.
Shaking my head, I scoffed and turned my gaze from her. “I don’t have time for this.”
“Take her away.” Colm waved lazily.
The guard with the red marker cleared his throat. “Back to her cell or to the Whispering Veins?”
Briar stiffened. She struggled in the guards’ grips, but they held her firmly in place.
My blood chilled. I knew that place. They were going to put her in there ?
I faced Colm more fully, hands braced at my belt and my eyebrow arched with all the imperious annoyance I could manage.
I would not tolerate any further harm to her, mentally or physically.
This ended now. “I am certain there has been a misunderstanding.”
Colm’s eyebrow lifted as well. If looks could kill, that guard would have been dead. “I do not see what has been misunderstood. She will not be further harmed physically. That is already quite the compromise.”
“Was I not exceptionally clear that the assassin must stand before the Shadow Fae and give an account and be punished? The Whispering Veins drive people to babbling madness. There is no way to know when her mind will break. What good is her public punishment and execution if she is a babbling wretch who is unaware of the price she is paying?”
“I assure you that breaking her mind is in no one’s interest. We simply seek to extract a confession.” He spread his hands apart.
Unblinking, I spread out my wings. “I am not familiar with all of your methods, but let me be clear—anything that might result in death or insanity is too much. The Whispering Veins must not be utilized. In the interests of shared cooperation and justice, I forbid it.”
I didn’t dare look at her, but my mind spun. Would she forgive me for this? My stomach soured. I would get her out and make everyone feel my wrath. The innocent would feel the chill of my magic, and the ones I deemed guilty would die.
Thalen studied her with an uncharacteristic frown.
The natural silver-white of his wings had taken on a muddier gold color at the tips as they reflected the dull torchlight.
Our shadows stretched long against the walls, and mine ached all the more with the urge to tear Colm to pieces and fold Briar close.
Playing this game was growing harder every moment, and time wasn’t doing either of us favors.
I needed to address this and return to tell Elara and find the people to help me free Briar.
Colm’s eyebrow arched more sharply. “Matters of interrogation fall entirely in my purview, Your Highness. I am more than willing to offer some concessions, as I have done, but?—”
“My understanding is that you were to determine whether the bridal candidates had been harmed or the selection tampered with, and you were seeking a confession from her as a favor to my people, for which we are exceptionally grateful. But I will be direct with you. Her confession means nothing to me. I have all the evidence I require, starting with the corpse of my father. There is no further point in interrogations. And I would prefer any further suffering of hers to be used as an example.”
Colm kept his palms pressed together, claws lined up. “There is still the matter of her conspirators.”