Chapter 39 Genevieve
Genevieve
“Get out of that bed, Genevieve!”
A voice dripping with hatred rips me from sleep, and I jolt upright against Kieran’s strong, warm body.
Kieran stirs beside me with a curse, then suddenly there’s a cold absence where he’d been. He’s already on his feet, looming over my younger brother. “What do you think you’re doing here, Gabriel?”
“Arresting you, you bastard! Get away from my sister this instant!” Gabe snarls, while I yell at him to leave the room. He doesn’t move. I’ve never seen him look at me with such spite.
“I’m not going anywhere without Gen,” Kieran says, and I yank the blankets tighter over my bare skin.
Outside the door, bootsteps thunder up the stairs, followed by a woman’s voice that makes my heart stop.
“What is the meaning of all this?” Kieran demands.
“Kieran Greenbluff, you’re under arrest for kidnapping the Crown Princess Genevieve Ashcroft, for blackmail, impersonation, improper use of helachite, murder, and for treason.”
“No!” I shout, stepping between them. “Get out of here, Gabriel! Have you gone mad? Kieran hasn’t done any of those things!”
Gabe’s brown eyes burn with fury. “I should have had him arrested the moment I knew who he truly was. Now he’s going to pay for his crimes. Leave the room so I can restrain him. That’s an order for your safety—and find some damn clothes, Genny!”
I press back against Kieran. My smaller frame isn’t much of a shield, but I know neither of them will dare harm me. “There is no condition in which I leave him right now, Gabriel!” My voice hardens. “Get out. That’s an order—from your future queen.”
My brother sneers, a look I’ve never once seen on him. “So it’s true? You ran away with him? You’ve gotten us into this mess? Oh, that’s rich. Mother’s going to love that.”
“Leave her out of this and get out!” I retort, shoving him with both ungloved hands.
“Mother’s here, Genny. She’s downstairs.” Gabe points toward the door. “I’ll let you get dressed, but after that I’m arresting this prick and bringing him back to Crawford in chains.”
He turns and leaves without another word.
Kieran immediately pulls me into his arms, shielding me as though I were the one in danger, as though he wasn’t the one about to be shackled and dragged away.
I twist in his hold and cling to him, feeling the frantic beat of his heart against mine. “I won’t let them harm you,” I insist, a promise. I mean every word. I will do anything—anything—to protect him.
“Gen, look at me.”
I lift my gaze. His expression is unreadable, controlled.
“If your mother is here,” he says quietly, “I want you to follow orders. They can drag me back to the palace in handcuffs if they like—I’m sure she’s always wanted the opportunity to arrest me.
But we both know these charges are fabricated.
We’ll sort everything out at Fairbright.
Just don’t give her any reason to strike at you. ”
“No.” My words are edged with hatred. “This is wrong. She can’t do this to you. She’s already destroyed your life once—I won’t let her do it again. And Gabe?” My throat tightens. “I hate him for going along with her.”
Kieran puts his hands on my arms, stroking them gently. “You said it yourself last night. She’s the law. Her decisions go unchecked—but only for a bit longer. Don’t resist her here, Gen.”
I nod, knowing he’s right. There’s so little we can do to stop the queen, especially here, surrounded by her guards—including Gabe.
“I won’t let them harm you. I’ll get you out. I promise you.” It’s a promise I will die fulfilling. I will not allow my mother to separate us now, not when I know the truth. Not when I allowed it to happen nine years ago.
We dress in a silent flurry, the guards outside our door forcing us to hurry. When we’re both ready, Kieran tugs me close and kisses me, frantic and consuming. I can taste his resolve, and I can sense his fear.
It feels like he’s saying goodbye.
But this isn’t goodbye. I won’t allow her to break us again.
We walk into the hallway, and I smooth the cheerful yellow dress I’m wearing. It’s too bright, too happy a color for what’s about to happen.
Gabriel waits there, handcuffs outstretched. Kieran turns his back to his former friend, letting the irons click into place around his wrists.
“Smart of you not to resist,” Gabe drawls, giving Kieran a hard tug that forces him backward. “We wouldn’t want to dirty your home with your red blood.”
“Gabriel!” I snap. “That’s enough! We are cooperating, despite Kieran doing nothing wrong. I won’t stand here and watch you act like an ass.”
Gabe scowls at me as he shoves Kieran forward, but Kieran doesn’t react. He just walks ahead with a neutral look on his face.
“You’re delusional, Genny. I think your gift has addled your mind. We know he stole you from Leland. We know he coerced you into calling off the wedding. And we have evidence he’s behind the rot.”
My fury reaches a breaking point. I yank my brother to a stop, the guards halting with us, and I slap Gabriel hard with my gloved hand. The silk softens the sting, but the shock on his face is satisfying.
“I left on my own accord,” I hiss. “If Leland claims otherwise, he’s a liar. And if Mother said it, then you—of all people—know better than to trust her word.”
Gabe’s expression curdles. “Because of you, there’s talk that I should marry that ice queen.
You’d better hope it doesn’t come to pass.
” He points at me, his anger unfurling like a dragon taking flight.
“You did this, Genevieve. You chose to marry Leland—even with your curse—and if you fled your own decision, then I have no sympathy for what happens to this man who hurt all of us when he left you.”
“He didn’t leave me! It was Mother!” I shout, uncaring who hears. “She wrote a terrible letter, falsified it as my own, and forced him out of the palace. She is the reason I carry this curse—and she is the reason Kieran suffered for so long!”
Gabe turns to Kieran, suspicion clouding his features. “Is this true?”
Kieran gives a tight nod. “We only realized it yesterday. And now she’s doing everything she can to keep Gen and me apart—again.”
Gabriel curses under his breath, and I know he understands exactly what this means. “Be that as it may, there are still countless other transgressions. I have my orders. She cannot be defied.”
Then he drags the man I love—the man who’s held my heart for most of my life—down the stairs like a beast to the slaughter.