Chapter 67
Keira
When the doors of the chapel burst open for a second time, Victor fell inside.
His bound hands barely caught his weight before he met the floor.
Gilbert had just been speaking with his captain of the guard about setting a search for the bastard.
Priscilla, who had been sitting in one of the pews, sniffing prettily into a handkerchief, cried out as her brother collapsed.
Keira had been enduring the passing discomfort as the village healer mended her numerous injuries.
Caspian hovered nervously over them. He hadn’t been able to keep his hands off her since he’d accepted the truth.
Even now, his hand was resting on her back.
Keira wondered if he noticed he was doing it, not that she would have it any other way.
She needed the comfort as much as he did.
Of course, the commotion stole her attention, and she looked just in time to see Florian following him inside with Yvette in tow.
Her eyes narrowed. Clearly, Yvette had wiggled her way out of Victor’s fate as he struggled spitefully to bring himself to his feet, preserving the tattered shreds of his dignity.
Maybe she had seen the tides turning and stabbed Victor in the back, playing on Florian’s obvious attraction to switch sides. Again.
“Look what I found hidden away in the keep,” Florian announced. “Missing his own sister’s wedding.” He clicked his tongue disapprovingly. “I thought I might do the neighborly thing and bring him over right away.”
The few guests who had stayed, either because they were trying to figure out what would be happening now that the wedding would not be moving forward or were simply caught up in the excitement, started buzzing again as the second act of this drama began to unfold.
“Lord Redfield,” Prince Gilbert said, straightening. “Heavy allocations have been placed on your name. Accounts of kidnapping, malicious enchantment, attempted assassination, and treason.”
“Of course you would believe your lapdog and his bitch over the heir of one of the oldest families in your father’s court.” Victor’s hiss was acidic.
The prince braced himself against his words as Caspian laced his arm around her waist. Keira allowed it, sinking back into him. Not that she felt she required his protection, but that she knew he needed reassurance that she was safe.
“Again with that mouth,” Florian issued a kick just powerful enough to send Victor to the floor, catching himself this time on his bound hands.
Any handsomeness about his features was gone.
His blonde hair was tangled and hung in his face.
His skin was red with anger, an ugly sneer accentuated the two cuts marking on his cheeks.
“Ssstop!” Priscilla cried, standing.
“Shut up, you stuttering wench!” Victor snapped.
She let out a squeak and sat back down, dissolving into tears once more. It was almost enough to elicit a stir of pity in her heart. Almost.
“That is enough!” Prince Gilbert shouted, his command filling the room.
Silence fell at the prince’s words, though Keira swore she heard Lilith mutter something about Victor needing a dagger in the ass.
“Lord Victor, you, your sister, and your mistress will be taken into the crown’s custody.
You will accompany me back to Eversong to face the King’s justice.
” His voice was final, like the falling of an ax.
Priscilla began to cry all over again as the crown guard moved, their black uniforms trimmed with gold.
Two of them took hold of Victor’s arms, another angling toward Yvette.
“Wait,” Florian said, planting himself before her. “Your highness, I beg your pardon for her.”
Victor scoffed, but was promptly gagged.
“Get him out of here,” he growled, the first sign of honest irritation Keira had witnessed break through his princely demeanor. He turned to Florian as Victor was let out the side doors. “You vouch for her?”
Florian nodded, still holding a protective posture between her and all others. Keira looked past him. Yvette seemed… troubled. She regarded Florian with surprise and the prince with fear.
“Her actions were not of her own will and design, your highness, and she has done much to undo the damages they wrought.”
Gilbert turned to Keira and then Caspian. “You are the parties wronged in this, would you pardon her?”
Conflict twisted in her gut. Florian, one of her truest friends, was looking at her with pleading eyes.
It was clear what he wanted. It was true that Yvette had been instrumental in freeing her, at great personal risk, and that had been enough to buy Keira’s forgiveness, or at least apathy, the first time.
But only an hour ago she had chosen Victor’s life over hers, a choice that had very nearly ended her.
“Without her magic, none of this would have been possible,” Caspian fumed. “She should answer-”
“Caspian, wait,” Keira said, sighing in spite of herself.
She stepped down the aisle, his touch lingering as long as he could reach.
“Yvette, tell Florian that he has to answer my next question truthfully.” If she understood her magic correctly, if Yvette offered this command, he would be unable to refuse it.
Based on the nervous look Yvette shot at him, she was right.
“She just wants to know you’re not manipulating me,” Florian read her intentions. “Go ahead.”
Yvette swallowed heavily. “Answer her honestly, Florian.”
He nodded and shifted his gaze to meet hers.
“How can you forgive her?” Keira asked.
“Because her actions, no matter how wrong, were out of love,” Florian answered at once. “And she’s risked everything to make it right.”
“Has she ever used her magic to alter your thoughts or actions?”
“Yes.”
Heaviness fell over her.
“On the first day we met, she told me to stand to the side, then later she told me to keep our meeting a secret. Those were the only times until today, now.”
Keira paused, mulling things over. Florian wasn’t under some coercion. He really did believe in her, care for her. Even so, she had caused so much suffering.
She looked over her shoulder at Caspian whose expression was grim.
“I vouch for her pardon,” Keira said. For Florian’s sake.
Caspian’s brow settled further, but finally he nodded. “I will offer my pardon to her as well, under one condition.”
Keira arched her brow. This wasn’t like him at all, terms and exchanges.
“Marry me.”
His words sucked the air out of the room. Time bent as her heart raced, the rest of the world slowing around her.
Caspian stepped down the aisle toward her. “Marry me, Keira, tonight. I can’t wait. Not another day.”
Keira’s head was nodding before she could produce the word. She had collided into his arms before it fell from her lips, just for him. “Yes.”
His arms tightened around her like a promise of forever.