Chapter 75
Loved
Leo stood at the edge of the water, soaking the hem of his trousers as waves rolled over his feet. His shoes and an empty bottle of wine were stuck in the sand nearby. He swayed with the breeze while he stared at the ocean.
Evelyn had been taught to stay away from sick animals in the wild, and her instincts screamed at her to follow that advice now.
He’s not an animal. He’s my husband and he’s hurting. He loves me.
I can’t lose Leo now. This is about so much more than just us. We’re married, but we’re also a king and queen. We have to rule together. We have to fight against Heinrich and Tasia together.
Evelyn approached him from the side, not wanting to startle him. “Leo?”
At the sound of her voice, Leo’s head fell back and he closed his eyes.
“What do you want?” he growled.
Evelyn stopped moving. She stopped breathing. She had never heard such contempt in Leo’s voice, especially not directed at her.
No, gods, please don’t let him hate me.
“I’m sorry.” Her words were barely more than a whisper, but Leo heard them.
“Sorry for what?” he spat, finally looking at her.
The animosity in his eyes should have burned Evelyn’s skin.
“I didn’t know what Haydn was doing,” she said.
Leo’s nostrils flared. “You were fucking him and making deals this whole time, and you expect me to believe you didn’t know what he was up to?”
“I didn’t know he hurt anyone!”
“Killed!” Leo shouted. “My whole family is dead because of Ritter! And you would’ve married him?”
“It wasn’t like that!”
“What was it like? How long were you fucking him? Ritter sure enjoyed bragging about that!”
“It was only one night!”
“Which night?”
“You and I weren’t together. I never cheated on you.”
“Which night, Evelyn?” he demanded.
All the shit I put myself through to avoid this exact conversation and we’re still having it.
“The night you kissed Hannah.”
Leo blinked at her, processing information he didn’t want. “The night before I proposed? You had just shared a bed with Ritter when you agreed to marry me?”
Evelyn balled her hands into fists. “I had no idea you were going to propose. You and I were barely talking.”
“How many secrets are you keeping, Evelyn?” Leo ran his fingers through his hair. “You’re a fucking hypocrite! You were so angry at me for lying about my name, but my lie didn’t kill hundreds of people!”
“I didn’t know how serious it was! Yes, I lied about some things, but I didn’t know what Haydn was doing. He tricked me like he did everyone else.”
“Did he trick you into learning a new type of magic? Is it an accident that you can throw power around just like Ritter and Heinrich?”
“Moeller taught me Energy magic. Haydn only told me it was possible because my mother could do it.”
“You still didn’t fucking tell me about it!” Leo roared. “I think you liked having your secrets with Ritter. You certainly didn’t hesitate to throw yourself at him earlier!”
“I was trying to save you!” Evelyn cried. “I was trying to keep us alive!”
“Why bother? You already admitted you wanted to marry Ritter, you regret marrying me, you don’t trust me, and you would rather fuck a murderer!”
“I didn’t want to say any of that! He was controlling me with Bargain magic.”
“Controlling you to answer truthfully, right? You meant everything you said.”
Evelyn winced. “It’s not that simple. You know things haven’t been easy with us lately.”
“But we were supposed to be a team. That’s what you said you wanted. I wouldn’t have changed the law of succession if I’d known you were working with Ritter!”
She wanted to hide from the resentment in his eyes. “I wasn’t working with him! You have to believe that, Leo.”
“You still weren’t mine, though, were you? You belonged to Ritter.”
“I killed him last night!” Evelyn was shaking. “I’m yours, Leo. I love you.”
Leo blew out a long breath. “I loved you. I loved you, and you lied to me. I loved you, and I watched my mother bleed to death because of you. I’m done.”
His last word dropped like a boulder in a landslide. Leo turned to leave and Evelyn’s heart stopped.
“No!” She jumped forward and clutched his arm. “Leo, please! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I made a mistake, but I’ll make it right!”
Leo pried her hands off him, refusing to meet Evelyn’s gaze. He strode away, ignoring the sound of his wife screaming.
Evelyn sank to her knees in the wet sand, gasping for breath as she sobbed so hard it hurt.
It’s all my fault. It’s all my fault. It’s all my fault. It’s all my fault. It’s all my fault.
She didn’t know how much time passed. Leo didn’t come back. The ache in her chest pounded.
If I stay here, maybe the tide will take me away.
Evelyn didn’t notice Damien approach until he kneeled in front of her.
“Hey, Princess,” he said quietly.
She looked up at him and tears threatened to overwhelm her again. “He hates me.”
Damien frowned. “He’s angry.”
Evelyn shook her head. “He said he’s done. He left.”
“He’ll calm down.”
“What if he doesn’t? What am I supposed to do?”
Damien lifted her chin. “Stand up straight and smile. Pretend you’re a queen.”
Evelyn stared at the light in his green eyes like she’d found a beacon in the darkness. “I am a queen.”
“Then pretend to be good at it.” Damien lowered his hand from her face but didn’t break eye contact.
“You really think I can be a queen here after everything that’s happened?” Evelyn asked.
“You already are. The Royal Army is following your orders. I’m supposed to be on my way to the Vision Court. This is your kingdom, and you’re already protecting it.”
“I’m cleaning up the mess I made.”
Damien took Evelyn’s right hand and ran his thumb over her knuckles. “Do you trust me?”
“You know I do.”
“Then believe me when I say the Kingdom of Gryon needs you.”
Evelyn reached out and traced the gold music note embroidered on Damien’s tunic. He stayed perfectly still, but she could feel his heart racing.
“Will you stay with me?” she asked.
Damien gave her a smile she didn’t deserve.
“Always, Evelyn,” he promised. “I’m yours.”
Evelyn stared at herself in the bathroom mirror. Her face was puffy and tear-stained. Her dress was damp and covered in sand. Her crimson curls were mangled from the wind.
She picked up her silver crown, with diamonds and sapphires that matched her wedding ring, and placed it gently on her head.
“I am the Queen of Gryon. I swore an oath to protect the kingdom and defend its people.”
She gritted her teeth and forced herself not to look away from the mirror.
“I made mistakes, but I will fix them. I will be honest and honorable. I will be the queen this kingdom deserves.”
Evelyn glared at her reflection as a rogue tear ran down her cheek.
“And anyone who tries to hurt my family and friends will burn.”