Chapter Twenty
THE TOWER, Estrella thought hysterically. They had actually gone as far as imprisoning her in the tower room just as if they had gone back to the Dark Ages, and she was a prisoner of the royal family, just waiting to be beheaded.
Estrella forced herself to set her heartbreak aside and start thinking clearly.
The evidence the spymaster had presented was damning, and it was understandable for Lysander to act as he did.
With her confinement, she would not be able to interfere but she wasn't also being directly accused of treason either.
Why didn't Fina talk to her first? Before Lysander's return, the spymaster had always been on her side, a loyal and wise mentor whose words had successfully guided her out of a few politically tricky situations.
But the older woman had drastically changed the moment her husband came back, and after what happened today, Estrella knew she had no choice but to take her blinders off.
The way Fina liked shutting her out in meetings that Estrella used to attend at her encouragement...the way Fina seemed to forget that Lysander was her prince and Estrella's husband and instead acted like Lysander was a bachelor she could sidle up to at any given moment...
All this time, she had done her best to ignore her intuition and read nothing in the changes in Fina's actions, but with how the spymaster had practically thrown her under the bus this morning—-
Fina wasn't just out for blood. It was clear now that the other woman wanted everything Estrella had - and Lysander most of all.
So the question was, what did she do about it?
Estrella eyed the tower window calculatingly. It would be a three-story leap to the ground, enough to potentially break her bones, but if she were to shift...
Ten minutes later, and Estrella's paws silently landed against the hard ground, and she breathed a sigh of relief as she stretched and tested her limbs.
Unlike her siblings, she had never felt too at home in her Lyccan form.
The power that coursed through her veins was too wild and unwieldy, and she was always worried she'd lose control of her own strength and end up accidentally hurting those weaker than her.
But for now, she had no choice.
Although the white fur of her wolf form made her more easily discernible, Estrella was more worried about masking her scent. The Faes might not be known for having an exceptional sense of smell, but Lysander...
Estrella mentally crossed her fingers. Lysander in beast form she would have no chance of fooling, but hopefully, Lysander would be too busy reworking his strategy to have shifted out of his Fae—-
Frack.
In the act of padding inside the stable, Estrella managed to back out just in time while hastily putting up walls in her mind. Lysander had just entered the stable from the other side, and it was imperative he didn't hear her thinking.
"...in agreement about the attack?" she heard Lysander ask.
"Yes, Your Highness."
George, Estrella thought. A Fae lieutenant about her age, and one whom the twins believed had a promising future in the military.
"Be ready to leave at 2000h," Lysander said.
They were supposed to leave at midnight, Estrella thought. Was the change to preempt any move on Domenico's part?
George cleared his throat. "If I may ask, Your Highness..."
"What is it?"
"We were wondering about the princess—-"
There was a moment of silence, and then she heard Lysander answer coldly, "Estrella won't have any part in tonight's offensive."
"Ah." George's bewilderment was audible in his voice.
"If there's nothing else—-"
Since Lysander's tone made it very clear there better not be anything else, the lieutenant quickly snapped to attention and left as soon as the prince dismissed him.
Lysander and Fina were alone now, and Estrella couldn't keep her hackles from rising at the scent of lust radiating from the spymaster. How could she have not noticed this before? How could she have been so blind?
"I'm sorry for that," the prince was saying. "I know you think it's best not to let the people know the truth, but this farce has gone on far enough. They must be made to know you are the real hero of the Miller Mine battle—-"
Estrella almost choked. What was Lysander saying?
"I shall speak with the men—-"
"Please don't, Your Highness!" Fina was clearly panicking.
As she should be, Estrella thought furiously, since the other woman had obviously fed her husband a pack of lies. Fina had done nothing but watch that night, and not once had she interfered, even after seeing Estrella literally fight for her life several times.
And at that time, she had been such a huge fool, believing the spymaster when Fina told her it was for Estrella to prove her mettle. Now, she wasn't so sure at all.
"It might affect the men's morales and cause them to make mistakes," Fina was saying in a rush. "And besides it doesn't matter anymore. I've gotten used to it, and I believe they'll eventually discover the truth on their own—-"
"Either way, how you're being treated isn't right. If I could afford to lose you, I'd have you serve in a wealthier court."
"You should've married me," the spymaster said jokingly, "then my services would've been free."
Estrella waited for Lysander to reprimand the other woman for her insolence.
But the prince didn't say a word.
****
LYSANDER SHIFTED INTO his other form as soon as he was able to make a plausible excuse to leave Fina's presence. He loped into a run, his otherworldly speed turning him into a blur that had even Fae soldiers in the area gasping.
But no matter how fast he ran, he was of course unable to outrun the outraged demands of his inner beasts.
It was spitting mad, wanting to know why he had not disabused the spymaster of all hopes about replacing Estrella.
It had wanted Lysander to put Fina in place and tell the woman in no uncertain terms that she had been speaking out of line.
But where was the honor in that, Lysander growled defensively, when Fina had been his original choice?
The beast growled back and sank its claws into Lysander's soul to make its thoughts known.
You owe her nothing. The woman never knew she was your first choice.
The claws sank deeper, and Lysander's physical body shuddered in pain.
Be true to yourself. You cared not about hurting her.
You chose not to admonish her because of fear.
You fear the strength of your feelings for your mate.
She has disappointed and failed you, and yet you love her still.
You fear what may happen if she betrays you—-
A howl tore out of Lysander's throat. You know the prophecy as well as I do.
Of course I damn well fear what will happen if I give free reins to my feelings.
With a furious shake of his head, Lysander broke into another run, climbing up the steepest edges of his property.
But the beast would not be silenced. The mating bond does not require love. Those feelings are all your own.
What the fuck are you getting to?
The beast pulled its claws out. It is not for me to speak. You'll know soon enough. But by then, it might be too late.