Chapter 3
THREE
ELIAS WINTERTON
My queen was dead, and Gemma Tremaine knew more about her death than she was letting on.
Months ago, she had been planted with Phillip and Elowen Gold by Simeon to assess the queen’s state of mind and report back. Gemma Tremaine had known the queen better than anyone.
She entered my office, shoulders straight, face poised.
She wore fighting leathers, all black, just like the thick curls tied up on top of her head in a knot.
The lean, shapely body I’d always admired stood poised and waiting for direction.
A few years ago, I might have pursued her for a night of fun.
But I saw the way Finn Sinclair looked at her.
I had no desire to fuck that up for him just for a good lay.
Besides, I preferred blondes.
Gemma met my glare with a fearlessness that would make most men cower. “You requested my presence, Commander.”
“ Gem?ma .” Her name was an agitated warning on my tongue. “What can you tell me about the man named Smyth?”
Her shoulders tensed and sorrow flashed through her amber eyes.
“Not much.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Simeon sent him.”
“And how was that verified?”
“He came with a note sealed with Simeon’s emblem. The handwriting was Simeon’s.” Her eyes traveled to my fingers, tapping restlessly on my desk. “I’m sure it was from him.”
I had no way to know if this was true. I hadn’t heard from Simeon for months myself. But it was hard to believe that Simeon would hand over our queen to his worst enemy’s executioner.
“Was he the Butcher?”
“I don’t know,” she said with a sigh. “He was an asshole and he was lethal, but I never saw anything to suggest he’d slaughtered thousands of innocent people. Nor did he show any loyalty to Molochai whatsoever.”
“At any point, did you question his intentions toward the queen?”
“No.” Her voice was level, her posture steady. “Smyth told us that Simeon sent him, and I trusted that Simeon knew what he was doing.”
I studied her intently for any slip in composure. Amber eyes burned back with fervor. This was a battle of wills that I was determined to win.
Finally, she blinked and shifted her attention to the wall behind me. It was the slightest movement, but it was enough.
She was lying.
“Does that satisfy you?” she snipped, eager to escape.
“Satisfy me?” I laughed bitterly. “My wife died a brutal, horrible death, and our hope has been destroyed. You were supposed to protect her.”
“She wasn’t your—” Gemma bit her tongue and steeled herself. What the fuck was she implying? Just because the queen and I hadn’t married prior to her death didn’t change the inevitable. “I am sorry for your loss, Commander.”
Bullshit.
I set down my pen and leaned forward. “I think you know that I do not enjoy violence, Tremaine, but if you are not telling me the truth, there will be consequences neither one of us will enjoy.”
“I understand, Commander.”
“For you and Finn Sinclair.”
Her jaw grew tight, her nostrils flared.
That hit the spot.
“We followed Simeon’s orders,” she bit out, “and that is all.”
“And what of my orders?” I snapped. “She wasn’t supposed to go near Brinnea. You were supposed to bring her to me .”
“You know we couldn’t disobey Simeon, and the queen herself found Smyth particularly”—her eyes darted anxiously to the side—“convincing.”
My stomach dropped. What the hell did that mean?
“Did she go with him willingly?” I demanded.
I waited, but Gemma held her tongue. Irritation rose against the forced calm in my chest.
“Did you let him take her, then?” I stood from my chair. “Perhaps you were tired of her getting all the attention, so you let him have her. Out of jealousy, perhaps?”
Her stone facade cracked into a scowl. “The queen has always been my first priority and to suggest otherwise?—”
“Answer the question!”
“—is an insult to my loyalty and character!” she yelled over me. “She was my dear friend, and I loved her!”
“And she’s dead because of your foolishness!” I shouted back. “She is dead because of you .”
Gemma reeled back, like I’d knocked the air right out of her. Then she took a bold step forward, her glare heated.
“You can punish me if you like, Commander. We’ve all been fooled. You’re looking for someone to blame, but I don’t have the answers you want. Again, I am devastated by your loss.” Her tone softened. “But what happened was a tragedy, and she died trying to save us.”
“You—”
“There is nothing more for me to say.” She straightened her back and swiped a tear from her eye. “I’ll accept whatever consequences you deem necessary. And now, if you permit it, I’ll take my leave.”
Fury boiled my blood. Part of me wanted to cause a terrible rift in whatever bliss she and Sinclair had finally found together.
Send them to opposite sides of the continent, rip them apart so they could get a taste of what had been ripped from me.
Another part of me wanted to do worse. Tremaine was hiding something.
Extreme measures would be justified to withdraw the information I needed.
But I had an inkling my queen would’ve been merciful to her friend.
I gave her a curt nod of dismissal, because I wouldn’t lie to myself. I could not escape my part in this—My fault . What she said next seared me like a brand.
“Respectfully, Commander…” She paused with her hand on the doorknob. In her eyes there was unexpected pity. “Perhaps you should have fetched her yourself.”