48. Lilias
Lilias
THE GUARD FROM VSENROG
By the end of the fourth day, I’m so bored I’ve resorted to needlepoint. Doloros brought me silk and thread this morning. She didn’t say anything; she didn’t need to. It was clear it came from Blayne, that he felt like needlepoint was an appropriate way for his new captive to spend her time.
I scowl at the piece of silk in my lap. I’m not sure if Blayne means this as punishment, and I don’t much care. Every thrust of the needle just makes me more certain of one thing: I am getting out of here. I will not spend my life locked up in here so Blayne can prance around with a lordship.
The door opens with a creak. I jump, stabbing the needle into my finger instead of the silk.
“Damn it,” I mutter as I turn around.
Doloros stands in the doorway, as implacable as ever. I stick my finger in my mouth, tasting blood. If Doloros was offended by my foul language, she doesn’t show it.
I come to my feet and nod at her.
“Master Blayne will see you now,” she says, turning toward the hallway.
I don’t even bother to ask why. She leads me down the stairs and into the large sitting room with its forbidden books. Blayne stands by his desk, wearing something elegant.
There’s a Vsenrog soldier standing by the fire.
My breath catches in the back of my throat. I hesitate, halfway into the room and halfway out. Slowly, the Vsenrog soldier turns to face me. Firelight plays off the gold piping on his uniform, off his dark hair and eyes.
Petrys.
Petrys is standing in Blayne’s house, staring at me like he’s never met me before.
The captive from Dungal. Zarek’s brother. Now that I know the truth, the resemblance is so clear I wonder how I ever missed it. Petrys has the same dark eyes, the same high cheekbones. Gods, how is it not obvious to everyone that he and Zarek share the same parents?
I turn away immediately, my eyes on the floor, my cheeks burning. My throat feels like it’s closing as I gasp for air. Blayne clears his throat.
“This is the woman you’ll be guarding,” he says.
It takes me a moment to realize he’s talking to Petrys, not to me.
“You’ll need to keep a close eye on her,” Blayne continues. “The princess of the former kingdom of Marion suffers from a severe lack of judgement, I’m afraid.”
“I won’t let her out of my sight,” Petrys replies.
I glance up. Petrys turns to me with a stern, solemn expression. It’s exactly how he would look at a woman he’s never met, some spoiled noble he has to babysit during a three-day party.
I turn to Blayne. He’s smirking like he’s just won a contest. My heart rattles inside its cage.
I can’t let Blayne know I recognize Petrys.
But, gods, my cheeks are on fire. I can’t breathe.
Blayne is an ass, but he’s not an idiot.
If he starts to suspect something is wrong, he might ask a few questions about this new guard who’s watching me in the palace.
The new guard who happens to be the one other man in Vsenrog who came from Dungal all those years ago with Zarek.
Damn. How can I cover this up? How—
“How dare you?” I gasp as the answer comes to me in a rush.
Petrys frowns. Blayne’s smug little smile shivers.
“You think this—” I wave my hand at Petrys, “—is necessary? You think I need a chaperone? A babysitter?”
Blayne clears his throat again. Maybe he thinks that makes him sound distinguished. Noble, even.
“Yes,” he replies. “That’s exactly what you need. Given your history.”
And suddenly, the rage on my face isn’t a show.
“My history?” I sputter. “You seduced me!”
Blayne’s calm composure finally cracks. For once, he looks surprised.
“You told me no one would care if the princess wasn’t a virgin,” I cry.
“That was a lie, and I’m damn certain you knew it!
You were hoping I’d be sent back, weren’t you?
That the prince of Ethiria would reject me so you could offer to take me off my father’s hands and marry into the nobility?
Gods, you must have been thrilled when I was sent to Vsenrog instead!
Then you could beg your way into Vsenrog, not just weak little Marion. ”
Blayne looks like I’ve just smacked him. His mouth falls open.
“You planned this all along, didn’t you?” I shout, realizing the truth as the words spill from my lips.
Blayne was working with Malrik, yes. But he was also working for himself.
“I was your ticket into the palace,” I yell. “You ruined my life to get your shot at nobility. You never gave a damn about me!”
I fall silent. The elegant sitting room rings with the echo of my words. Petrys stares at me. Blayne looks like he’s about to say something horrible. I do not want to give him the chance. I turn on my heel and stomp into the hallway.
“I’m terribly sorry,” Blayne stammers to Petrys as I disappear down the hall. “She’s quite unstable, as you can see.”
Petrys says something in response, but I’m too far away to make out his words. Doloros follows me as I stomp back up the stairs and into my little prison.
Before she pulls my door shut, Doloros smiles at me for the first time.