"I still wonder about it," I said.
His brow furrowed, eyes searching my expression. "Wonder about what?"
"Whether you're the villain in my story."
~~~~~~~
Mara Monroe is at the center of a war she wanted no part in.
But with her new throne she fac...
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"Your highness, please—"
I wasn't sure which Winter royal attempted to interrupt me, and truly, I did not care. My hand lifted in the air, swiftly silencing whichever one of them it was that spoke.
"If working with him is a condition of the alliance between our two courts, then I am afraid that is impossible. I mean you no disrespect nor do I distrust any of you," I looked only at the Winter court royalty. "After all, I once believed him too and I cannot fault you for your faith in him— though I am sure he does not deserve it. I hope that I am wrong for all of your sakes."
For all of our sakes.
My hands shook by my sides, the earlier flames were gone. Anger was replaced by anxiety. Was I doing the right thing? I had no idea. But I meant every word that I said. I was incapable of forming an alliance with them if I knew that Cedric would be there every moment. He already had an insight into my mind and I would be damned if I allowed him any further infiltration.
To my surprise, it was Andras who spoke. There was no sign of his dimples anymore, rather a more diplomatic expression now crossed his face.
"Nor can we fault you for your hesitancy. Cedric shared with us what occurred in the Summer court," Andras began.
My eyes shot up, drilling silver eyes to the wall with my anger. Thoughts of stolen kisses and touches in the confines of my apartment, the Summer castle, the Autumn court flooded my mind. Each memory tinged with the stain of his words.
"I was raised to hate you. To hate your court and your family. I was sent here to destroy you and to steal from you."
The words he once spoke played over every memory until they molted into shells of what they once were. I glanced at him, knowing on some level that he was listening, or at least that he could guess what I was thinking.
Had he shared that with them? Those moments that were now tainted? The words that played over them?
The shake of his head was infinitesimal.
"Perhaps you should not make your decision now," Andras continued, not noticing the silent exchange that had just occurred. "Stay the week as planned, join us for our Yule celebration. By then, I hope we will have found a way to assuage your doubt."
His voice was calm, convincing. Truly the voice of a man raised to be a diplomat. But, like me, Andras was the spare. Neither of us were ever supposed to assume the throne. However, fortune had only smiled upon one of us.
I inclined my head in acceptance and excused myself to my chambers. Both Maddox and Torin escorted me, all three of us ignoring the man we thought we'd known. Though, I expect Maddox was more aware of Cedric than he was of anyone else in that room. For good reason.
The two of them dropped me at my chambers and I felt exhaustion weighing on me. Torin excused himself to check on the guard rotation outside of my room, informing them of the... new developments that had come to light.
