The Heart of a Wielder (Book One of The Wielders Trilogy) ✔️

Chapter Twenty

Donovan knew there was a problem when Alec arrived at his office. Donovan could not think of a time when Alec had ever visited him there.  It was sheer luck that Donovan even was there at all, as his clerk needed him to sign some things.

"How bad is it?" Donovan asked.

Alec sat down with a grimace. "It could be worse, but it's not good."

"Out with it."

"There's a rumor going around...about Maren," Alec said.

Donovan ran his fingers through his hair. "Tell me."

Alec looked uncomfortable.

"That she and Kieran have...been very well acquainted...behind your back."

Donovan growled.

"I suspect that Kieran is responsible for the rumor," Alec said.

Donovan growled again. Of course, Kieran was responsible for it. He didn't know what exactly his brother was trying to accomplish with it, but clearly, it was to harm Maren in some way.

"I'm quite certain she'd prefer to cut off her own hand," Donovan said, and did not think he was exaggerating in the slightest.

"I know that. Keep appearing publicly with her, and it will all blow over soon enough, you know how these things go," Alec said.

Donovan sighed. Alec was right, so far as rumors went, this one, while ugly, would rapidly become old news if it was clear Donovan put no stock in it.

"She will not be happy," Donovan said.

"You will tell her, though, won't you?" Alec asked.

"I'd rather she heard it from me than from someone else in the Court," Donovan said. "Unless you're volunteering?"

"Gods, no," Alec said. "Telling you is plenty for me. And besides, it should come from you, so it's clear you know it's nonsense."

Donovan nodded.

"And she likes me fine, but she trusts you more," Alec said.

Donovan was somewhat surprised to hear that. Had he really earned her trust?

"Do you think?" Donovan asked.

Alec nodded. "Do not forget, I have superior skills when it comes to reading people. She trusts you, and she's quite fond of you—at least as fond as you are of her."

Donovan wanted to immediately insist to Alec that there was nothing more than friendship between Maren and himself.  But then he remembered that Alec was supposed to think they were fond of one another, so that was likely a good thing.

"Well, I thank you for telling me. I'll talk to her," Donovan said.

Alec nodded. "Of course, and I'll do what I can to help the talk run its course. Discreetly, obviously. But one last thing...be...delicate when you talk to her. There is no way she would have anything to do with Kieran...voluntarily...but..."

Donovan was alarmed to think of it, but Alec was right. It certainly was possible Kieran forced himself on her, and it certainly was possible that she would not have told him.

He had been planning on waiting until dinner to talk to her, but the idea of Kieran harming her bothered him so much that he felt compelled to track her down as soon as possible.

"Thank you, Alec, I'll be delicate," Donovan assured him.

—

Maren was out riding with Snowdrop in the fields behind the palace when she saw another rider coming out on what appeared to be the big black stallion, Marcus. The rider appeared to be headed in her direction, so she slowed down to a walk.