Unhappily Ever After

Chapter 51 - Whispers

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"You've made life very difficult for me, little brother."

"And I'm sorry about that, but there's not much I can do to fix it now," I muttered into the phone.

Gwen was already in full scolding mode. "You're not exactly lying low. Every day we hear a new rumour about Llewellyns on the mainland, and your name is mentioned far too often. They're saying you kidnapped a Luna and held her to ransom — did you know that?"

I bit back a grin, because she would hear it in my voice. "I didn't, no. Who comes up with this stuff?"

"Goddess only knows. And there are stories about you ripping pack wolves apart left, right and centre. So nobody believes you're dead anymore. Thank you for that," Gwen snapped. "Wyatt Rochester even sent out a search party two days ago. The Llyn rogues scared them back home quick enough, but you can imagine his intentions. He wants you married to his sister so he can have a shot at the throne. He whines about it every day."

"You can tell him I have a mate now, if that helps," I offered cheerfully.

"Of course that doesn't help. I would have to admit that you're alive to—" She paused mid-rant, processing what I had said. "Wait, what?"

"Yeah. Her name's Jess." I turned around to peer at the girl in question. "Eira's beating her up as we speak."

"Eira's what?" Gwen demanded. I could imagine the horrified look on her face, even if I couldn't see it.

"Beating her up," I repeated patiently.

Silence answered me. No doubt she was trying to work out what cause our little sister would have to hurt my mate, and why I would be so indifferent to it. The groundwork had been laid. Now, I had an excuse.

"I'd better go and intervene, actually. Talk to you later."

"Rhodric, don't you dare," she spat, but it was too late. I had pressed the button. And once the line had gone dead, I turned off the phone and tucked it back into my pocket so she couldn't call me back.

Gwen might have been unhappy and stressed, but at least she was alive. I doubted that would still be the case if I had stayed on Anglesey. The Rochesters' ambition was matched only by their ruthlessness. If I had married the girl like I was supposed to, they would have assassinated my sister within days. Maybe even Eira, too, if she proved to have too much control over the guard. They only need one Llewellyn to keep the throne warm, and I happened to be the right gender.

Disquieted, I went over to check on Eira and Jess. My mate had a split lip and mud all over her clothes, but she looked ecstatic. She liked the castle — it had caught her imagination. She liked my sister even more, especially now she was teaching her to fight.

"Everything alright?" I asked. They were between rounds, catching their breaths.

Eira nodded without hesitation. "Yeah. I could use a demo, though."

"And you're asking me because Lee's already worked out that means getting kicked in the balls?" I guessed. I was not wrong. More than half of Eira's self-defence techniques began or ended with that move.

She threw a telling glance to where the rogue was sitting amongst his raiders, legs crossed and scowling. "Please? It's easier if she can see it first."

Jess smiled hopefully. Damn her. She knew exactly what she was doing.

"Can't." I shrugged, not bothering to hide my smirk. It was too easy. "Might crack open the wound."