him, and I growled a warning.
“You’re under arrest,” said the man in the middle, “for crimes against the crown.” He pulled the metal from his belt, and a pair of elegant handcuffs sprung free. “You’re charged with the murder of the late Queen Eliya’s consort, Lord Archer of Jomire.” In a blink, he wrenched Harper’s arm behind his back. Snap. A second male closed in on him, twisted his other arm toward his spine. Click . The second bracelet locked into place. “You will also answer for the abduction of Princess Madelyn DeGray, Princess Ascendant of Askara.”
“What is the meaning of this?” Ice crackled over my heart and dread burrowed deep in my chest. I looped my arm through Harper’s and dug in my heels while my mind spun ragged.
The guards, hidden in civilian clothing, tugged his bound wrists. They couldn’t move me.
“Lady, I’m afraid they have no choice.” Roland’s voice lilted sweetly in my ears as he strolled down the path. “It’s all quite legal.” He held out his hand, offering me a place at his side.
“I don’t understand.” I fumbled in my pocket for his letter. “You offered patronage.” I held his words crumpled in my fist. “You promised him safe passage. You gave me your word.”
“And I did not impugn myself.” He gestured toward the nearest guard, who seized the letter from me. “He has arrived, and he is safe. Those are the things I promised. I said neither that I would prevent a lawful accounting of his crimes, nor erase responsibility for his actions.”
Harper’s words rang in my ears. Trusting a Sereian is foolish.
“I was a fool to come.” Why had I trusted Roland? Why had I chosen his word over Harper’s? Simple. I hadn’t. I wouldn’t have. Somehow Roland had twisted my perceptions so Harper’s concern struck me as a personal attack against my history of addiction rather than the warning he’d meant.
“Come now,” he said. “This is justice. You can’t fault me for wanting to have it served.”
“You can’t let this happen.” I swallowed my pride in one easy gulp. “Please. Help him.”
He shook his head. “I cannot. He’s guilty of the crimes of which he’s been accused.” He held his hands palms up and helpless. “It’s my understanding you were there. The incident occurred the night of Princess Madelyn’s ascendancy, correct? You witnessed the attack, did you not? And were also abducted?” His clever tongue flicked out to wet his lips. “Isn’t that true?”
“Yes, but—” I scrambled for a defense, fumbling for words.
“Then you must agree he should be punished?” He took a cautious step closer. “You can’t expect me to believe you would see your father’s murderer go free?”
He poked at old wounds, and my anger rose up to meet him. “If you’re asking if I’d rather my father raped my sister in front of the whole of First Court, then no, I hadn’t.” I bared my teeth. “Archer was a monster. That he hadn’t managed to kill her before then wasn’t for lack of trying, it was a triumph of her genetics.” My fingers sank deeper into Harper’s arm the harder the guards tried prying him from me. “I would have killed him myself if given half a chance.”
“Then it’s fortunate the occasion didn’t present itself.” Roland came closer so his soft, sweet breath fanned my face, making me shiver. “I would hate to see such a treasure locked away.”
“Please.” My grip slackened and mind spun languidly from its course. “Don’t take him.”
“Emma.” Dillon said my name in warning.
Too late I wobbled, drunken, and Dillon caught me beneath my arms before I fell.
“You invited me.” My tongue grew thick. “Said you could help.”
“I can help.” His face clouded my vision. “I can make you forget all about this nasty, little incident. Wouldn’t you like that?” I tasted him with every inhale. “We could be friends again, you and I. There’s no reason we can’t kiss…” his
“You’re under arrest,” said the man in the middle, “for crimes against the crown.” He pulled the metal from his belt, and a pair of elegant handcuffs sprung free. “You’re charged with the murder of the late Queen Eliya’s consort, Lord Archer of Jomire.” In a blink, he wrenched Harper’s arm behind his back. Snap. A second male closed in on him, twisted his other arm toward his spine. Click . The second bracelet locked into place. “You will also answer for the abduction of Princess Madelyn DeGray, Princess Ascendant of Askara.”
“What is the meaning of this?” Ice crackled over my heart and dread burrowed deep in my chest. I looped my arm through Harper’s and dug in my heels while my mind spun ragged.
The guards, hidden in civilian clothing, tugged his bound wrists. They couldn’t move me.
“Lady, I’m afraid they have no choice.” Roland’s voice lilted sweetly in my ears as he strolled down the path. “It’s all quite legal.” He held out his hand, offering me a place at his side.
“I don’t understand.” I fumbled in my pocket for his letter. “You offered patronage.” I held his words crumpled in my fist. “You promised him safe passage. You gave me your word.”
“And I did not impugn myself.” He gestured toward the nearest guard, who seized the letter from me. “He has arrived, and he is safe. Those are the things I promised. I said neither that I would prevent a lawful accounting of his crimes, nor erase responsibility for his actions.”
Harper’s words rang in my ears. Trusting a Sereian is foolish.
“I was a fool to come.” Why had I trusted Roland? Why had I chosen his word over Harper’s? Simple. I hadn’t. I wouldn’t have. Somehow Roland had twisted my perceptions so Harper’s concern struck me as a personal attack against my history of addiction rather than the warning he’d meant.
“Come now,” he said. “This is justice. You can’t fault me for wanting to have it served.”
“You can’t let this happen.” I swallowed my pride in one easy gulp. “Please. Help him.”
He shook his head. “I cannot. He’s guilty of the crimes of which he’s been accused.” He held his hands palms up and helpless. “It’s my understanding you were there. The incident occurred the night of Princess Madelyn’s ascendancy, correct? You witnessed the attack, did you not? And were also abducted?” His clever tongue flicked out to wet his lips. “Isn’t that true?”
“Yes, but—” I scrambled for a defense, fumbling for words.
“Then you must agree he should be punished?” He took a cautious step closer. “You can’t expect me to believe you would see your father’s murderer go free?”
He poked at old wounds, and my anger rose up to meet him. “If you’re asking if I’d rather my father raped my sister in front of the whole of First Court, then no, I hadn’t.” I bared my teeth. “Archer was a monster. That he hadn’t managed to kill her before then wasn’t for lack of trying, it was a triumph of her genetics.” My fingers sank deeper into Harper’s arm the harder the guards tried prying him from me. “I would have killed him myself if given half a chance.”
“Then it’s fortunate the occasion didn’t present itself.” Roland came closer so his soft, sweet breath fanned my face, making me shiver. “I would hate to see such a treasure locked away.”
“Please.” My grip slackened and mind spun languidly from its course. “Don’t take him.”
“Emma.” Dillon said my name in warning.
Too late I wobbled, drunken, and Dillon caught me beneath my arms before I fell.
“You invited me.” My tongue grew thick. “Said you could help.”
“I can help.” His face clouded my vision. “I can make you forget all about this nasty, little incident. Wouldn’t you like that?” I tasted him with every inhale. “We could be friends again, you and I. There’s no reason we can’t kiss…” his
Similar Books
