Page 14 of Haunted

“Do you know I saved you from a greater punishment?”

“No.”

“I have to make the empress believe I hurt you. Do you understand? It has to look believable.” I pace the room, considering. I refuse to take her virtue. I refuse to assault her in such a way. My fingernails bite into my palms, drawing blood. Then an idea dawns on me.

“My plan will not save your tarnished reputation, once word spreads, but I promise you will be intact. I swear.”

Emleen chokes back a sob. I slip over to the bed, carefully, so I don’t spook the girl. I extend my hand. “Do you trust me?”

Emleen chews her lip before responding in a whisper. “Yes.”

“I’m going to prick your finger. It has to be your blood. Then I want you to smear blood between your legs and on the bed sheets where you’ll lie. It doesn’t have to be much, not all maidens bleed. Do you understand? Then we will wake in bed together, but I won’t touch you all night. I promise. You will be safe. That way no one can say we weren’t together.”

I pray that taking her virtue is all the empress has in mind.

“All right.” She gives me her hand and only winces slightly as I dig my dagger into the tip of a finger pad. I turn away so she can create the evidence.

When I turn toward her, she’s sucking on the finger. “Get some rest. I’ll not join you until later.” I enter my adjacent chamber, pull one of my books off the shelf, and settle into a chair.

No written words can erase the evening’s events from my mind. No matter how much I despise and abhor the empress, I can’t let anyone know my feelings. I’m alone in my deception.

12

The next morning, no one comes to my chambers to confirm I’ve actually destroyed Emleen’s reputation. I dismiss her, wearing my robes, and tell her I’ll speak to her father.

I spare a quick word to Lord Jasher before breakfast. He’s mortified he’s been discovered but grateful I concocted a scheme to protect his daughter. His objective is to get away from Caer, with his daughter, as soon as possible, but the empress is the only one who dictates when her lords can leave.

I would offer Neifion, but I can’t risk what trust I’ve gained with the empress. Lord Jasher will just have to wait until the empress releases them.

A final morning meeting commences. The lords are somber after last night’s dinner, but business remains as usual. Empress Rhianu is too composed, polite even. When Lord Jasher drops a quill onto the floor, the empress stoops and picks it up.

The room freezes. Jasher thanks her and takes the quill from her with a shaking hand.

I sigh mentally.

The lords are dithering idiots. I wish fear didn’t leak from every pore in this room—

Every pore but the empress’s and mine. Have I grown so used to her that she ceases to make me quake?

“It was my pleasure, Lord Jasher.” The empress smiles while he signs the document before himself.

Irritation passes over the empress’s face when the doors to the chamber bang open. A guard, flushed and breathy, halts, waiting for the empress to grant him permission to speak.

“What is it, Gwilym?” Empress Rhianu’s irritation is clear, but she’s not fooling me. She doesn’t look surprised to see this guard.

“Your Highness, we found a body. Outside the west wing.”

“Well, who is it?” she asks.

“A young woman. I’m afraid she’s one of the lords’ daughters. It appears she’s fallen to her death.”

Half of the men in the room jump to their feet. The other half are afraid to, but their faces are stricken with worry.

“This is terrible.” The empress turns to her lords. “This meeting is adjourned. I’m sure you’re all worried if the poor child is your daughter.” She turns back to her guard. “Take me to her at once.”

I don’t buy her sympathetic tone.

“We’ve laid her on a bed in the infirmary,” the guard says.

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