Page 15 of Haunted

As Empress Rhianu brushes from the room, the lords rush after her.

13

Nesta has covered the girl in a sheet, and when the lords enter, she pulls it down for them to see.

I’m abhorred by Emleen’s ashen face streaked with dried blood. Lord Jasher crumples over his daughter’s body as racking sobs overcome him.

When did this happen? I released Emleen from my chambers mere hours ago. What happened in the interim?

She’s dressed in my shirt, indicating she barely had time to return to her room. She would have bathed and dressed immediately, so she didn’t even accomplish that.

The empress touches a hand to Jasher’s shoulder. “My dear Lord Jasher, you have my deepest sympathies.” Dripping lies fill her words.

I smash my anger down and mentally recall an incantation that will keep me in control.

“I don’t understand how this could have happened.” Lord Jasher briefly catches my eye. Emleen wasn’t at breakfast. Her father and I both assumed she was missing because she was “recovering” from her night with me.

The empress places both her hands on Jasher’s shoulders. He becomes as rigid as iron. He knows, as I do, that every word that comes next will be a lie. “I believe I know what happened. Dear Emleen came to me this morning, distraught. Her soul was filled with sorrow. This will be hard for you to hear, my dear Lord Jasher, but her maidenhood was taken from her last night.”

Jasher rises to his feet, pretending to be outraged by the story even though he knows the truth. The move causes the empress to step back and release his hold on his shoulders. Jasher is visibly relieved despite his grief. “How? Who could have forced himself on my daughter?” I give Jasher credit. He doesn’t look my way.

“She didn’t want to implicate the man because she feared he’d hurt her,” the empress says. “No matter how I pressed, she wouldn’t tell me.”

“But what led to her death?” Lord Rhydderch asks.

Empress Rhianu sits on the bed and takes Emleen’s hand. “The poor girl was beside herself. She feared that when her father found out and word spread, no one would wed her. She asked me to declare a betrothal for her.”

I do not believe a word. Nor would Emleen be so bold as to seek aid from the empress.

“Did you?” Lord Jasher asks.

“I’m afraid I denied her request.” Empress Rhianu says. “The poor child ran from the room, weeping into her hands. I never guessed what she would do next, that she would take her own life.”

Lord Jasher is fuming. Hatred, pure hatred, surges through him. I wouldn’t blame him if he attacked the empress with his bare hands. Jasher clenches his fists, but rather than coiling them around the empress’s neck, he brings his hand up, pressing it to his mouth. Guilt surfaces. He blames himself because he cut off Drago’s head.

The empress rises, turned in my direction. A smile curves her mouth.

Disgusted, I turn on my heel and stride from the room.

14

She’s out of her mind, I say to Neifion. I’ll smother and die in this accursed place before my mission is complete.

You are strong, Neifion says. Siarl is pleased with your progress.

Watching a father weep over his dead daughter is not progress.

The empress trusts you. She wants your approval, as astonishing as that is for her to want.

So you didn’t doubt my ability to gain hers? I ask.

Not at all.

My skin pricks when Empress Rhianu passes through the wards I set at the library entrance. Since I can’t detect her presence without Drago, I decided I need to be more careful, especially when my attention is engrossed in conversation with my dragon.

I close my eyes to the words on the page I never had time to read due to my conversation with Neifion. Though the warmth of the fire is before me, my back is cold. I try not to pretend it’s because of the empress’s approach.

She moves softly and quietly. I wish I could sense her emotions. With what purpose does she come to stand before me tonight? Hours have passed since that dreadful scene in the infirmary. I declined dinner, too sickened to sit in her company.

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