Page 48 of The Jester

“I will help them,” I tell him, and I turn back to them. “I will help you. I know you don’t trust me. I know you don’t like me. I know most of you have hated me since the minute I was born. Even before.”

I look at Kayan, and he closes his eyes, unwilling to look at the shame on my face.

“But I swear, if I can get you out, I will.”

“Come on.” Finn tugs my elbow again.

Over by the door, Henrik grumbles, “He’s right. Time to go.”

I wait until I’m back in my chambers before I truly start to sob. Finn tries to comfort me, but I shake him off.

“I need to be alone,” I tell him. “Please, just leave me alone.”

He doesn’t protest, just kisses me on the forehead. As he’s leaving, he says, “If you really want to help them, then I’ll do whatever you need me to, Alana. If that’s what you want.”

“It is what I want.” I slowly remove my gloves and set them down on the table beside the bed.

“Then, tomorrow, we’ll make a plan.”

Chapter Twenty

ALANA

“Iwill not wait.” I push back my chair and stand. Briony stares at me in alarm. “He wants me? He will see me now.”

Ever since last night, the question, What am I? has been burning in my mind. Maura’s words haunt me, circling round and round and round.

There is only one person who can answer this question.

One.

And I will not wait any longer to seek his answers.

She opens her mouth to protest, but I am already walking away and all she can do is scurry behind me.

When we reach his chambers, it is Henrik on duty. “You’re early,” he says, frowning.

“His request,” I reply tightly.

Henrik looks at Briony for confirmation. She gives a small nod, her cheeks flushing. But instead of reading her blush as deceit, Henrik reads it as flirtation, and he smiles at her. “More time for us,” he says, rolling his tongue over his upper teeth in a way that might be sexy if he was someone I found attractive.

Stepping aside, he gestures for me to enter. I push open the door and let it close quietly behind me. Through the thick wood, I can hear the murmur of conversation between Briony and Henrik which will, undoubtedly, soon become muted moans of pleasure as he fucks her up against the door.

The room is dark and silent. The fire flickers in the grate, but there is no sign of Eldrion. Usually, he greets me with a glass of whisky and lurches straight into his string of questions.

Now, he is nowhere to be seen.

I move deeper into the chamber. Clearly, this room is used as his living quarters and his study. Behind the fireplace, to the side, there is another door. A smaller one.

I approach slowly, my heart thundering in my chest. Suddenly, my bravado seems rather foolish.

I pause outside the door and press my ear to it.

Inside, a muffled sound escapes, a groan, low and guttural, like a beast in torment. It sends a shiver down my spine.

Then, he says my name. No, he doesn’t say my name – he moans my name.

Heart pounding, I take a deep breath and turn the handle. The door opens silently. The room beyond is dimly lit, with shadows dancing on the wall and casting an eerie glow on Eldrion’s figure.

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