Page 39 of Their War

“No shit,” Baer said, surprised by this revelation.

“Exactly. She told us the rotation of the guards, that they change every four hours to keep them from tiring, but that was about all she knew. She's never been inside the dungeon before. Not even to deliver food, which she supposedly had tried to do when I was imprisoned.”

“I can verify that,” Brannoc said from behind me, his chilling voice causing me to jump.

I swatted his arm out of instinct. “Don't do that!”

He smirked at me, the distant assassin back. Now, I knew this was his mask, and my heart hurt at the fact that I'd made him feel the need to revert back to it.

“When I first noticed her, I was outside the dungeon, trying to find a way in to retrieve you. She had tried to insist on delivering your food, but the guards wouldn't allow it, sending her on her way.” Brannoc moved his gaze from mine, unconcerned with my response to that little nugget. I hadn't known that he'd tried to get me. I mean, I knew on some level that while I was in the dungeon, the guys had been doing everything they could to find me and get me out, but I hadn't realized how close they'd been.

“Juniper did give us some more information on what she believes the Queen is up to. She doesn't have any proof, but she believes the Queen is intending to kill the new Queen to steal the magic back for herself, to extend her reign and power in one move.”

“That does sound like something Mother would do.” Lennox frowned.

“No wonder she's pushing for the transfer of power so quickly,” Arryn said, his mind whirring with this new information.

“It does make more sense. Genevieve is more controllable and therefore easier to manipulate into thinking she has the power in the situation. It's why the Queen is trying to force the transfer, despite knowing that Master Jude can't complete the task,” Callum chimed in.

“There's more,” I told them, their gazes swinging to mine again.

“What more could there possibly be?” Lennox asked.

Looking at Brannoc, I searched for the courage to continue. The guys wouldn’t like this next revelation at all. With his nod, I continued, “Juniper believes that imprisoning Jude is a trap. I'm inclined to agree with her. She must know I have been selected by Avalonia to become the next Queen. She knows I need the ceremony that he can perform in order to start that transfer, but she's hoping she can capture me and control it to her own advantage.”

“Fuck that,” Callum growled out, voicing the anger that rushed down through all the bonds. “In light of this, you will not be involved in the rescue.”

“Excuse me!” I snapped back at him. “You have no say in this. I will be taking part, and there's nothing you can do to stop me.”

He moved until he was towering above me, his fists clenched at his sides, but I refused to back down. “I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Even if that means going against your wishes. You are and always will be my utmost priority despite your foolish attempts to throw yourself into harm's way.”

Oh, hell no! This asshole was not about to pull this shit with me. “And just how do you think you'll stop me?”

“I'll lock you up here if I have to, but you will not be going on this rescue mission.”

Shocked at this, I peered at the others, seeing varying degrees of agreement in their faces. “You guys agree with him?” I couldn't keep the hurt from my voice.

Baer rushed over. “He's right, Rhowyn. It's too risky. Don't ask me to put you in such a terrifying position.”

I could understand their terror, but I wasn't going to let them control me. “How can I be the Queen I'm meant to be if you suffocate me? I was Chosen because I'm not the kind of person to just sit by and let others do my dirty work for me. If any of you think I won't be going, then you obviously don't know me.”

My hurt was now leaking through, realizing how true that last statement was. Did they really know me? Did they really like me for me, or did they just want the version of me they wanted me to be? Were they falling for me or the subservient Queen who was essentially a coward?

Anger surged through me, my walls rising again and hardening my heart to this kind of pain. This was why I didn't let people in. How could I have been fool enough to believe that they could love me for me? No one had ever thought I was enough just the way I was. Not my mother. Not my father, whom I believed trapped me in this glamor. And now, not even my consorts. And for some reason, their betrayal hurt the most. I'd let them in, believing I could have it all for once.

I should have known better. I wouldn't make the same mistake again. I still needed them, but I didn't have to let them past my defenses again. Fool me once; shame on you. Fool me twice; shame on me.

“Princess, don't look at us like that. We just want to keep you safe,” Lennox pleaded with me.

“Like what?” I questioned him harshly. “Like I'm finally seeing y'all for what you are?”

“That's not how it is, Killer.”

“Then how is it?” I snapped at him. “Because from here, it looks like you men just want to control me, the fragile little woman who needs the big, strong men to do everything for her.”

“If it keeps you safe, I'll do whatever it takes,” Callum growled out.

“Shut up, Callum!” Baer snapped at him. “You're not helping.”

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