Page 146 of Bloodguard

“Yes. It was part of the oath she made with Soro,” she says. “The note from the courier said it was a wedding gift to his bride.” She practically swallows the air with every breath, like she’s desperately holding back screams. “You don’t have to fight anymore. You’re free, you’re pardoned, whatever the hell you want to call it. She made sure of it.”

The hope, the admiration, the love—they all come crashing back into my body in a massive tidal wave, knocking the air from my lungs.She didn’t just throw me away to be queen.My fears, my doubts…they were all wrong. Maeve was and is the queen I know her to be.

She didn’t tell me about my family, but I can’t even touch that right now without fucking falling apart. I need Maeve to tell me why. And to do that, I need to find her. Now.

“What about Vitor? He had a role in all of this—”

“One would think,” Giselle says. “Still… It might be trivial, but I can’t imagine him letting Ugeen lay a hand on Maeve, let alone announce her engagement before the court.”

“What happened to her?” I ask again.

“With Soro and Ugeen?” Giselle appears sick. “Nothing good.”

I launch myself out of the tub, yanking my destroyed and bloody clothes from the floor. Giselle presses her back against the door when I barely have one foot in my pants.

“Giselle, move. No way in hell are they hurting Maeve.”

She shakes her head. “No. We didn’t come this far for you to screw it up, Leith.”

“Get out of my way,” I snarl.

Her eyes change from honey to a swirl of bright colors as magic she isn’t supposed to possess seethes like the start of an inferno. “I saidno.”

There’s silence.

Unexpectedly, it’s exactly what we need.

We let it linger until I can’t stand it any longer and I’m certain I’m tearing apart from the inside out.

The honey color returns to her eyes. She points to the bed. Aside from the chair and the tub, that’s all that’s here. I didn’t notice the fresh set of clothes laid on it before. I didn’t notice that I’m completely butt fucking naked in front of Maeve’s sister, either. Not that either of us gives a rat’s ass about something so trivial right now. Still, I turn around and dress myself promptly.

I sit, and it hurts. Despite the herbal remedies, everything fucking hurts.

Giselle sits beside me, smoothing her skirts with her leather-gloved palms. “The manor and stables were burned to the ground.” I look at her, stunned, and she continues, “But not before they were looted. I guess you’re not real scum unless you loot first and burn later.”

I bury my face in my hands. “What of the cottage?”

“That was destroyed sometime after the manor. Hence why there weren’t more potions to bring you.” She shakes her head. “Maeve put up a fight no one expected. I always admired her, you know? When I was little, I wasreallittle. The queen thought I wastoolittle. So she gave me books because, and I quote, ‘You’re a little shit anyone could squash. Pick up a book. And then another. If you don’t learn a thing, use them to throw at anyone trying to squash you.’ Charming woman, the queen. But Maeve had it all—brains, brawn, kindness. It was a joy merely standing in her company. She was fearless and brave and everything I always wanted to be.”

She’s right. Maeve is all those things and much, much more.

“Giselle,” I say. “How do you know what happened? The specifics about Maeve fighting.”

“Let’s just say riches buy a lot, Leith. And I’ve paid a great deal.”

I curse, then curse again. “Who did you pay? Can you trust them?”

Giselle stares at the wall. “I have sources and favors owed. They’re effective but limited. Most refuse to associate with me.” She looks in my direction. “Father was the High Guard of Arrow—a royal guard, not a royal. I was born before Father and Papa met. Papa gave us our titles, and I was so proud, but I quickly learned that if you’re not of royal lineage or married to said lineage with heirs to prove it, you don’t count. It’s why I was bullied a lot. I just never imagined my family would endure more than I did.” Misery floods her features all over again. “They didn’t deserve to hurt or suffer or die. And they did all of it.”

“No. They didn’t deserve that. Just as you didn’t. Your only sin was not taking anyone’s shit.” I place a brotherly hand on her shoulder. This is Giselle. Someone snubbed all her life, like me, and someone who was fucking precious from the start. “Tell me what happened to you.”

I think she’ll cry again, but then, like Maeve, she just doesn’t. “What do you think?” she responds. “I can’t fight. My tongue is my only weapon.”

“Is it?” I ask. “That’s not what I saw in Tunder.”

A long, heavy breath leaves her small body, and she holds up her gloved hands. “My tongue is the only weapon I cancontrol,” she says.

For the first time, I’m given a glimpse of Giselle’s vulnerability. It saddens me. She deserves more than what she has. Especially now.

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