Page 62 of Fragile Oath

A beat of silence fell before Avani emerged again, a deep blue dress in her arms this time. Gwyn nodded sharply, and Avani turned to me.

“Blame your uncle,” she suggested with a small shrug. “Socairan law. Whatever you need to. His presence here gives us something convenient to work with, and he’s been clear enough on his feelings about this arrangement for it to be believable.”

It was a good plan, a workable plan. It wouldn’t even be a lie, but it didn’t feel like enough. From the looks the others were exchanging, they felt the same way. Anxiety clawed at my chest, and I fought to focus on the small tips they were giving me.

“You want a subtle look today,” Avani went on. “The ones doing the questioning are all powerful men, so better that you remind them of their children than–”

“Us.” Gallagher supplied with a small, bitter twist of his lips.

“Exactly,” Avani agreed, ducking back into my closet, presumably for accessories.

Shame pooled through me when I realized I had been just as bad as these lairds before, blaming Davin and Rowan for not upholding the perfect standards of royalty when they had just been young and grieving.

Gallagher walked the perimeter of the room, checking the locks on the doors and windows before leaving for me to get dressed.

“I’ll be just outside the door, and I’ll escort you once it’s time to leave.”

I thanked him and he left. Gwyn was on his heels, but she paused on her way out.

“I am glad that you’re safe,” she said, the cadence of her words implying heavily that there was abut.

“You just wish I was gone,” I filled in.

She let loose a slow exhale. “What I wish is that you would make up your stars-damned mind about what you want and bloody well commit to that decision. Davin only knows how to love one way, with everything he has, and he deserves someone who can give him that in return. So if you can’t be all in, then put him out of his misery and leave for good this time.”

Then she was gone, leaving me to wonder if she saw more than anyone gave her credit for. If perhaps she was the only one who did.

* * *

Gallagher escortedme through the castle to an enormous set of double doors where Princess Jocelyn was waiting for me. He nodded to us both before turning to go, leaving Ewan as my guard.

Jocelyn stepped closer to me, her head barely reaching my shoulder. Her navy eyes swept over me in a single assessing glance, like she was assuring herself both of my wellbeing and of my preparedness. Her hands hovered, poised to tuck in a stray hair or pull out a dangling thread. She brought them back to her side after a moment, apparently finding no fault with my braided updo or the placement of my understated jewels.

“I should know by now I don’t have to worry about you,” she said.

Though she was ostensibly referring to my outward appearance, there was a determination in her features that hinted at more, a confidence I didn’t deserve. She didn’t give me a chance to argue, or respond at all, before she moved on to what was in store.

“They’re sure to run in circles, so just answer as best you can.”Lead them astray when you have to, she meant. “If they ask you anything you aren’t comfortable with, you do not have to answer. Look to me, and I will interject for you.”

I nodded, appreciation washing over me in waves. Though I caught the double meaning here, that she would find an excuse for me not to answer if I couldn’t come up with a suitable lie, I also knew that her promise was genuine. If I actually was uncomfortable, she damned sure wouldn’t let that stand.

“I understand,” I told her.

She looked at me like she heard the echo of the words from my room all those weeks ago when she had told me I could choose my loyalty. When she had told me that no one would take me from here by force.

Was she disappointed now, knowing I had let that happen anyway? Knowing I hadn’t trusted in her family’s protection after they so freely offered it?

A gentle hand came under my chin, lifting it higher. “None of that now. We all do what we must.”

Whether she meant to express understanding for the past or bolster me for the room ahead, it worked. I nodded, donning what Davin liked to call my Resting Socairan Face.

It was a familiar shield, one I had worn for years, and again since Alexei came for me. It would be more than enough to get me through the next few hours.

Though, it wasn’t entirely the Assembly I was worried about as much as it was Davin. Rather, it was his reaction to the decision I had come to somewhere on the long walk here. It didn’t matter, though, because Princess Jocelyn was right.

We all do what we must.

ChapterTwenty-Eight

---