Page 65 of Fragile Oath

But attraction wasn't love, and it was everything else that seemed to get in the way with us.

Laird Wilson’s eyes lit up, like he had led her exactly where he wanted to, but it was MacBay who spoke.

“Forgive me, Lady Galina. But I can’t help but wonder, if everything you say is true, why are the two of you not betrothed at present?” He glanced pointedly at her empty hand, the finger where only weeks ago had rested the most sought-after ring in all of Lochlann.

I bit back a curse. I thought back to Gracie telling me she believed our relationship was a ruse, my mother constantly enforcing how important it was that we make this believable. The lairds were already struggling to buy my alibi, and now this matter of our fake engagement, when my entire defense of this crime hinged on Galina’s honesty.

We should have prepared for these questions, should have forced ourselves to talk to one another, should have known that the Assembly would try to blindside us both. But of course, I hadn’t realized we wouldn’t have a single moment to breathe.

Instead of looking taken off guard, though, Galina looked almost…triumphant. I thought back to the way she had fidgeted openly, moving her sleeve out of the way. She had known they would ask this, and for some reason, she wasn’t bothered by it.

She squared her shoulders, solidly meeting MacBay’s eyes. Something churned in my gut, a foreboding at the defiant way she refused to look in my direction, like she knew I wasn’t going to like what she said next.

Still, it took everything I had to keep my expression even when she spoke next. Like she had lit the fuse on a thousand kegs of black powder, her words hit with a blinding impact.

“I can assure you that Laird Davin and I are still very much betrothed.” With that, she slid her gaze to me. “After all, you don’t risk death and Unclanning for someone just to walk away and leave it all behind.”

ChapterTwenty-Nine

GALINA

I forcedmyself to look at Davin while I sold what I wasn’t entirely sure was a lie. It was an effort not to lose myself in the way he was back to being every inch the marquess of Lithlinglau, perfect and devastating.

We hadn’t talked about the future, but considering we weren’t speaking and he could barely look at me and he had told me more than once that I was free to go back to Socair, I could hazard a guess that he wouldn’t be thrilled with this plan.

I sure as storms wasn’t going to walk away and leave him to this mess after everything. He could hate me for it later, but he would be alive and out of exile, which was more than I could say if they thought our entire relationship had been a ploy.

At least he was every bit the liar I was.

When the lairds looked to him for confirmation, he gave a sharp nod, edged with just the smallest bit of condescension. As if to say, obviously, they should have known we were still engaged, not like he was just as surprised by that proclamation as they were.

“And on that note, myfiancéehas been through an ordeal already,” he gritted out, likely as an excuse for the mounting tension in his shoulders. “You’ve asked her everything you need to know.”

Laird MacBay softened a bit at that, a trace of guilt clouding his features.

“Just about,” he added, before glancing at my left hand once again. “May I inquire as to the ring?”

I blinked up at him to buy myself a moment.

The last time I saw my ring was when Alexei tore it from my finger and tossed it carelessly on the letter he had forced me to write.

“It was taken from me,” I finally said, not bothering to hide the emotion in my voice. “I’m not sure what the man did with it after he removed it from my hand, but it was hardly a priority when we came back to this insanity.”

A truth and a lie, one that should cover Davin adequately. Before anyone could respond, Davin stood up.

“Yes, we’re looking into it. Thank you for your time, gentlemen.”

I nodded demurely, standing and taking the arm Davin held out to me while I pretended not to be affected by his unexpected proximity.

The taut muscles in his bicep belied all the strain he wouldn’t let show on his features. I took a deep breath. This was what I signed up for.

“Please let me know if I can be of any more assistance in your inquiry. I’m sure everyone is anxious to ensure that the other lairds are safe from whoever actually did this.” My words were far more casual than the situation warranted, a bleak reminder that there had been a murderer in this castle only a few short weeks ago.

Then we walked out of the chamber like the united front we most definitely were not.

* * *

I paced the rooftop,fighting for some semblance of my usual calm. Rather than follow me into my rooms, Davin had only flickered his eyes upward for a fraction of a second before disappearing into his own suites.

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