Page 150 of A Court Bright and Broken

My gaze moved to Raewyn, whose expression of shock had morphed into one of fear. I was a bit afraid myself. The look in Stellon’s eyes was wild.

Still, I had come here for a reason, and it appeared the situation was more dire than ever.

I pointed at Raewyn, who cringed away from the gesture as if it was palpable.

“Her.”

Chapter 40

The Better Heir

Raewyn

The sword in Stellon’s hand moved toward his brother again, and he pulled me to stand behind him.

“You are mad,” he said. “Raewyn is not an assassin. She saved my life in the Rough Market. Why would she try to kill me at the ball?”

From his position sprawled on the floor, Pharis glared at him. “Hey,I’mnot the enemy here. Maybe point that blade somewhere else? There are things you don’t know about yourbeloved. She’s notjustRaewyn. She’s—”

“Lady Wyn,” Stellon finished for him. “I already know. Shetoldme. So you can save your righteous anger for someone else. Raewyn and I have no secrets from each other now.”

“Oh really,” Pharis said, unconvinced. “So she told you why she came to the ball that night?”

“Yes. She wanted to see me again,” Stellon told him, “because our first meeting affected her as deeply as it affected me. She came in disguise so she’d be safe among all the Fae. An Earthwife from her village helped to change her appearance for the night.”

“Oh, I know all about the Earthwife and her ‘help,’” Pharis said. “In fact, I just spent some quality time with her—down in the dungeon.”

My heart turned to pure ice and shattered.This is it.

It was over.

My time with Stellon. My life. I was going to hang, and my family was going to starve.

Pharis went on, digging my grave deeper with every word.

“Sorcha, her name was. Interesting woman. She told me all about yourtrue love. Now I know why the matchmaker’s glamour told me ‘Lady Wyn’ was a terrible match for you. Not because she’s human. Becauseshewas the assassin sent to kill you—and me and Mareth and Father.”

Stellon snorted a disbelieving laugh. “That’s ridiculous. If the old woman in the dungeon knows all about the assassination plot, thenshewas the would-be assassin. Of course she’d lay the blame on someone else. What, did she try to make a deal with you to win her freedom?”

He dropped his sword. “Don’t you see? She lied to you, brother, and you believed it because youwantedto.”

Extending his hand down to Pharis, Stellon helped him up from the floor. “Be patient. The right girl will come along for you, too.”

Pharis barked a laugh as he sprang to his feet.

“You think I’mjealous? Abouther?” He shot me a disdainful glance.

“I know you are,” Stellon said. “I’ve seen the way you look at her.”

Pharis waved a hand in front of his face, as if fanning away malodorous fumes.

“Do you not find it a bit coincidental that the old woman in the dungeonis the same Earthwife from Raewyn’s village?She’sthe one who changed her,” Pharis said.

“Did little Wyn tell youthatwhen the two of you were exchanging confessions?” he asked.

Taking in Stellon’s shocked expression, he said, “Didn’t think so. Sorcha concocted the poison Raewyn concealed in her handbag that night. The one she carried with her as you two stood at the seawall, kissing. Thesamebag she was digging through when I walked up and interrupted you. Or maybe it washerI interrupted—before she could dose you with the stuff.”

Since Stellon seemed to have lost the power of speech, Pharis went on.

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