Page 151 of A Court Bright and Broken

“The Earthwife told me every ingredient in that poison concoction. I’ll wager Auspex Pavan will confirm it’s a perfect match.”

“That only proves the Earthwife was involved,” Stellon argued. “It doesn’t mean Raewyn was.”

“Has she explained to you how she got out of the palace that night with guards posted outside her door?” Pharis asked. “How her Fae features vanished at midnight, along with her ballgown and handbag?That’show the vials came to be found on the lawn—not far from the vines leading down from her window. Go ahead, ask her.”

Stellon just stared at his brother, hatred visible in his eyes.

Pharis’ tone turned pleading. “You cannot trust her, Stells. You can’t even trust your own feelings right now. The old woman denied casting a love spell, but I think she lied. It’s obvious you’re not thinking clearly.”

Finally Stellon turned to me.

“Is it true?” he asked. “Is any of it true?”

It was a struggle to breathe, much less speak.

“I honestly don’t know about the love spell part,” I answered weakly. “But yes, I did come to the ball at the behest of the Earthwife. It was her idea, not mine.”

“She fed my family and healed my father,” I explained. “In exchange I was to perform a task for her once inside the palace.”

Stellon’s face darkened to a deep red. His eyes looked almost crazed. Touching his cheek, I kept him from turning away from me.

“But I didn’t knowwhyshe wanted me to come,” I swore. “Not until she confronted me during the dinner and put the poison in my handbag. I was stunned. I’d made the deal with her to save my family from starvation and sickness. I knew there’d be a price—but I had no ideathat’swhat it would be.”

Stellon started to pull away, his face a contorted mask of pain.

Clutching at his arm, I said, “I never really intended to use the poison. You have to believe me. I never wanted you dead, Stellon. You’re not like your cruel father or…”

Here I darted a glance at Pharis before going on.

“I promise, I never wanted any harm to come to you or your family, only to return to my own family and keep them safe from Sorcha. By not fulfilling my obligation to her, I put them in terrible danger. But even knowing that, I couldn’t do it… because I fell in love with you. I could never hurt you.”

There was an extended moment where he didn’t respond other than to stare at me, stone-faced. Every nerve was strung tight as I braced for his condemnation.

And then his hard expression crumpled, and he pulled me to him, holding me tight.

“Raewyn.” He breathed into my hair. “How terrifying for you. You were in an impossible situation. The Earthwife will pay for her treachery. She will not be allowed to harm your family, I promise.”

The relief was so powerful, my eyelids closed, and I nearly dropped to the floor, boneless. Stellon held me up, keeping me pulled tightly against his strong body.

His back was to Pharis now, his large form shielding my embarrassing near-nudity from his brother.

When I opened my eyes again, I could see Pharis’ incensed expression, his fire-bright eyes nearly burning a hole in Stellon’s back.

“Please tell me you’re notreallythis stupid,” he said.

When Stellon didn’t acknowledge him, the anger on his face morphed into hurt.

“I can’t believe you’re taking her word over mine. It gives me no pleasure to say this, but you’re going to be sorry you didn’t listen to me. Maybe I’d be the better heir after all if you’re really this big a fool.”

Stellon released his hold on me and took the crumpled shift from my hands, quickly dropping it over my head and arms to cover me. Then he turned to face Pharis.

“Maybe youshouldbe Crown Prince.”

Pharis’ eyes bulged in either surprise or alarm—perhaps both.

“What?”

Stellon shrugged. “I don’t even care anymore. I was ready to abdicate the throne anyway, if that’s what’s required to be with Raewyn.”

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