Page 137 of A Court Bright and Broken

Stellon’s expression was pure defiance. “This is the woman I was telling you about—the one who saved my life in the Rough Market.”

When Pharis’ gaze came back to me, his eyes held what appeared to be a new appreciation.

“This tiny thing stood up to a roving gang of ruffians?”

He laughed, apparently amused by the mental picture. “How did you even get her into the palace?”

“I gave her an invitation to the ball,” Stellon explained. “She tried to attend, but things went wrong. She tripped and sprained her ankle. Then the guards threw her into the dungeon. I’ve been nursing her back to health ever since.”

Pharis narrowed his eyes at his brother, a slight smile curving his lips. “One of the human prisoners yousaidyou released after questioning.”

“I did release her… in a way,” Stellon said, sounding defensive.

Pharis’ gaze moved to me as he thought aloud. “So she’s been here since the night of the ball. And she arrived with an invitation… that you personally gave to her.”

His eyelids flew wide, exposing the whites around the sea-colored irises, and I felt a stab of alarm. There wasn’t just shock in his probing look. There was recognition.

It’s you—isn’t it?

I couldn’t explain how I’d heard the words. Pharis’ lips hadn’t moved as he’d stared at me.

But I’d heard them, loud and clear. In my mind.

Inhisvoice.

How had he done that? And how did heknow? How, after only a few minutes with me in my human form, had he realized that Lady Wyn and I were one and the same?

His expression was impatient, demanding. He seemed to be waiting for an answer.

When I didn’t give him one, he “spoke” to me again.I know it’s you.

Then he glanced over at Stellon.But he doesn’t, does he?

Sounding impatient and perhaps irritated by his brother’s persistent staring, Stellon said, “Yes, I’ve already told you that. But you haven’t toldmewhat you’re doing here. I didn’t even know you’d returned from Altum. How did you get back so quickly?”

“I borrowed Orn’s evanescing glamour and evanesced there and back. Lord Elardis was telling the truth. He knew nothing of Wyn or any assassination plot.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were back,” Stellon said. “And you used the secret passageway?”

“I was convinced you were hiding Lady Wyn in here. I was worried for you,” Pharis said.

“Itoldyou I haven’t seen her since that night.”

“Yes… you told me that. And I believe you believe it,” Pharis said.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

As Stellon waited for an answer, I thought my pounding heart was going to crack my breastbone. My face was sweating along with pretty much every other part of me.

This was it. This was where my association with the Earthwife and my complicity in her assassination plot would be revealed.

I wouldn’t have to worry anymore about convincing Stellon not to love me. Rather, I’d be hard pressed to keep him from ordering my immediate death.

But Pharis didn’t out me. Instead, he gave his brother a pitying glance.

“Nothing. It means nothing. I wish the two of you well. May the Grand Star brighten your way.”

Following that bit of sarcasm, he turned to go, but Stellon stopped him. “You’re not going to tell Father, are you?”

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