Page 43 of Elven Throne

Because she couldn’t help feeling like she’d done something horribly wrong. Like the pain and anger and indignation flashing in Maxwell’s eyes and the disapproval etched across Bor’s ancient face meant theyblamedher for something.

That they were ganging up on her, even. Moving against her.

That was exactly what this looked like.

If it had come from anyone else, she wouldn’t have hesitated to acknowledge it for what it was before planning her next move to deal with it.

But this wasMaxwellandBor,for crying out loud. Two people she knew she could trust.

Oh, shit.

Had she been wrong?

Had she misread everything she’d felt in Maxwell, because that was what he’d wanted her to feel when he’d still been playing her the whole time?

The thought was so alarming, it froze her blood in her veins and made anything else utterly impossible.

Had she just made the deadliest, most costly mistake of her entire incredibly long life in deciding Maxwell was exactly who he told her he was?

Bor grumbled something else, digging the butt of his spear into the asphalt and grinding it angrily back and forth.

Rebecca still couldn’t hear what he said, but it had to be something awful.

A second before Bor finished speaking, the color drained from Maxwell’s face as he stared at Rebecca.

He’d just heard something terrible enough and terrifying enough to make him lookthatphysically ill, and Rebecca cursed their fucking connection and everything she’d wanted to let herself feel for Maxwell Hannigan, despite all her misgivings.

Because now, it looked like it didn’t even matter.

Now it looked like she’d been a fucking idiot for letting her guard down and feeling anything for him beyond doubt and suspicion and the unyielding hyper-vigilance of keeping her secrets and all their dangers from everyone and everything.

She’d been so sure she could trust him. But if that were true, why did this feel like she’d just walked into an even deadlier trap than the one Rowan and hisHakalini’irhad set for Shade?

When Maxwell tore his gaze away from her to mutter something to Bor, it left her dizzy and reeling with disappointment and frustration bordering on panic.

She’d just screwed herself. She knew it.

Then the shifter stepped away from Bor and headed right for Rebecca, still looking sick.

What did he mean to do now? What had she done to elicit this response in both himandthe old giveldi?

What the hell had Bortoldhim?

It could only have been one thing. Bor now knew the bigger picture, if not all the smaller details, of who Rebecca truly was. Just as Zida also knew it, because they’d both witnessed it for themselves firsthand.

Wasthatwhat he’d shared with Maxwell in his anger?

Was that really how Zida and Bor had decided to repay Rebecca for saving all their lives?

Not that she expected any praise for what she’d done, but this was the complete opposite.

If this played out all the way to the end, all of Shade would turn against their Roth-Da’al once they learned what she’d been keeping from them. They’d cast her out, or try to kill her. Maybe even try to subdue and apprehend her before turning her over to Rowan or the fucking Azyyt Ra’al in exchange for all their lives…

Her breath hitched in her throat as she watched Maxwell drawing closer. As she felt him and the rising intensity of tingling energy racing across her cheeks and down her neck and spreading into her limbs.

What the hell was she supposed to donow?

Could she even get herself out of this one?

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