Page 125 of A Deception of Courts

“This was always the plan, wasn’t it?” he said, looking between Rafaela and me.

I nodded, glancing at Rafaela and wishing I could borrow some of her defiance.

“Why?” Duncan breathed. “Why did you keep this from me?”

I shrugged, unsure which excuse to pick from. “This is my choice. The key is in me. For as long as it dwells inside me, or any other Icethorn – we threaten the lives of the people we are sworn to protect.”

He knew I was right, deep down, they all did.

Duncan looked to Rafaela, distrust thundering in his verdant stare. “How dangerous is it?”

We both noticed the grimace on her expression. She did well to hide it. “The labradorite is the second vessel strong enough to contain the key. If Robin binds the power into the stone,Ican destroy it.”

“You are asking Robin to do exactly what we have just fought against Aldrick to prevent.” Duncan’s entire body hardened into a shield before me. “No. I can’t let you both do this. Not until we have all discussed every option. This is not only your fight but also ours. All of ours.”

“Thisisthe only way,” I pleaded.

“Perhaps so, but I love you enough to make sure you make this decision with a clear mind. We have time to make it,” Duncan spoke softly, although there was no ignoring the demand that lurked beneath each word.

“Erix,” I called out, noticing Duncan wince as I did.

In seconds, my guard was there. It seemed it was my turn to take control of his mind. Doran had done it, then Aldrick. I refused to let him suffer in the hands of another again. But for that, I had to play the game of monsters.

I dropped my hands from Duncan’s stomach, reluctantly tracing my fingers down his frame.

“You called on me, Robin?”

I nodded, locking eyes with Erix, not able to look anywhere but at Duncan. “Restrain Duncan.”

“Robin, wait.” Duncan tried to stop me, but his attempt was futile. “Think about this.”

I had, over and over, so many times.

“I do not understand…” Erix said, looking between me and Duncan. “Why?”

“Do it. Don’t let Duncan out of your hold until I give the command. Have your gryvern stop anyone, friend or foe, from getting near me. As your king, am I clear?”

I expected Duncan to fight, but he didn’t.

“Yes,” Erix said, grimacing as he stepped toward Duncan and took a hold of him.

Since when did victory hurt so badly? Because right then I felt nothing but pain, like a thorn in my heart. I tore my gaze from Duncan, unable to witness the anger that coiled in his eyes when he looked at me.

We all knew he could’ve fought free, Erix wasn’t exactly holding him tightly. But it was the meaning of my action that hurt him. But I silently vowed that this would prevent true destruction from ever gracing Wychwood. I did this to save them from a future always under threat.

I knew little of how Erix controlled the gryvern, but suddenly they screeched in threat and broke apart, flying down to the ground. The Hunters scrambled for their weapons again, and even the fey gathered at their sides at the new threat.

Althea locked eyes with me before the gryvern thudded into the ground, creating a wall between us. She’d not heard this conversation, as her focus had been on gathering the chaos left after Aldrick and controlling it.

I sensed the question in her eyes, but there was no time to answer it.

Erix pulled Duncan away, deeper into the circle of the gate. The mist had returned, twisting around their ankles. Both men looked at me with similar expressions. I couldn’t stand to punish myself with their attention any longer. I knew this decision was the right one. They would see.

It was the only way, just as Rafaela had confirmed, to finally stop this.

“They will hate me for this,” I said to her, allowing my inner anxiety to spill out of me.

“Hate is the other side of love,” Rafaela replied. “My people will also hate me, but it is the only way. You are saving their lives. Doing this will prevent Duwar from ever returning to this realm and laying waste to it. It is not only the right decision, Robin. It is theonlydecision.”

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