Page 70 of Turret

Be brave, I silently reminded myself. I struggled to gather every ounce of courage as Briar led me from the gardens to the conversation that awaited us.

Chapter 27

My heart pounded with every step as I followed Briar through the corridors to his private study. I couldn’t remember the last time my brother had invited me for a private conversation.

The attending footman opened the door with a deep bow. A sense of familiarity enveloped me as I stepped inside. Throughout my childhood, whenever I was well enough to venture from bed, I’d often visit Father while he worked. I could still recall my memories of him sitting behind the mahogany desk immersed in his royal duties, yet no matter how busy he might be, he always had a warm smile just for me. The surrounding shelves enfolded me in an embrace similar to the one he’d always given me whenever I crawled onto his lap to sit with him while he worked.

His absence tugged on my heart. Emotion clogged my throat as I settled in the chair across from the desk and Briar took the opposite seat. It was both strange to see him occupying Father’s place and incredibly natural.

Briar folded his hands across the desk. “I know it’s been several days, but I’m so glad you’re home safe, Gemma.” His eyes crinkled with his warm smile, just the way Father’s had, and I relaxed in my seat.

“I’m happy to be home.” While I’d still been within the tower, I’d never expected to say those words and actually mean them, but so much had changed.

Though his soft expression didn’t change, he sighed wearily. “I have many questions for you, but with all that’s transpired since your return—with Mother’s hearing and punishment, as well as Drake and Reve’s visit—we haven’t had much time to talk. I hope to remedy that these next several days, but in the meantime there’s something more pressing I’m anxious to discuss with you.” He leaned over the desk, expression serious. “I wish to discuss Guard Quinn.”

I shifted nervously in my seat. “Quinn? What about him?”

He frowned. “Though I know him to be an honorable man, I can’t help but worry over the fact that for several years you two have been trapped together in that tower…alone.”

Heat swallowed my cheeks. This was the last thing I wished to discuss with my brother. “You needn’t worry about my reputation; Quinn is a good man and ensured that nothing untoward occurred, and Melina was the most devoted of chaperones.” I purposefully omitted all the times she’d purposely left us alone.

“I’m relieved Melina faithfully saw to her duties.” Briar pursed his lips and continued to eye me, as if trying to unravel my carefully guarded secrets. His expression softened. “You needn’t look so terrified, Gemma. This isn’t an interrogation.”

I urged myself to relax, but it was difficult when he still looked so serious. “I admit I’ve convinced myself that an interrogation is exactly what this is.”

He chuckled and reached over the desk to rest his hand over mine, a soothing gesture that helped me relax further. “I’m just trying to get all the facts straight. Would you rather I ask Quinn these prodding questions?”

I rapidly shook my head, which earned me another chuckle, one that quickly faded when he returned to studying me.

“You’re in love with him.”

I released a shaky breath. “I am, though admittedly it took me some time to realize that’s what I felt for him.”

“Which must have been torturous for him; he’s been in love with you for years.”

My eyes widened. “What do you know of it?”

His look became almost guilty. “We may have had a discussion concerning his feelings shortly before your imprisonment. He sought a meeting for a different matter, and because I was acting in Father’s stead, I’m the one who met with him, where I outlined in no indisputable terms how he was to treat you.”

I buried my face in my hands with a groan. “Did you have to do such a thing?”

“Of course. You’re my sister.”

I was both touched by his protectiveness and annoyed. I was already having a difficult enough time convincing Quinn I wanted no one but him, and no matter how well-meaning his intentions, my brother’s interference had undoubtedly not helped matters.

“What matter did Quinn want to meet with you about?”

Briar released a heavy sigh. “One I wish to discuss with you now: he asked to be released from his post.”

My breath hitched and for a moment I couldn’t speak. Despite Quinn’s repeated hints during our sojourn in the tower that he didn’t feel qualified for his position as my guard, I hadn’t realized he’d harbored the desire to leave his duties for so long.

“Why would he—” I began.

“Because of his condition,” Briar said. “He told me of the curse afflicting his family and that he’d already lost some of his sight.”

My disbelief quickly shifted to anger. “Why would he tell you but not me? You knew this entire time, yet I was kept entirely in the dark.”

“It wasn’t my secret to tell,” Briar said. “Due to your own difficulties, he knows how sensitive you are to health afflictions. How could he ask you to add to the burden you already bore? He wished to keep it from you in order to protect you.”

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