Page 93 of Façade

My brow furrowed. “What could you possibly have to tell me now?” With such a preamble, I doubted he’d express the loving words I ached to hear from him; his annulling our marriage made such sentiments impossible.

For a beautiful moment he continued to hold me…then all at once his touch fell away and he stepped back with considerable reluctance, leaving me yearning for him. “We should converse somewhere more suitable.”

Foreboding pressed heavily against my chest for whatever conversation lay ahead. Distance would be best for me to stay my chosen course, but my treacherous heart compelled me to accept his invitation. Rather than offer his arm in escort he kept his distance, as if our annulment had robbed us of our previous closeness.

Our footsteps echoed against the stones in time with the anticipation pounding my heart. Silas trailed us at a discreet distance, but his protection would offer little shield to whatever havoc Ryland’s words would likely wreak on my already susceptible emotions.

“I know I have no right to seek you out, especially after…” He swallowed his next words, as if unable to speak of the annulment he’d been the one to orchestrate. “I had to talk to you, to explain.”

“About the annulment?” I didn’t think I was strong enough to speak about that when my emotions remained so raw, even as I was desperate for an explanation for why in the end his sense of duty had been stronger than our growing love, a choice as a royal I logically understood even as my heart couldn’t accept it.

Anguish twisted his expression. “No, about—” Once again he couldn’t seem to finish.

My apprehension escalated as I followed him through the twisting corridors to the familiar pillared courtyard that contained my last memories just before I lost consciousness. Only a thin veil of light penetrated the cloudy sky to reflect off the ancient columns. My fingers grazed the stones, a touch that stirred the curiosity Ryland had awoken in me about what type of rock it was. Time was rapidly slipping away, leaving me few opportunities to share in his wonder about them, one of many sacrifices brought by our severed union.

With a wavering breath I faced Ryland, standing rigidly on the other side of the courtyard wearing an anxious expression that testified that whatever he had to speak with me about had nothing to do with rocks or anything even remotely pleasant, making me worry he wished to discuss the one topic I didn’t want to broach.

I feared any explanation he offered for what had truly transpired within this courtyard would make it impossible to continue denying what my warring sense fought against—that his involvement in my stolen magic wasn’t the misunderstanding I desperately longed to believe it was. For Iwantedto trust him, more than I’d ever wanted anything.

My gaze darted nervously around the courtyard. “I hoped you wouldn’t bring me here.”

He didn’t answer, a silence which only escalated the foreboding cinching my heart.

“What do you wish to speak about in such a place?” The question burned my tongue, a conflict between my need to know the truth and my fear.

“There’s something I must tell you, but before I do, I feel it prudent to confess that Iknow, Evie.”

I swallowed. “Know what?”

He took a measured breath. “That the princess I’ve been seeking has been with me the entire time.”

Horror seized my breath as his meaning settled over me. He surveyed my shock and nodded to himself.

“I thought as much.”

I could only stare. There was so much I wanted to say, but my wildly pounding heart made it impossible to form the words.He knew,knew who I truly was. The repeated words echoed through my mind.

For a long moment I couldn’t speak; I seemed to have lost my voice. “But…how? I—don’t understand.” He couldn’t have possibly known before; if he had…then why had he annulled the marriage?

He chuckled, a humorless sound. “Come, Evie, I noticed your slips in controlling your powers, despite your valiant attempts to hide them. At first I puzzled over the reason for your magic…but as soon as I witnessed your interaction with your guard, the truth became clear.”

“But if you knew, why didn’t you say anything?”

He sighed. “You seemed so determined to keep it from me, so I pretended not to notice.”

Another façade, but this one for my benefit. “When?” In my shock I could barely manage the word.

“Before our annulment. Until then I was almost prepared to forget the real princess and remain with you as my heart desperately wanted. But once I realized thatyouwere the real princess…everything changed, and not just my knowledge as to your true identity.” He released a nervous breath. “Have you finally remembered what happened here?” His gaze nervously darted about, as if in search of the scattered pieces of my recollection for me to piece together.

My unease rose, even as Silas’s sharp accusations returned.Ryland is the one who stole your magic.

“Only bits and pieces.” The most treasured recollections from that day—the comforting warmth from his presence, his touch against my cheek, our kiss, every tender feeling washing over me…followed by the foggy unconsciousness that made me feel as if part of me had been snatched away and the all-consuming darkness that had followed.

“The fact that you’re with me now testifies you’ve forgotten the most important memory.” He finally lifted his gaze. My breath caught at the devastation filling his eyes, a sign of his internal anguish. I reached for him…only for him to step out of my reach.

“Don’t, not until you’ve allowed me to explain…after which the last thing you’ll want is to be close to me.”

Trepidation caused my heart to pound, but before I could speak he withdrew a vial from the pocket of his cloak. Even in the thin, gloomy light it glistened almost ominously, illuminating the shimmery substance contained in the glass prison securing it.

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