Page 107 of Midnight Conquest

When she had entered his bedchamber last night, his eyes had turned to her—silver and glowing, like molten metal heated in a smithy’s forge. At the time, she had dismissed it as a trick of the moonlight streaming through the latticed window. But now, she wasn’t so sure.

Her mind drifted to the night in the fortune-teller’s tent, when she had made the bargain that sealed her fate. She had seen that same silver glow in his eyes then—and there had been no moonlight in the tent, only candlelight flickering against canvas walls.

And then there was the inhuman growl that had rumbled from his throat when he had turned on Amice’s granddaughter. The sound had been low and guttural, more beast than man, and it had chilled her blood.

Davina shook her head, as if to scatter the unsettling thoughts from her mind. Her imagination was running wild with impossibilities. But as much as she longed to dismiss these strange signs as mere tricks of her senses, she couldn’t ignore the prickling awareness that gnawed at her.

She didn’t have answers—not yet. But one thing was certain—whatever secrets Broderick was hiding, she would uncover them. No matter the cost.

By the time she reached the castle gates, the household was already stirring. The large oaken doors rattled open to let her in, and she slipped within the walls, her cloak swirling around her ankles, and paused when she noticed the vacant stall in the stables. Her uncle had already left. Although he hadn’t even bothered to say goodbye—or mayhap she wasn’t in her chamber if he did—she exhaled at the weight suddenly lifting from her spirit.

Davina entered the foyer and poked her head into the study. Empty. A smile spread her lips wide. This was hers again. At last.

She marched up the stairs, and as she crossed the hallway to her bedchamber, she heard Rosselyn and Myrna’s raised voices over Cailin’s bawling. What in heaven’s name was going on in there?

As she drew closer to the door, reaching for the handle, Myrna’s harsh voice gave her pause.

“Have ye lost yer mind, child? They’ll surely throw us out on our arses!”

“Davina wouldn’t do that, Mam! We can’t keep lying to them!”

Davina threw the door wide. “What’s going on here?”

Both women gasped, eyes wide. Myrna stopped bouncing Cailin on her hip and froze mid-motion.

As Cailin opened and closed her tiny fists in the air, Davina scooped her up and hugged her infant close to her breast. The babe’s warmth grounded her, even as her heart twisted. “What exactly are you lying about?” She fought the tears threatening to choke her and kept her voice firm and authoritative.

“Rosselyn,” Myrna growled, casting her daughter a warning glare.

Rosselyn closed her eyes, visibly torn between her mother’s command and her own conscience.

Davina inhaled a shaky breath. “Tell me the truth, Roz. What’s goin’ on?”

Her handmaid’s shoulders sagged beneath the weight of dread. “Please know, Davina, I didn’t ken until—”

Myrna slammed the burping cloth onto the nearby chair and marched to the corner of the room, where she hugged herself tightly and covered her mouth, tears brimming through her scowl.

“I didn’t find out until Lord Parlan died,” Rosselyn pressed on, her voice thick with guilt. “And this secret has been eating me up inside. I’ve wanted to tell ye but—”

“Rosselyn McRae!” Davina stomped her foot, clutching her daughter tighter to her chest as she fought back her own rising tears.

Rosselyn nodded and inhaled a deep breath, bracing herself. “We are sisters, Davina.”

Davina shook her head as she rubbed her daughter’s back to quiet her. “I don’t understand. Of course, we are.”

Both Rosselyn and Myrna gawked at Davina. Rosselyn stepped closer, her face pale with disbelief. “You knew?”

They had always felt like sisters growing up through the years. Why was this suddenly an issue? Unless… Davina shook her head, a sinking dread pooling in her chest. “Nay. What are you…” She clenched her jaw against the fresh burn of tears and leveled a glare at Myrna. “Youseducedmy father?” she ground out, her voice tight with betrayal.

“There!” Myrna slapped her hands against her thighs, her face twisted in scorn. “Ye see that? Ye stupid girl. What harm was it doing to keep this quiet?” She snatched a canvas sack from the wardrobe and began furiously emptying the drawers into it.

“Davina deserves to know the truth!” Rosselyn shouted, her voice shaking with conviction.

Cailin wailed, her tiny fists balled in protest. Davina bounced her gently, her heart hammering against her ribs, throat clogged with unshed tears. “After all my family did for you! You lied! It wasn’t your fiancé’s child. He left you because he knew—”

“Davina, please—” Rosselyn tried again, desperation roughening her voice.

“Don’t bother, Rosselyn!” Myrna snapped, her eyes blazing as she glared at Davina. “Bloody nobility think they can do no wrong. I thought ye were different, Davina, but ye’re no better than the rest.”

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