Page 123 of Trial of Deceit

Chapter thirty-five

Bryony’sbrowsfurrowed.“Wayou a talk ’bout?”

“It’s a long story…” Jediah muttered while standing.

Bryony crossed her arms.“Me have all day—”

“Miss B,” Jediah said, exasperated.“Please.”

She stared at him for a moment, then sighed while nodding.

Jediah gave her a tired smile.“Where’s Reine?”he asked, and Bryony shrugged.“I’ll go look for her,” he announced, and Bryony nodded as she walked past him.Her footsteps echoed behind him down the hallway until they went to different wings.

Stopping before the entrance to the wing, Jediah listened as noises from furniture scraping against the floor drifted down the wall.Exhaling a long sigh, Jediah nodded toward the guards before he took the first step forward.

He hadn’t been down this wing since his father died…

Now, as his footsteps echoed off the empty walls, his chest tightened.

He didn’t miss Kayon.No, he didn’t.

But something inside him was missing.

As he drew closer to the door — one he used to knock on to see his mother in the mornings when she had morning sickness; one he barged inside to glower at his disabled father — he realized what he was.

There was nothing else left to look forward to beyond this doorway.

Still, he pressed on, with his throat tight, heart racing, and hands sweaty.

He reached out a shaking hand toward the doorknob, then opened it.He pushed the door inward, and it slowly swung open.

His shoulders sagged as he noticed Reine by the window.She sat in Kayon’s chair, staring at the backyard with her arms resting on the arm rest.“Knew I’d find you here.”

Reine didn’t answer.

Jediah sighed and moved closer to his sister.He stopped behind her and raised his hand to lay on her shoulder, but she got up and took one step away.He sighed again while lowering his arm.“I deserve that…” he muttered, and Reine didn’t reply.“I’m sorry, Reine.”

She snapped her head to the side, her body shaking as tears grew in her eyes.“For which part?Playing wid mi feelings?Knowing Malia did alive?”

Jediah gasped.“Say whatever you want about me not saying anything about Sashoy and Dimitria, but I wasjustas surprised as you about our mother.”

“Mi find it hard fi believe that!”

“Believe wa yu wan’.Mi don’ in a the mood fi argue wid yu,” he said, and she scoffed.Jediah grabbed her by the arm.“Come mek mi show yu something.”

“Let mi go!”Reine tried pulling free as he dragged her out of the office, across the yard to the warehouse and down to the dungeon, but her attempts were futile.

He released her arm.They faced each other, both breathing heavily while glaring at each other.

“Mi tired a you a treat mi like a baby!”Reine yelled, her voice bouncing off the walls.“I can handle the truth.”

“And mi tired a you a be unappreciative fi every thing mi eva do fi yu!”Jediah yelled back.“Maybe mi coulda be happy if mi whole life neva revolve ’round yu already!”

Reine gasped.The fire left her eyes as she staggered backward.“I make you unhappy?”

“No, Reine,” he said with a heavy sigh.“You make me happy.That came out wrong, and I’m sorry.”

She crossed her arms and looked away.Guilt weighed on Jediah as Reine rapidly blinked, clearing tears from her eyes.

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