Page 78 of If The Crown Fits
“Then what do you want with me?” I asked earnestly.
“I wanted your partnership, and I wanted you to steal me a necklace.”
“Which I did. And then I got myself out of there before things got messy.”
Lance tilted his head to the side. “Yes, how unfortunate that you were right, and the necklace is nothing more than a fancy piece of jewellery.” So, he hadn’t figured out it was a fake, or was he just lying again? His eyes dared me to reveal if I was hiding something. “Doesn’t explain why you left so suddenly in the middle of the night. With the prince, no less.”
“You tortured us for information. Did you really think I was going to stick around to see it all play out? I got out to save myself.”
He took another sip of his wine and mumbled, “Load of good that did you.”
I frowned at his response.
“You think I don’t know about your little escape back at Woodsbrook? I know exactly how you got out.” He slowly stood up. “You think I have no idea why you came back today, that it was to save Cai’s men and get your little lady-in-waiting out?”
My eyes widened and I took a step back. “How . . . how did you . . . ?”
He tilted his head again, grinning. “You think I don’t know that at some point my best guard decided to betray me and take your side, and is now aiding you and your clan of bandits on your little mission in the palace?”
My throat had gone completely dry.
“You think I don’t know about your little friend Rhen and how he has been helping you?”
I started walking backwards to the door, but Lance made no advance towards me.
“I will have to make an example of him, so that people know what happens when you betray your new king.”
My hand found the door handle. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m letting all of you rogues walk free today. I know Cai and his men are outside and that you’re going to meet them there and go back to whatever miserable dark hole you crept out of. But as we speak, Rhen has been arrested for treason and is sentenced to death tomorrow afternoon.”
I shook my head, feeling my hands shake and knowing that for the first time in a long time, I had absolutely no idea what to do. No power to fight. I could kill him right here, right now, but it wouldn’t stop the execution — it would only make me a murderer and make escaping Everness so much more difficult.
“You’re a monster,” I breathed, slowly opening the door behind me.
“I’m doing what’s necessary to protect my family. You — better than anyone — should be able to understand that.”
I didn’t understand. This had nothing to do with family and everything to do with Lance’s horrible nature.
“I’m going to let you all walk free,” he said, “because killing the heir of Norrandale is only going to make things more complicated for me right now. And because Arthur isn’t even man enough to face me. If he wants a fight then I can promise you I’ll bring a fight. But he will never get my throne.”
Not wanting to hear another word from his mouth, I ran out. Wiping tears from my eyes, I slipped around hallway corners.
I couldn’t get out fast enough. Couldn’t get the picture of Rhen dying out of my head. And all because of me. All because he helped my family and me. My vision blurred and my eyes filled with tears.
I stumbled on until I saw Cai running down one of the hallways. Like he was looking for something. Like he was looking for me. He had come back to look for me.
“What happened?” Cai wrapped his arms around my sobbing self and I knew there was no use in holding back now.
“He’s going to kill him,” I murmured. “He’s going to kill him.”
Cai’s arms tightened around me. “Shhhh.” He pressed his lips against my head, holding me tight against him. The weight was comforting. “I’m here. It’s okay. I’m here.”
I shook my head almost violently, letting out silent sobs. “No, he’s going to kill Rhen. He’s going to kill Rhen because of me.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry.” And he just held me for a moment. “We have to go. I’m sorry, but if we don’t leave now...”
If we didn’t leave right then, we might never leave. Lance wasn’t exactly a man of his word. My hands shook. The only way I was going to make it back to camp was if I didn’t think about it. Cai led me through the empty hallways until we were finally outside. Our group was hiding in the brush just beyond the stables. There were no guests in sight, to our luck.
