Page 39 of The Huntsman's Heart
Guinevere
I toss my sword aside in disgust, turning my back on Alaric so I’m not deceived a moment longer by his false earnestness. I don’t buy his offer for a moment. It’s only a lie meant to make me trust him because he knows he’ll never defeat me now and I’ll never let him go.
I stalk from the courtyard, seeking space, peace, something to calm my racing mind. My veins throb with pent up energy and there’s an answering throb between my thighs that I try not to think about.
I took too much pleasure in the twisted things I did to Alaric while he was tied up and helpless.
Ducking through the archway into the only surviving room in the castle, I lean my back against the cool stone and close my eyes.
A soft voice at my side alerts me to Raban’s presence. “You do not trust him, princess?”
Without opening my eyes, I shake my head. “Never. How can I?”
Raban is quiet for a while. When I open my eyes to study his face, I find that Corvin has joined us as well. He stands further back than my sweet Raban, but he looks equally concerned.
“You are right to be suspicious,” Corvin says, stroking a hand over his short beard.
I sense he wants to say more—is holding back. I would be surprised if Corvin were to advocate for Alaric. He was the most vocal in forming our plan to capture and torment him.
“It is more than suspicion.”
He nods. “I thought as much. Your emotions are guiding you. Which is understandable. You lost your last hours with your father, and your life as you knew it, because of him. But did you not also tell us you needed to stop the queen from destroying your father’s kingdom?”
I sigh. “I did. Which is exactly why I do not trust Alaric to help me. He knows I have no love for her and this could all be a trap.”
“That is true,” Corvin says.
“What does your heart tell you?” asks Raban.
I smile ruefully. “My heart is dead. Right now all I feel is anger. It burns so hot I would do anything to end him. But why would he hand me the key to his own destruction? That makes no sense. Just because we haven’t succeeded does not mean we can never be successful. We have not yet tried all the means we could employ.”
“You are right. I can think of plenty of other things we could try.” Corvin looks positively gleeful at this thought and that stirs the fire within me.
“What if he regrets what he did?” asks Raban.
I scoff. “He would have to have a heart for that.”
There’s a pause. No one says anything, and my mind races over all the possibilities. “What if he could help me defeat her? After all, he’s served her for many years. She trusts him. If he’s truly willing to help me, then it would be easy for him to bypass all the other guards and get straight into her chamber to do the deed.”
Corvin nods. “This is good thinking. There is no need to decide tonight. We can wait.” His smile darkens. “And while we wait, we can continue to test him.”
“Like I did tonight?”
“Exactly. Does he not deserve to suffer more to repay his crimes against our princess?”
Raban looks conflicted.
“What do you think?” I ask him.
His long tail flicks behind him. “I did enjoy watching you with him tonight.”
My brows lift, and I study his expression more closely. He is intently focused on me as always. There’s a mixture of devotion and excitement on his face. “Did you?”
His cheeks color, and he looks aside at Corvin. “I think we all did, princess. You are beautiful always, but like that… When you are truly in command…” He trails off, but it’s clear his reaction is positive.
Just when I think he will not say more, he glances back at me shyly. “When you used the wooden cock on him, I may have been a little jealous.”
My gaze flicks to Corvin to see his reaction. I’ve never asked Raban if he speaks with the others about our extra-curricular activities. To my surprise, Corvin sighs. “As was I.”
