Page 65 of One True Love (Love Mark 1)

Ignoring him, Allera spun to me. “Vienne,” she begged, grasping my arm. “You don’t think unkindly of Urban, do you?”

“I…” I blinked at her, not sure how to answer. “Truly, I don’t know what to think about him. I don’t even know him.”

“That’s okay.” She nodded as if she understood. “That’s fine. Just, please, don’t hate him. He knows this is the life you choose, and he understands he doesn’t belong in it. He respects your wishes. You don’t have to worry about anything from him. He doesn’t expect anything from you. There’s nothing you have to do about this. It’s no one’s fault. We can all go on from here as if nothing ever happened.” She lifted her voice at the last line as if directing it toward Soren. “He’s just happy you’re alive and well again.”

I shook my head. “I don’t…I just don’t understand how I can be his…his...”

“He knew,” she said, nodding. “The instant we entered this castle. He knew his one true love was here. He could feel it. But I asked him—commanded him, really—not to say anything until we met Brentley and the king, because I worried it might be someone he couldn’t have, and it turned out I was right. You were already married. So… So I convinced him to keep his silence and not to act on the bond he felt with you. It wouldn’t have done anyone any good if he’d announced it aloud, anyway, which… I was also right about; it’s been a huge mess since everyone’s found out. But then… Then you died, and he had to try. He had to see if he could bring you back. So he did… And here you are. You’re alive again. Because of him. And I just want you to know this changes nothing. He’ll continue to stay away from you if that’s what you wish. No matter what your husband or anyone else says, you’ll never have any trouble from him if you request it. This, I swear most solemnly.”

Soren grasped her arm harshly, dragging her away. “I said to shut your filthy whore mouth, you little—”

“Soren!” I raged, making the baby jump in my arms and begin to cry. I bounced her soothingly, even as I glared at my husband. “Let her go this instant. How dare you treat her so brutishly?”

Coming back from the dead must’ve garnered me some respect, because my husband reluctantly let go of Allera, and then Brentley went a step further, shoving him away from her.

I turned to the princess. “So you knew this whole time what I was to your brother?”

The princess nodded, her eyes flaring wide as if she were just then realizing how betrayed that might make me feel. But she didn’t lie or try to feed me excuses. She merely confessed, “I did.”

I nodded as well, grateful she was at least being honest with me. “Was that why you befriended me? So you could report back to him? It was merely to spy on me?”

“Vienne,” she whispered, reaching out a hand, her demeanor filled with pain and apology. “No… I mean, yes, I did tell him what you were like. I first approached you solely to report news back to him. But I promise you, dear Vienne. Our friendship is genuine. If you never want me to say another word to him about you, I won’t. I swear it.”

Her answer didn’t exactly reassure me. I could taste my disappointment, like bitter sap on my tongue. I wanted to believe that she’d truly liked me the entire time, but knowing it had all started as a ruse hurt terribly.

“Don’t believe her, Vienne,” Soren hissed. “The woman’s a liar. She—”

“Let Vienne speak for herself,” Brentley growled.

The men exchanged glares, and I sighed as I studied Allera. Lifting my chin, I said, “I plan to attend your wedding to show my support of the Donnelly-High Cliff alliance.”

“You shouldn’t,” Soren said, shaking his head. “It’s too soon to be up and about. You’re still too weak.”

Keeping my gaze on Allera, I repeated with more force, “I will be present at your wedding. If you could thank your brother for the service he rendered to me, I would much appreciate that as well, but then please ask him to keep his distance.” I slid a glance toward my husband. “I think that would be the most peaceable solution for us all.”

Tears slid down Allera’s cheeks. She must have decided I did not forgive her for her betrayal, when in truth, I wasn’t sure how I felt about that yet.

Wiping the wetness away, she nodded immediately, “As you wish, my lady. He’ll not bother you at all. I swear it.” Then she whirled away and raced from the room.

My shoulders slumped. I hadn’t wanted to hurt her, but I couldn’t let her think I approved of such behavior, either. Brentley sent me a sad but understanding glance before he turned as well and followed her out.

I glanced down at the top of Anniston’s head. She’d fallen asleep at some point and now rested peacefully in my arms. For some reason, I did not feel good about the decision I’d made.

“You were far too kind to her,” Soren spoke from beside me.

I didn’t look up at him. Leaning down to kiss the top of my baby’s head, I said, “That’s funny. To me, it felt as if I’d been much too cruel to her and far too kind to you.”

“Excuse me?” he growled, his shock evident in his voice.

I finally glanced up. His face was a hot, angry red. He’d never hit me before, but if he were ever going to, this appeared to be the time he would start. Both his hands balled into fists as he stepped ominously closer and narrowed his eyes.

Remaining as calm as I could as not to alarm the baby, I kept eye contact with my husband as I asked, “Did you really beat him just because he helped me?”

He leaned in close enough for me to smell the coffee on his breath that he must’ve drank that morning. “I beat the insolent bastard because he dared to touch what was mine. Because he dared to claim you as his.”

I wanted to tell Soren I wasn’t his either. I was my own, and no marriage ceremony or even a love mark was going to make me belong to anyone else unless I deemed it so. I might’ve been forced into doing many things in my life—like marrying him—but my heart was still mine to give away freely without any sort of fo

rce. I would choose where it belonged.

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