Page 117 of Brighter Than Gold

“That’s not even all of it. Nyx, tell me, did you know that there was this…revolutionamong the Northerners? That people are finally admitting their heritage because they saw a Queen reveal hers?”

“I have heard things here and there, yes, but I rarely leave the palace grounds. Why do you sound upset by this?”

“Because Kaspian kept it from me. Intentionally. He knows how conflicted I feel about being from the North. He knows the guilt I’ve carried over not telling him my secret before we married, andstill, he never chose to tell me that my admission had perhaps had a positive affect over the Realm. Why wouldn’t he want to share that with me?”

Nyx stopped and took my hands in his. “I don’t know my love. I can’t think of a reason why he would keep that from you.”

This normally would have been the point where I would feel my throat begin to ache and the tears sting my eyes. Where I would weep into someone’s arms and pity myself. But I didn’t feel any of that today. I felt a teeming anger flooding my veins, growing stronger with each slight, each lie I’d been fed.

“Come.” I tugged Nyx along the path through a bushy hedge, shielding us from the gaggle of servants that followed my every step. “There is something else I want to tell you, maybe out of spite after everything that’s happened, but you are my brother and the keeper of my secrets, and I want to share this with you.” Nyx looked at me expectantly. “You take this to your grave,” I warned him.

“Of course my love, what is it?”

“I’ve fallen madly and desperately in love with someone that is not my husband.”

The look on his face went from eager, to confused, to worried.

“Gods, Reyah, of all the confessions, I was certainly not expecting that.” He shook off his doubt. “Who is it?”

“I don’t think you’re even going to believe me when I tell you.”

“Who…”

“Callan.”

Nyx was so still, he looked as though my admission had turned him to stone. “That’s not—he…what?”

“It started when we were held hostage together, and it…it hasn’t stopped. You’re going to think I’ve gone insane, but I’m truly in love with him, Nyx.”

“Gods, Reyah.”

“I know.”

“Just so we’re clear, this is the same man that you would have happily watched burn at a stake just a few weeks ago, right?”

I couldn’t help but crack an embarrassed smile at that. “The very same.”

“Well, that’s unexpected.”

“Believe me, I know.”

“Look, Reyah,” he said hesitantly, “I really don’t think I should be the one to tell you this, but he…” Nyx trailed off.

“What?”

“I mean, you remember I told you I had friends all over the palace?”

“Yes..”

“I’ve spent time…in the barracks.” He went wide-eyed, willing me to understand what he was getting at.

I sighed. “Gods, did everyone know except me?” I wailed pathetically.

“All right, so youdoknow then?”

“Wait, you’ve never…”

“Gods no! Shit no!”

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