Page 25 of Royal Rebel

“No.” Tyrell would never have helped her escape. Not if it meant losing her. Would he come with her if she and Grayson asked? She honestly didn’t know, but doubt crept in. Was that the faersin? Or just the overwhelming fog she suddenly felt?

“How did you plan to use Tyrell, then?” Iris asked.

She didn’t want to answer, but she couldn’t hold onto her reticence. “. . . Use him. I thought I could use him.”

“Ahh . . . I think I’m beginning to truly see you, Meerah. Did Grayson tell you anything about Liam’s death?”

It was another sudden shift in questioning, and it made Mia squirm.

Liam wasn’t dead. That was a lie Grayson had told his father in the hopes of gaining his mother’s help—fates, she couldn’t betray Grayson to the woman who had ordered Liam’s death in the first place.

But her mouth opened, and she had to say something.

Partial truths.She needed to share only partial truths.

Grayson had told her about the lie. He hadn’t told herhowhe’d professed to have seen Liam die. “N-No. He didn’t tell me about Liam’s death.”

Iris’s eyes narrowed. “But he mentioned Liam’s death?”

“Yes.” Hehadmentioned it, when he’d told her it was a lie. Mia could feel herself compelled to clarify, but Iris asked her next question before she could speak.

“Why didn’t you tell Grayson the truth about who you are?”

The change in subject was just as abrupt as before, and it shocked words out of her before she could try to rally her thoughts. “I couldn’t.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Tears stung her eyes. “I couldn’t tell him the truth. It only brought pain.”

“Because of the beatings you received as a child?” Iris asked. “Henri told me how he ordered your caretakers to make sure you didn’t talk about your past.”

Mia’s voice cracked. “Yes. I couldn’t even think about who I was.”

“So you never told Grayson.”

It wasn’t a question, but she responded anyway. She wanted to explain everything to Iris. “No, I didn’t tell him. Most of the time, it didn’t even seem real. Who I used to be . . . I’m not her anymore. Meerah is dead.”

“That’s quite a statement.Meerah is dead. What makes you say that?”

“I’m not her anymore,” Mia repeated. “And Desfan . . . he’ll hate me.”

“Fascinating,” she mused. “Why do you think he’ll hate you?”

NO!A voice inside her screamed.Don’t say anything. Don’t give her anything—

“It’s my fault,” Mia said, her voice breaking. “I killed Tally.”

Iris’s head tilted. “Who is Tally?”

“My sister.”

The queen’s gray eyes shined brighter. “You killed your sister?”

“Yes.” Mia pinched her eyes closed. She could feel her fingernails digging into her palms, drawing blood. “I let go of her. In the water. She was so scared, and I let go of her hand.”

“Did you do it on purpose?” The intrigue in Iris’s voice made Mia’s stomach roil.

“No.” Her face was wet. When had she started crying? She wanted to brush the tears from her cheeks, but it would take too much effort to lift her hands.

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