Page 77 of A Tale of Treachery

I tensed as we crossed the border of the forest and entered the kingdom of Cambriel. Each footfall grew heavier the closer we drew to the palace, the closer I came to returning to life as a mistress. My heart dropped when we reached the gates surrounding the palace grounds. Reality crashed down around me as the cold iron barriers slowly opened on their turnstiles.

Redmond halted me with a raised hand as we entered and turned to the others. “Give us a moment, please.”

The soldiers quickly fled, having fulfilled their duties for the day, but George glowered at us, unwilling to give us a moment of privacy.

“For the love of God, give us a little space,” I snapped at him.

He moved back twenty paces, his eyes watchful, but his ears too far out of reach to hear us.

Redmond clasped his hands behind his back. “Something happened. You’re hiding something from me.”

How in the world could I tell him what I’d found? The consequences would be disastrous. I moved to speak, my eyebrows clenching at the sting behind my eyes, but Redmond held a hand up to stop me.

“I understand you might have your reasons for not telling me whatever it is you’re trying to hide, but just know that you can trust me. You don’t have to tell me now, or tomorrow, or even the next day, but be aware that I’m here when you need me.”

“Redmond.” My voice cracked. “I’m sorry. I can’t—I just can’t tell you right now.”

He weighed me with a conflicted gaze.

“That’s all right. Take your time. You know where to find me,” he said with a smile, placing a kiss on my forehead.

My lips turned down as he walked away. I had no clue what I was doing or why. It wasn’t right to hide what had happened from him, not when he was the only one who could be trusted with the information. But Redmond had grown fond of Ryken, and I didn’t want to put him in the position of keeping such a large secret from the fae.

It was enough that Ryken would never forgive me for keeping the whereabouts of the crystal from him. I didn’t want to add Redmond into the mix. It wasn’t like Ryken cared about what happened to me, anyway, considering how he had left me with such cruel words the night before.

The thought sank into my gut. George led me up the winding staircase to my room. There had to be a way to make things right with Ryken without telling him about what I knew. I cared deeply for him and couldn’t stand the idea of him thinking that I’d chosen Aiden over him. If only there was a way out of this palace…

I chewed on my lips as I entered my room, slamming the door in George’s face. I could still smell Ryken in my room, could still smell us. I rubbed my hand against that tether in my chest that seemed to have formed between us last night, a space where an empty hollowness now sat. Through that tether, I sensed that he was still alive and well, but at a safe distance away. Likely hiding out in the Scourged Forest.

“Hello.”

Startled, I turned toward the small sitting area of my room. Princess Gabriella sat perched on the couch, dressed in flowing fabrics. A table in front of her was laden with biscuits and a steaming kettle, the same tea table where Ryken had laid me down.

Heat crawled up my cheeks at the memory. “What are you doing in my room?”

She flinched at the tone of my voice.

“I—uh—I was hoping we could chat a little,” she stuttered. “I know you must resent me, and I know that I’m supposed to resent you, but I was hoping we could be friends.”

I remained silent, questioning why she would want to be friends with me, of all people, and whether her offer was genuine.

“Look, I know this is weird, but I’ve always been watched closely and told who I could and could not speak with. I’ve never really had a friend, and I just figured that since we are in a similar situation, maybe we could rely on each other. I ordered tea. Please join me.”

She seemed genuine enough. My shoulders relaxed, and I took a seat opposite her and poured her a cup of tea before pouring one for myself.

“I heard about last night. I didn’t believe your claims of not wanting to be with the prince until I heard what had happened. I’m sorry.”

“Why would you be sorry? I was the one who got caught. I was the one who broke the rules.”

Gabriella sat her tea down and folded her hands in her lap. “I’m sorry because I can empathize with you. I know what it’s like to have to play a role that you want no part in.”

“You don’t want to be a princess?”

“It’s not all it’s cracked up to be,” she sighed. “I’ve been a prisoner all my life, taught what to wear, how to speak, how to act. Told who to love. I’ve never had much freedom or choice in life. I thought things would be different here. I’ve known Aiden since we were children, and I always assumed that he would be different, that once I arrived in this kingdom, I would have choice, freedom, and respect. But a realization dawned on me yesterday after meeting you. I’ve been moved from one gilded cage to another, an even worse one.”

I took a sip of my tea, the warm liquid easing my throat and relaxing me from the day’s events. “I think you’ll have some semblance of freedom. Maybe it’ll be even better here than it was in New Hazel.”

She took a nibble of a cookie and grimaced at the taste. “It’s not that…”

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