“We were away from our families, and I forgot myself. By the time I came to my senses, I had already married him.” The silence following her words is broken only by the shuddering breath that escapes her, as if revealing the truth released something deep inside her. Something that desperately needed to tell someone.
“Oh, Everly.” I have no other words, not when my heart understands hers.
Her lips quiver as a ghost of a smile appears on them. “You don’t know how good that feels to tell someone.”
“Like a pressure being released.” I know too well what happens when you keep secrets to yourself. They become your prison.
“Yes. Exactly like that.”
Several breaths pass before I voice another question. “Does Cenric want it to be a secret? Or does he want everyone to know?”
Her brow furrows as she fiddles with the leather bracelet on her arm. “He wants to shout it to all of Tarrobane.”
“That must be difficult.”
Desperation glints in her eyes as she grabs my hand and squeezes her fingers around mine. “Please don’t tell anyone.”
I would sooner run through the snow naked. I nearly giggle at the imagery of doing precisely that. Hector probably wouldn’t like me running around in the nude. At least, not in front of his men.
“I won’t. I promise.”
Relief floods her features. “Thank you.”
I embrace her again, then return to my bedchamber. As I settle on the bed, I keep thinking about Cenric and Everly. If I had any kind of power with the Bloodstone people, I would make sure they could be happy together.
The moment Hector steps into the room, I stand.
“I want to help Everly.”
His brow rises as he lowers a basket to the table. “What are you talking about?”
My surcoat whips around my legs as I pace the space in front of the bed. “I want her to be happy, Hector. Really happy.”
“Is she not happy?” He pulls a loaf of bread from the basket and yanks the cloth back.
I lick my lower lip and try to think of how I can phrase this without giving away her secrets. “Is she free to marry whomever she desires?”
“Why wouldn’t she be?”
The heels of my boots echo against the floor as I continue pacing. “Is she safe here? Really safe?”
“Sol.” Hector walks to me and grabs my arm, halting my steps. “What are you trying to ask me?”
“I don’t want the same thing to happen to her that happened to Kassandra.” The words come tumbling out, one after another.
Hector guides me to the table, where I sit. “It won’t. She’s safe here. She can marry whomever she wants.”
“Do I have your word?” Ineedto believe him. Really believe him.
“This isn’thiscity.” Bitterness lingers from Hector’s tone as he continues. “The people here are different.”
“Your father?” Those words curdle against my tongue.
“Yes. Astarobane was his. It bore the scars of his prejudices and hatred.”
It’s no wonder why I felt the burden of Roland’s hatred there, saw the proof of his violence.
Hector sits opposite of me and pulls winter berries from the basket and places them on the table. “I know about Everly and Cenric.”
