Flint approaches, clapping me on the shoulder. "Quite the show."
"Necessary," I reply, my jaw tight. "We can't afford to look weak. Not now."
"And what about Keira? The girl? What was that about?" Ash asks.
I shake my head. "I don't know yet. But I intend to find out." I look for Blaise but don’t see him. I imagine he’s worried the most about what I might do to punish Keira. “Where’s Blaise?”
“Jenna was checking flowers but then he couldn’t find her. I think he’s looking to see where she went,” Ash says, grabbing a flute of champagne from a passing tray.
“I’m assuming we’re still having a wedding after all that?” Flint asks.
"The wedding proceeds as scheduled," I say firmly. "This alliance is too important." I roll my shoulders, feeling keyed up. "Make sure everyone enjoys themselves. I need a minute."
I step away, finding a quiet corner where I can breathe. I can’t get rid of the image of Keira kneeling, offering herself in place of the nanny and child. I've seen people beg for their lives before. I've witnessed men offer money, power, information, anything to save themselves. But Keira didn't plead for her own life. She offered it up willingly to protect others. What could possibly make her risk everything like that? And why was she trying to smuggle the girl away?
And Brigit's face, the terror in her eyes when my men dragged her in. The way she trembled and cried. Christ, she's just a child. I never meant to frighten her. And fucking hell, she didn’t see me kill, did she?
It occurs to me that today’s executions are why Keira tried to get Brigit away. Does she think I’d do the same to a child? The thought makes me sick. Is that who I've become in her eyes, a man who would hurt an innocent girl? After everything we once meant to each other?
I think of how Brigit hugged me that night in the kitchen. How she told me I needed to let go of my anger.
I look up to see Blaise returning, Jenna at his side. Her face is flushed, eyes wide with what looks like panic. She's gripping my brother's arm, whispering urgently as they approach. Something's wrong.
"Phoenix," Blaise says, his voice tense.
Jenna steps forward. "Please, just listen before you do anything?—"
Blaise silences her with a gentle squeeze of her hand. "Let me handle this."
I straighten, instantly alert. The way they're acting sets off alarm bells in my head. "What's going on?"
I study my brother's face, searching for clues. His expression is guarded, torn. He's caught between something or someone and I realize it’s between me and his wife. He feels the need to tell me something that Jenna doesn’t want him to share. I guess I’m about to learn where his loyalty lies most. With his blood, his family? Or with the woman he married?
Jenna looks like she's about to cry, and I wonder what the hell she knows that has her so upset. Whatever it is, it's clearly something Blaise now knows too. Something they don't think I'll handle well.
"What the hell is going on?" I demand, my patience wearing thin. The ceremony is minutes away from starting, and I can feel control slipping away. Once again, Keira has turned everything upside down.
Blaise steps closer, lowering his voice. "You need to talk to Keira before the wedding."
"I don't need to do anything," I snap. "She tried to smuggle people out of my house on our wedding day. If anything, she needs to explain herself to me."
"Phoenix," Blaise insists, his tone more urgent than I've heard in years. "Trust me on this. You need to hear what she has to say before you go through with this."
My irritation rises. I've spent weeks planning this day, orchestrating every detail to solidify our return to power. The families have pledged their loyalty. The message has been sent. Everything is falling into place exactly as I designed it.
"Whatever she told you—" I begin.
"It's not what she told me," Blaise interrupts. "It's what I overheard. And it changes everything."
I study his face, searching for any sign that this is some kind of manipulation. But all I see is genuine concern and something else. Something that looks disturbingly like pity.
"Fine," I concede, though every instinct screams against showing weakness. "I'll talk to her. But this wedding is happening, Blaise. We've come too far to back out now."
He nods, though the tension doesn't leave his shoulders. "Just… keep an open mind."
"Handle the guests," I instruct, already turning toward the stairs. "Tell them the ceremony will begin shortly. Make something up if you have to."
"Phoenix," Blaise calls after me. I pause without turning around. "Remember who you were before all this. Before the fire."
