As Empress Rhianu brushes from the room, the lords rush after her.

13

Nesta has lined the lady in a sheet, and when the lords enter, she pulls it down for them to see.

I’m abhorred by Emleen’s ashen face streaked with dried blood. Lord Jasher crumples over his daughter’s physique as racking sobs overcome him.

When did this occur? I launched Emleen from my chambers mere hours in the past. What occurred within the interim?

She’s wearing my shirt, indicating she barely had time to return to her room. She would have bathed and dressed instantly, so she didn’t even accomplish that.

The empress touches a hand to Jasher’s shoulder. “My expensive Lord Jasher, you have got my deepest sympathies.” Dripping lies fill her phrases.

I smash my anger down and mentally recall an incantation that may preserve me in management.

“I don’t perceive how this might have occurred.” Lord Jasher briefly catches my eye. Emleen wasn’t at breakfast. Her father and I each assumed she was lacking as a result of she was “recovering” from her evening with me.

The empress locations each her palms on Jasher’s shoulders. He turns into as inflexible as iron. He is aware of, as I do, that each phrase that comes subsequent shall be a lie. “I imagine I do know what occurred. Expensive Emleen got here to me this morning, distraught. Her soul was crammed with sorrow. This shall be exhausting so that you can hear, my expensive Lord Jasher, however her maidenhood was taken from her final evening.”

Jasher rises to his ft, pretending to be outraged by the story although he is aware of the reality. The transfer causes the empress to step again and launch his maintain on his shoulders. Jasher is visibly relieved regardless of his grief. “How? Who may have pressured himself on my daughter?” I give Jasher credit score. He doesn’t look my method.

“She didn’t wish to implicate the person as a result of she feared he’d damage her,” the empress says. “Regardless of how I pressed, she wouldn’t inform me.”

“However what led to her dying?” Lord Rhydderch asks.

Empress Rhianu sits on the mattress and takes Emleen’s hand. “The poor lady was beside herself. She feared that when her father discovered and phrase unfold, nobody would wed her. She requested me to declare a betrothal for her.”

I don’t imagine a phrase. Nor would Emleen be so daring as to hunt assist from the empress.

“Did you?” Lord Jasher asks.

“I’m afraid I denied her request.” Empress Rhianu says. “The poor youngster ran from the room, weeping into her palms. I by no means guessed what she would do subsequent, that she would take her personal life.”

Lord Jasher is fuming. Hatred, pure hatred, surges via him. I wouldn’t blame him if he attacked the empress together with his naked palms. Jasher clenches his fists, however fairly than coiling them across the empress’s neck, he brings his hand up, urgent it to his mouth. Guilt surfaces. He blames himself as a result of he lower off Drago’s head.

The empress rises, turned in my course. A smile curves her mouth.

Disgusted, I activate my heel and stride from the room.

14

She’s out of her thoughts, I say to Neifion. I’ll smother and die on this accursed place earlier than my mission is full.

You might be sturdy, Neifion says. Siarl is happy along with your progress.

Watching a father weep over his lifeless daughter shouldn’t be progress.

The empress trusts you. She needs your approval, as astonishing as that’s for her to need.

So that you didn’t doubt my means to achieve hers? I ask.

Under no circumstances.

My pores and skin pricks when Empress Rhianu passes via the wards I set on the library entrance. Since I can’t detect her presence with out Drago, I made a decision I have to be extra cautious, particularly when my consideration is engrossed in dialog with my dragon.

I shut my eyes to the phrases on the web page I by no means had time to learn resulting from my dialog with Neifion. Although the heat of the hearth is earlier than me, my again is chilly. I strive to not faux it’s due to the empress’s strategy.

She strikes softly and quietly. I want I may sense her feelings. With what goal does she come to face earlier than me tonight? Hours have handed since that dreadful scene within the infirmary. I declined dinner, too sickened to sit down in her firm.

Supply: www.seynovel.com