ease let us save him. Please go.”
Tears welled in my eyes, but I nodded, barely trusting myself with words. With one final look at Simon, I turned and left the room, walking directly past Gerald, Loelle, and Trina, who all silently followed in my wake. Shortly before reaching my own room, I turned to them, addressing Gerald specifically.
I said, “If you don’t save him then know this: I will return with my magic and my blade and an unquenchable fury. I will destroy every Halderian who is responsible for his death, and it will start with you.”
Gerald’s eyes became solemn. “This, my lady, is why the Halderians fear you.”
The first tear spilled onto my cheek. “I ask only one favor before I go.”
Gerald dipped his head at me. “If I can.”
“Will you tell him, please, that I wanted to go, that I chose this? Tell him the corruption is worse than he suspects, and that I am irredeemable.” My face felt hot, but I closed my eyes, trying to steady my emotions. When I had, I added, “Tell Simon anything you must to keep his heart from breaking too.”
He nodded at me again, then Loelle took my arm. “A carriage is waiting for us outside. Trina, gather anything from our room that we may have left behind, and hurry. You will ride with us.”
Loelle led me farther down the empty corridor to a rear exit of the manor where two Halderian guards were waiting to admit us into the carriage. I slumped against the side wall, determined to ignore Loelle’s attempts at conversation.
“For what it’s worth,” she said, “I am sorry it has to be this way.”
It was worth nothing. She was simply the last in a long line of people who’d trampled over me, bent me to their will, then apologized with the excuse that they had no other choice.
My eyes were closed and I was facing away from her when Trina joined us in the carriage, ready to leave. Loelle called up to the driver and we rode away.
“You should sleep,” Loelle said. “We have a long journey ahead.”
I had no intention of sleeping. I just needed enough quiet so that I could plan. This wasn’t over yet.
From the moment I awoke, I knew Kestra was gone. I saw it in Gerald’s terse expression as he hastily sent the other attendants in the room away. I heard it in Harlyn’s voice as she described the efforts of the doctors who had stopped the infection in my arm from spreading into my shoulder. And I felt her absence, deep within my heart.
I knew Kestra was gone. I just didn’t know why, or how long it had been.
“Which of you is responsible?” I asked.
After a silent exchange of looks with Gerald, Harlyn began with the easiest part of the conversation.
“You’ve been unconscious for three days. Your arm is still—”
“Did Kestra leave by choice, or was she forced away?”
Harlyn’s eyes darted, and her fingers twitched with discomfort. She barely looked at me to say, “A little of both, I suppose. Once she understood the danger of staying, she willingly left.”
My glare at Harlyn darkened. “The danger of staying? Who threatened her?”
Now Gerald answered, “No one threatened her. But surely you have considered who she is—”
“The Infidante.”
“Who she is … now that both her adopted parents are dead.”
I groaned and leaned against the headboard of my bed. “Kestra is the heir to Woodcourt.”
“And if Lord Endrick is removed?” Gerald prompted.
“The Scarlet Throne would be hers.”
“Yes, if the Dallisors are in power. As King of the Halderians, obviously you cannot allow that.”
“Obviously.” I closed my eyes and tried to keep hold of my temper. “Where is she?”