“Did my mom have a difficult pregnancy with me?”That makes me pause. Lola rarely asks about her mother. It is a touchy subject due to how other people, including our very own family, treated her differently because of who her mother was. I never really tried to ask about the scullery maid that had
“Not yet. He’s been in meetings all day.”“No doubt dealing with that obvious mole Peter has sent to bother us.”Seeing Lord Alistair scurrying about the castle is a common occurrence. More than once, he has tried to go into areas he is not allowed in only to be deterred by a guard or servant. He ha
KaneGuilt burns in my chest. I have no desire to give in to King Peter’s demands, especially if it endangered my family. Despite all that has happened between us, Lex is my brother. I should not give him up.“I don’t want to send you as a hostage,” I tell my brother. “I’m going to refuse King Peter
“The worst part is not all of it was bad.” Coit’s voice is wistful. “When we were little kids, he’d play with us and take us camping.”“I remember.”I close my eyes, and memories of Bernard taking us camping and teaching us about the stars at night make me want to weep and throw something. Monsters
“Don’t let them break you,” she murmurs into my coat. “You are, and have always been, stronger than you know.”We say our farewells, and she retreats to the rose garden where she has always found solace.Emory is sleeping so she hasn’t been informed. I asked specifically for her to learn once I’ve l
KaneI try not to focus on the worst case scenarios of my brother being held as a political hostage by Scarlett Thunder. I need to hope that King Peter will keep his word not to harm Lex, and I have to trust Lex not to get himself killed before this conflict with Scarlett Thunder is over. This is a
“Growth?” Rainier repeats with a scoff. “Like that time he insulted the ambassador of Ruby Rivers by admitting to the man’s face that he slept with his wife, and she wasn’t good in bed?”“That was a long time ago.” Why I’m defending him, I’m not sure.“Or the time he stole a carriage that belonged t
These are empty threats. Part of the deal of me being a hostage is he can’t harm me, not physically anyway. He can call me awful names every minute of my time here, but he cannot have me killed. King Peter is a lot of things, but he’s not an idiot. Nobody rules for this long by being one.He has alw