I tried to step around him, but he moved as well, blocking the exit.
“Don’t run from me. Please, don’t run.”
“What else do you expect?” I couldn’t sit here and stay silent while he doted over hisfiancée. When had he proposed to her, anyway? He’d failed to mention that juicy little morsel.
“I don’t know, Aveen. But I need you to stay. Stay and tell me what to do.”
“It’sRose, remember?”
Devastation swam in his bloodshot eyes. “I’m sorry for that, but I’m worried she may expose your presence to the Queen.”
“So, what? Am I to disguise myself inside the castle as well?” He couldn’t expect such a thing. If he wanted to be with Leesha, he could do so elsewhere. Buildhera bloody cottage by the seaside.
“That would probably be best,” he said with a resolute nod. “When you’re not in your rooms, anyway.”
My hands fisted at my sides. He wanted me to hide myself? Fine. I would hide my face, my form, and my heart. Heaven knew he’d trampled on it enough. “You want me to tell you what to do, Rían? Tell Leesha the truth.”Tell her the truth and choose me.
He paused for far too long before responding. “I will. I just need a little time. She still thinks her parents are in the cottage. She doesn’t know about her sister…that I…that I was the one who killed her.”
His arms came around me, pulling me close. I found no comfort in his familiar cinnamon scent or the feel of him holding tight.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered once more before letting go.
I watched him walk away from me, ease open the door, and slip into the hallway to knock on his own door. Leesha answered, tugging him down for a kiss. He turned his face away at the last moment, his eyes locking with mine while another woman’s lips grazed his cheek.
“Is Rose one of Tadhg’s women?” Leesha asked.
The door fell closed, muffling Rían’s response.
I drifted toward the staircase, finding Keelynn waiting on the landing. Tears streamed down her cheeks when she collected me in a fierce hug. “I’m so sorry, sister. Tell me how to help you.”
My mouth remained closed. I’d finally gotten Rían back only to lose him all over again.
Nothing could make this better.
Nothing at all.
20
RÍAN
I’d heardpeople say that you shouldn’t go searching for answers at the bottom of a bottle. Yet here I sat, intent on proving them wrong. My fingers gripped the neck a little tighter so I could bring the wine to my lips. This shite really tasted awful.
Tadhg lounged across the settee, an eager spectator to my misery.
I swiped my lips with my sleeve like a barbarian. How far I’d fallen. “She’s up to something.”
Tadhg’s glass stilled halfway to his mouth. “Who?Rose?” With that snarky tone, I expected a smirk, but his mouth remained flat.
Aveen must’ve told Keelynn what had happened earlier tonight. Since that shrew couldn’t keep her trap shut, she’d obviously informed my brother of how dismally I’d handled the situation with Leesha. I’d had to feign a headache to get out of spending the night with her.
What would my excuse be tomorrow?
Now that my head had cleared and I could think straight—
I took another sip of faerie wine.
Somewhatstraight.