“My father already told you. The loyalists bartered information to save your life. Part of that included your identity and the knowledge that the rebels were a danger to you. They claimed not to know the reason, but my father never did believe them. All we know is there is something about you. Something important enough, your mother was murdered for trying to hide you.”
Jaren threw their pack of supplies to the ground and unsheathed his daggers, snarling, “That is not knowledge Sulian should possess.”
The guards responded instantly, dismounting and surrounding Eithan, blades raised. Ryn Hayes, the guard Trey had once warned her about, nocked an arrow.
“What is he talking about?” she asked.
The pieces began clicking together. She remembered Jaren saying they grew up together. She’d been given to her mate’s family…to hide. She felt like her life was about to crumble underneath her feet, and she took several steps away from Jaren so she could look at him head-on.
His eyes were angry, but his voice softened as he spoke in their native tongue, for her ears alone. “He’s wrong. They were looking for you, but they would never have intentionally killed the queen. She was too important.
“The crystals connected to her bloodline differently. It was rumored that her death, and thus the end of her bloodline, was what caused the taint. But no one knows for sure. I didn’t tell you because I did not wish to upset you.”
“But her death couldn’t have been the cause if I’m her daughter. Her bloodline never ended.”
“You were locked, Veralie. You had yet to connect to the crystals.”
She was quiet for a moment, processing what he’d said. She’d been the cause of her mother’s death. Hundreds of innocents had died in the rebellion because of her. Her stomach rolled, and she swallowed down the bile threatening to come up.
“You think I might be connected now, right? Does that mean the taint might be gone?” She couldn’t hide the thread of hope in her voice.
Eithan’s cough interrupted Jaren’s reply. He was frowning and shaking his head. “Whatever he’s telling you, Vera, you can’t trust him. The night you left, I was researching your culture, hoping to learn more about you before we courted.”
A loud snarl ripped from Jaren’s throat, causing Eithan to stumble back. He caught himself, glaring at Jaren before linking his hands behind his back and continuing.
“I read something interesting about the previous queens. As you know, the average lifespan of your people is around two hundred years. But the female rulers? Not one of them even made it to half of that. Each queen living a shorter life than the one before.
“I didn’t think much on it until my father admitted to who you are. There’s a reason your people went to war over you, Vera. It’s not safe there.”
His words were a slap in the face, and she felt a sharp pain in her chest, like a dagger piercing her heart. “No,” she whispered in denial. “No, it’s not true. Jaren wouldn’t—”
“Wouldn’t what?” Eithan interrupted. “Wouldn’t endanger your life for his entire people? You don’t know him; you don’t know what he’s willing to do.”
In her peripheral, she saw Trey looking her way. He hadn’t told Eithan about her being Jaren’s mate. Even after their fight, even though he was sworn to his prince, he had her back. Her eyes filled with tears, and she wished she could hug him and tell him how sorry she was.
“Come home, Vera. Elric is beside himself with worry. You will be safe with me, I promise.”
Jaren was gripping his daggers so tightly; his knuckles had gone white. “Touch her, and you’re fucking dead.”
Vera’s body felt numb. She couldn’t have raised her arms or moved her legs if she tried. Her head was spinning, trying to connect the dots and see the truth behind everything. Was Eithan right? Would Jaren be willing to take her back even if it wasn’t safe for her?
No. No, it wasn’t true. It couldn’t be. Not after what they’d shared. He wouldn’t take her back unless he knew he could guarantee her safety.
“Te wi yadz tsas mbi, little star,” he whispered. She believed him; believed he’d never hurt her. Their bond was real. She could feel it—feel him.
“I appreciate your concern, Eithan. Truly, I do. But I have a feeling it’s too late anyway.” If every queen had died young, and what Jaren said about her bloodline was true, she assumed their deaths had something to do with the connection. And without even meaning to, she might’ve already connected to the crystals.
“If what you say is true, then that means I’ll have more sway as a princess on Bhasura than I would as a princess here. I can talk to King Vesstan, tell him about my life, and try to encourage him to open communication. It could work.”
His gaze darkened, a dangerous look entering his eyes before he blinked it away. “You’re not thinking clearly, Vera. I’m sorry, but I’m doing this for your own good.”
He raised two fingers on his right hand, and she watched in horror as Hayes drew his arrow back and released it.
Chapter 25
VERA
Jaren’s reflexes were quick enough to avoid a hit to the heart, but not quick enough to deflect it completely. It struck his shoulder, making him stagger. Vera cried out, her hands flying to her mouth at the sight of the arrow’s tip shooting from his back.
Her sudden movement hurt, a strange pain radiating through her shoulder and down her arm. “Eithan, stop! Please!” He didn’t reply to her plea. He didn’t even look at her.
Regaining his footing, Jaren sheathed his daggers just long enough to grasp the arrow and snap it, snarling viciously. He then reached around his body and slowly pulled the remaining piece out, tossing it to the ground. “You want to take me down; you’ll have to do better than that.”
Hayes nocked another arrow, but Jaren didn’t so much as flinch. He stood firm, but Vera could see the strain in his eyes, the way his chest heaved, and his hands shook just slightly.
She didn’t know how affected he was by the taint. Didn’t know if he would have the energy to enhance his reactions and also heal the wound. He met her eyes, and in that moment, she knew he’d choose to defend her over healing himself.
Her eyes flicked to Eithan to see his fingers rise a second time, and her world stopped. There was no dipping into her power this time. No reaching out or coaxing. It came rushing to her without conscious thought, responding to her terror. Before Hayes’ arrow even left his bow, she was moving. Her body screamed, unaccustomed to the maelstrom pulsing through her as she focused it on her legs and lunged.
One second, she was standing several feet away, and the next, she was shoving into Jaren, fast as a shooting star. She felt the sting of his dagger sinking into her side as she barreled into it, sending him flying. But it was the arrow piercing her chest that ripped an agonized scream from her lips. It had narrowly missed her heart.