She’d taken stock of her target. And then she’d aimed for his greatest insecurity. That no one could ever love him just for him. That I had to have been in it for the money and power to begin with.
“It’s not true. She’s trying to manipulate you. Can’t you see that?” I asked, my voice going high in panic.
“Can’t you see that?” the woman mimicked. “See, Evander. She’s caught, so she’s trying to use my tactics, as she calls them. Now, does that say honest to you?”
“Why’d you run that night?” Evander asked her.
“You can’t be serious,” I groaned.
“No, I have to know. Why did you run? I would have wed you before the next mooncycle. If you want so badly to be with me, if you really love me, why did you run?”
Incredulity rolled through me. “Is that even a question worth asking? Is there any possible reason she could give you that would change who she is? She tried to murder me!”
Evander shot a silencing glare in my direction. Rage tied my tongue.
How dare he.
“Why?” he whispered.
Her voice went back to that tone, smooth and sultry and sweet as spiced milk. “Because I wanted you to chase me. And you did.”
She beamed.
She was crazy.
I scoffed. “Yeah, he just got it all wrong. How romantic.”
She ignored me, and as much as I hated her at the moment, I had to admit; I was impressed with her capability to control herself.
“I just wanted to be with you. That’s all I ever wanted. We could still be together, you know.” She addressed him, but rose and advanced toward me.
I stepped back.
Evander whipped his sword in front of me, as if to protect me, but I could tell that it was wobbling. And if I could see it, she certainly could. “You’re not going to hurt her.”
“Is there any other way? I don’t share, Evander.”
His mouth hung open. “We could find another way. There is… We think there’s a way to break the betrothal bargain.”
His words slapped me like the surface of a lake after a plunge off a nearby cliff.
What about how he wasn’t afraid to be king now that I was by his side? What about all he’d said about how I’d changed him, made him braver, stronger? And then… “How long have you known about this?” I asked, my heart sinking.
He shook his head. “Only the past few weeks. It’s not a firm lead. I didn’t want to tell you until I knew for sure.”
His words shattered my chest. The pain was so poignant, I couldn’t decide what hurt more. That he had acted like he was looking forward to marrying me? That he’d kissed me under the pretense that he truly believed we could fall in love? Or that he had known there was a possibility of breaking the bargain and hadn’t shared it with me?
He’d led me to believe that I had to marry him, and I’d decided to make the best of it. I’d opened my heart up to him…
“So it’s not certain, then?” Cinderella asked, inching closer to me. “What if it doesn’t work?”
“I have hope that it will,” he said.
“I know something that would certainly work.” She was so close now. Did she have another weapon on her? Would Evander hesitate if she attacked me?
“My love, I don’t wish blood on your hands,” he said with such desperation that my heart shattered to a thousand pieces. So stupid. I’d been so stupid to think he cared for me.
And I could tell she had heard the desperation, too. Saw how it convinced her, consoled her.
Cinderella glanced toward the window.
“Then I shall see you soon.” She backed away with a seductive grin toward my balcony, where I noticed for the first time a rope was tied to the banister.
Panic gripped me. “You can’t let her go. She’s just going to come back and finish me off herself.”
Cinderella grinned, her blue eyes sparkling. “Only if it’s necessary.”
I turned to Evander, but if he noticed, he didn’t show any such signs.
“Please. Please. She’s lying. She’s a liar. You can’t just let her go free.”
The woman smiled and gave one last lustful look at Evander before she grabbed the rope and slipped over the balcony.
I lunged for the dagger on the floor and ran after her. I’d saw the rope in half if I had to. She couldn’t get away, not when she’d shown how easy it was for her to threaten my life.
But strong arms surrounded me, stopping me in my tracks.
Hands clutched at my fingertips, the same hands I’d allowed to caress my cheek, my back, my arm just a few hours ago.
