Page 153 of Thorns and Echoes

But the castle was under siege, and Castien was no soldier.

Anais and her Escorts were killers. Even Madeline had lived all her life in the palace.

She would still have them. She would still have the people who loved her. It was selfish to keep him here when he so clearly did not want to stay.

The Queen clasped his bracer with her bloody claws. “Castien FitzUmbra, I release you from my Escorts. You are free to leave. To find the happiness you’ve more than earned.”

Even if he took her heart with him.

She should remove his bracers. In a minute, she would. Just another minute.

He looked down and put his hand over hers. That simple contact threatened to shatter the ice.

“Do I have a say in where I go?”

His tone was light. Relieved. Freedom had always been what he had wanted. Perhaps the bracers had never ceased being shackles to him.

She was silent for a moment. “Of course. A chateau in the countryside, a home in any city you desire, a ship if you wish. Anything you want is yours.”

“And if I wish a room in the palace?”

Her breath stopped. “Anything.”

But why would he stay?

A spark of jealousy stung her heart. She quickly smothered it. Perhaps he wanted to help the courtesans – his influence with the Night Courts had improved conditions for their palace counterparts. And his rebel friends could protect him.

He had adamantly expressed his need to leave, but perhaps he had only wanted to leave her.

Or maybe he wanted to stay. That couldn't be it. Could it?

Castien plucked the ring from her hand. “Who is more dangerous than the Queen?” He seemed to be speaking to himself.

If he looked her in the eye, she might know what he was thinking. She didn't dare hope.

The ring, slick with blood, easily glided onto his finger. “I am not like you – any of you – that’s true. You live with blood, death, and suffering every day.”

Live withwas a kind way of sayingdealt.Caused. Allowed.

Stood by and did nothing to stop.

Now she was afraid to meet his gaze.

“Perhaps you are a monster. The Dark Queen isn't just a part you play.”

True.

The cold was thin, so very thin.

This man could break her.

And she would let him.

She still couldn’t decipher his tone when he said, “You told me once that you would never use children again. You broke your promise.”

Proof of who she really was.

Cracks formed in the ice. Anais glanced at the body beside them. “She lured you with the girl. What did she do to Silarya?”