Page 55 of Between These Broken Hearts (Cursed Stars #2)
General Hargova, the leader of the Unseelie Court’s Cursed Horde, gives me the creeps. While Brie said he wanted Jasalyn at
this meeting, my presence seems to make him uncomfortable. I keep catching him staring at me—at Jasalyn.
“We expect the attack to come tonight,” the shadow queen says.
“Tonight? Why do you say that?”
“Our seers have had a number of visions,” she says, the lie smooth as butter. As far as I know, the only reason they have
to believe this is happening tonight is because of what Jas saw at the oracle, and even she didn’t know a day for sure. We’re
reading a lot into some gray skies and distant thunder.
He arches a brow and glances toward the window. “Where are these armies that are supposedly going to overwhelm your palace?
I saw no sign of them on my way in.”
Brie doesn’t cower under his scrutiny or his doubt. She merely shrugs. “I would rather be prepared too early than too late,
wouldn’t you?”
“Tell me again why Mordeus’s followers believe he’s been resurrected. Tell me why they think this dead man can steal your throne.” He cocks his head to the side. “Didn’t he try this before and fail because he didn’t have the crown?”
She narrows her gaze. “I can’t speak to why his legions are so convinced of his return. However, his failure to sit upon the
Throne of Shadows didn’t prevent him from wreaking havoc on this court for two decades. As you know.”
He smiles. “Fair.” His gaze shifts to me again, and again, I want to shudder under the weight of it. “And other than my horde,
what other defenses do you have for the palace? I don’t want to risk my people if this battle is a lost cause.”
“I wouldn’t ask you to,” Brie says. “The palace brigade is on the ready. They will be stationed at the gates and throughout
the palace. Our Midnight Raiders are stationed throughout the capital, waiting for signs of attack. They will be our first
line of defense and hopefully keep the insurgents from reaching the palace gates.”
“That’s all?” he asks. “These visions have made you so convinced attack is coming but you only have the standard Unseelie
guards to protect you?”
“We have another group of troops,” she says. “Provided by an ally. They will be just inside the palace gates.”
“Queen Abriella,” someone calls from the doorway. “I am so sorry to interrupt but you asked me to get you if there were any
developments during the training happening down the hall. I think you need to come see this.”
Brie pastes on a calm smile and pushes to her feet. “My apologies, General, but I promise to be back as quickly as possible. I’ll send in some refreshments for you.” She waves me forward. “Jas, would you mind keeping the general company while I take care of this.”
I glance between them. “I’m happy to.”
The general flicks his gaze to the queen and then back to me. “I can wait alone,” he says. “Don’t worry about me.”
I don’t know why, but my gut tells me it’s important that I stay. Something isn’t right. And while I haven’t seen Misha all
day and desperately want to talk to him after what I learned from Konner, the best way I can help Misha and his court is to
make sure Abriella’s doesn’t fall. She needs the general’s Cursed Horde.
“I could use some tea,” I say, “and you can tell me about how this horde of yours stays invisible when they’re not fighting.”
Hargova chuckles uncomfortably. “I can’t reveal my secrets.”
Brie holds my gaze so long that I’m sure if she could mentally communicate like Misha she’d be telling me something important
right now. “I will be back as soon as I can.”
“What kind of training is happening that she needs to leave a meeting to observe?” Hargova asks when the door swings shut
behind the queen.
“I’m not sure. Perhaps training to prepare for the attack.”
The wind howls outside. “It seems a bit late for that.”
More storm clouds roll in, so many that the world goes dark as night, though it’s hours to sunset. The lanterns in the wall
sconces magically flicker to life to compensate for the lack of natural light. The next boom of thunder makes the palace tremble
around us.
He grimaces. “I apologize, but I’m wondering if you could direct me to the nearest lavatory?”
“Oh.” I paste on a smile to cover my panic. Is this a trick? Should I know where the nearest toilet is? The Midnight Palace is massive, and I haven’t spent much time on this end. “Of course. I—”
A maid steps from the shadows and nods in our direction. “I will escort you, General.”
“Thank you so much.” He pushes out of his armchair and follows her without a single suspicious look in my direction.
Calm down. You’ve done this a hundred times.
I lean back in my seat and close my eyes, thinking what I’ll say when I find Misha after this. The truth is, I’m a little
embarrassed about how I reacted yesterday, but I’m also still hurt that he wasn’t honest with me.
The sitting room door creaks, and as if my thoughts themselves summoned him, Misha pushes into the room, a tray of tea in
his hands.
“Misha.” My heart stumbles at the sight of him. “I wanted to talk to you.”
He glances toward the door, then back to me, before answering in my mind. Now might not be the best time , he says into my mind, before adding aloud, “Where’s the General?”
“He needed to excuse himself for a minute. Let me help you with that,” I say, watching the windows as they are pelted with
rain. I push out of my seat as he settles the tray on a table at the side of the room. I don’t know if I want to apologize or explain myself , I say into his mind. Maybe both.
His eyes are soft as he sweeps them over me, mouth twisting like he’s looking for the female beneath Jasalyn’s skin. You don’t owe me an apology. If you don’t know my feelings for you are sincere then perhaps I haven’t done a good enough job proving them.
I melt a bit and give a small shrug. In any other circumstance, I’m not sure that would be true, but I’m aware that much of my reaction was about me and not about you.
He glances over his shoulder at the closed door, then whispers, “I’m sorry I wasn’t honest. I was afraid you’d walk away from
me if you knew, and by the time I accepted my feelings, I couldn’t stomach the idea of losing you.”
I bow my head and when I lift it, he’s staring again. What?
Just wondering if you have any of that potion of your brother’s—for after the general leaves. His lips quirk in sardonic amusement. I’d rather look in your eyes when we have this conversation.
My cheeks heat. Maybe I could sneak away for a short nap later.
Maybe I could join you.