Page 48

48

“Sometimes there is nowhere to go but down."

Author Unknown

I don’t bother hailing a carriage to bring me back to Nia’s, instead using the time it takes to reach her street to compose myself and rack my brain for solutions. I’m empty, completely drained, my steps trudging, my heart floundering.

My aunt and uncle are outside, along with Nia and a few of the neighbors.

Aunt Cordelia must be sick over my disappearance, and now I’m going to have to explain where I’ve been or come up with some other plausible excuse for going missing. If she learns the truth, she is sure to kick me out.

Nia breaks away from the group, running toward me. It isn’t until she’s nearly at my side that I see the tears tracking down her ashen face. “Kerris! Oh, thank heavens you’re back safe. I’ve been at my wits’ end.”

“Why? What’s the matter?”

A man steps out from the crowd, his dark curls damp against his brow and eyes red-rimmed. Why is Nolan crying as well?

Heavens, whatever happened must be terrible, indeed.

Nia’s hand envelopes mine, her voice breaking. “It’s Trevor. He’s dead.”

He’s dead.

He’s dead.

He’s dead.

No… That cannot be true. “We just spoke to him a few hours ago.”

“I know. I know we did?—”

Nolan lays a gloved hand on Nia’s shoulder, silencing her with a stern look. “Kerris? I need you to come with me.”

“Why?”

“The inspector has questions.” A muscle in his jaw feathers as he withdraws a pair of silver manacles from his belt. “I do not want to detain you but will if I need to.”

Nia shrugs him off, stepping between us, her spine rigid and tone biting. “You must be joking.”

“Step aside, Nia. This does not concern you.”

“It sure as hell does. She’s my cousin, and?—”

“And she was the last person to see our friend alive,” he grits out, his voice breaking.

“I was there too. Are you going to threaten to detain me as well?”

“You said you left the two of them alone in the cottage.”

“Well, yes, but?—”

Can’t she see? Nolan doesn’t want to be here; he’s only doing his job. “It’s all right, Nia. I didn’t do anything wrong, remember? I’ll be fine.” Perhaps I’ll be able to help them find whoever did this. Not that I know where to begin, but if I can assist in any way, I owe it to Trevor to try.

“You’re damn right you will, because I’m coming with you to make sure of it.” She links our arms, but from the incredulous look on Nolan’s face, it’s clear that he isn’t going to let that happen.

I pat her hand before prying free. “It’s best if I go on my own.” The fewer people that know of her involvement, the better.

I promise to be back soon, hoping it isn’t a lie.

* * *

Although he doesn’t chain me up, Nolan and two other guards escort me through the center of town like some sort of criminal. Although the town is mostly empty because of the impending curfew, there are still a few fae leaving the pubs and restaurants. When they see us, they fall silent. By morning I’ll be even more of a pariah than before.

We don’t stop until we reach Trevor’s cottage, where another ten guards scour the dark garden.

Just inside the open door, I can see a body covered by a sheet. Poor Trevor . Who would ever want to hurt him? He was a good man. Kind and caring. And now he’s gone.

Ronan appears from around the back of the cottage, speaking in low tones with an elderly man sporting a bushy mustache and a silver pin on the lapel of his black coat. When the prince sees me, he says something to the man before stomping toward the gate, his expression darkening like a storm cloud. “What the hell is she doing here?”

Nolan shifts his weight from one foot to the other, his face falling into a grimace. “Kerris was the last person to see the victim alive.”

“The victim ? Are you kidding me? That’s our friend Trevor in there, not some nameless, faceless person.”

“Ronan—”

The prince holds up a hand, stopping Nolan mid-sentence. “Save it. We both know she didn’t kill him, so I’ll ask again: Why is she here?”

Kill him? Nolan said they had questions, not that they thought I was responsible. “I would never?—”

Ronan clicks his fingers. “Not another word. I will handle this.” He stalks back toward the man with the mustache. The two of them exchange tense words with lots of serious glances cast in my direction.

I don’t know what they’re saying, but from all the frowning, it doesn’t look good. Eventually, Ronan and the man shake hands, and he comes back to me. “Leave us.”

Nolan and the other guards exchange confused looks.

“I said leave us!”

They scatter, but don’t go far, the manacles on their belts jangling as they watch from behind the hedge with the rest of the guards.

Blowing out a breath, Ronan drags his hand through his golden curls. “I’m afraid it’s serious, Kerris.”

Of course it’s bloody serious—our friend is dead. “Could it have been a wolf?” I know Ever said that no wolf crossed The Divide, but perhaps he was wrong and one made it through. Maybe it was in our kingdom all along.

The prince shakes his head. “Unless wolves know how to slit a man’s throat, this wasn’t a wolf.”

The memory of Everett doing just that to the beast that attacked me this morning flashes through my mind. The hot spray of blood. The sightless look in the animal’s dead eyes.

And someone did the same thing to poor Trevor. “Who would do such a thing?”

His jaw works as he stares hard at me. “The inspector thinks it was you.”

“That is preposterous.”

“You were the last person to see him alive.”

“That doesn’t mean I killed him!”

“Keep your voice down,” he hisses with a menacing step toward me.

It takes everything in me to stand my ground. Not only has this been the worst day of my life, but also it’s been the longest. Tears sting the backs of my eyes. There will be plenty of time for crying when I’m alone.

“I thought a lot about what you said earlier, and I think I’ve come up with a solution that would give us both what we need.”

I’m not sure what Ronan needs right now, but I sure as hell need a solution because I’m all out of answers and fight.

He steps closer, the legs of his trousers brushing my skirts. “If I tell them that you spent the night with me, all of this goes away.”

Give us both what we need .

That lie only helps me. “And in return?”

“Your birthday is in a few days, isn’t it?”

What does that have to do with anything?

“If you were to propose to me?—”

“No. Absolutely not.”

“Perhaps you should consider your response before turning down my offer.” He leans in to whisper against my ear, “I think it would look very bad if the inspector were to find the dress you left in Trevor’s bathing room. You know, the one covered in blood.”

Heavens… I did leave behind the dress, didn’t I?

A cool sweat breaks across my brow. Leaks down my spine. “It’s wolf’s blood,” I say through trembling lips, realizing this day could, in fact, get even worse.

“Maybe…” He inclines his head toward the man with the badge. “Maybe not.”

Only a few hours ago, he wanted nothing to do with me. What changed between now and then? Even if I did propose to him, why would he willingly tie himself to me for all of eternity? It makes no bloomin’ sense.

“Why would you help me?”

Malice sparks in his too-blue eyes as his mouth curves into a mocking smile. “Do you know how it feels to be rejected by a woman with nothing ? The daughter of a fucking goat farmer? To have her cast you aside in front of the entire city in favor of a fucking monster?”

He cannot be serious. “This is about your wounded pride?” Does he even care that Trevor was murdered? Is he truly so selfish that he would use his friend’s death for his own benefit?

“Do you know what I heard when you left the pub earlier? People were saying that you’re the only woman in Rosehill I couldn’t have. And despite the way you’ve treated me, I still want you.”

“I’m not going to marry you, Ronan.”

“Then by all means, plead your case with the inspector. Maybe he’ll believe you about the wolf’s blood. Maybe he won’t. Or maybe he’ll think your Unseelie lover killed Trevor in a fit of jealous rage. Who knows.” He shrugs as if he doesn’t care either way.

I’m willing to take a chance with my own life, but gambling with Ever’s is out of the question. “Everett didn’t do this.” Of that I’m absolutely certain. “There are guards who can attest that he hasn’t crossed the bridge.”

Ronan bares his teeth in a snarl. “What makes you think they aren’t willing to lie?”

He wouldn’t do that… He wouldn’t.

“Marry me or watch your Unseelie swing from the gallows. Those are your options.”

He would.

My life in exchange for Ever’s.

A simple choice, one I would willingly make time and again if it saved the man I love.

Agreeing to marry Ronan might give me an audience with the king. I could plead with him to keep the bridge open. I would have a voice.

I would have time to figure out how to get out of this.

Ronan sneers, knowing already that he has won.

I came to Rosehill looking for a husband…

And to my misfortune, I have found one.