Page 117 of Scarred

“You know,” Michael states. “The best decision I’ve made since your arrival was telling my sweet Ophelia to keep her eyes and ears open.” He glances down at her, tipping up her chin as he presses a kiss to her lips. “You’ve done so well, sweetheart.”

She beams at him, and my stomach folds in on itself because, of course. I should have known. Didn’t I even think of them being at my side, hoping to secure favor with the king?

“You’re a phenomenal actress,” I tell her, hatred brewing deep in my gut.

She grins at me, tipping her head. “Thank you, milady. I learned from the best.”

I smirk, even though the opium is creating a buzzing sort of calm, making me drowsy. I fight it with everything in me, not wanting to give in to the tincture until I’m sure Tristan is safe.

“Although, His Majesty and I,” she continues, her hand rubbing at his chest as she stares up at him. “We’re much better at being discreet than you and the scarred prince. Pity you didn’t pay closer attention.”

I huff out a laugh, because I can’t disagree. Clearly, somewhere, somehow, we went terribly wrong.

“Most nights, I would hide in the darkened corners of the halls, waiting and watching. Usually it was boring. Sometimes, when I would follow you, I’d get a show.” She giggles. “I thought it was going to be so easy to get rid of you when that idiot Claudius slipped his hand up your skirts.”

“That wasyouI heard?” I gasp out, my heart rate slowing as the drug sloshes through me.

She nods. “But then the scarred prince had to ruin it. Stealing him away and doing God knows what to him.”

My chest cramps.Tristan was there?

“And then it was back to watching. And waiting.” She sighs, and Michael’s hand strokes up and down her arm. “But last night, I saw him storm into your room. Heard you both doingtreasonousthings.”

Rage circles through me, that she was there, tarnishing our precious moments.

“It was so easy to press my head against your door and listen to the words you spoke.” She smiles. “You really have yourself to thank.”

Stupid. I’m so stupid.

Michael claps his hands together in glee, a smile stretching across his face from ear to ear. “Speaking of my brother, shall we go pay him a visit? I’m sure he’s desperate to make sure you’re okay.”

CHAPTER50

Tristan

Searing pain spreads from my shoulders and extends through my entire body, the type of which I’ve never felt before. My arms are tied behind my back and slung over a wood beam that’s been placed in the middle of the courtyard. Occasionally, a guard walks over and pulls, forcing my body to rise off the ground by mere inches.

But I won’t give them the satisfaction of screaming.

I was woken in the rudest way. With a cloth full of chloroform and half a dozen guards.

And now they’ve taken to strappado. A form of torture that’s Edward’s personal favorite. It gives him a thrill to watch the agony spread across his victim’s faces as their shoulders become dislocated and their limbs slowly tear from their bodies. Part of me wonders if this is his doing. If he’s finally betrayed me and is seeking his revenge for the just punishment he reaped at my hands.

But he’s nowhere to be found.

It doesn’t matter.Nothingmatters except for the fear that courses through my insides at the thought of Michael having Sara.

They can kill me. They can torture me for hours and I’ll sacrifice myself gladly, so long as I know she’s safe.

I’m not sure how long has passed, only that the sun has set, the full moon casting an eerie glow, the chilly nighttime air sticking to my clammy, bruised up skin and a bonfire raging only a few feet away.

It’s cocky of Michael to place me here, but my brother loves to put on a good show.

My head is pounding and blood drips from cuts in my torso where I was kicked and dragged by the guards, but I have long since leaned into the pain, letting it become part of me until I’m numb. After a lifetime of being beaten black and blue, physical pain loses its edge.

“Surprise,” my brother’s voice booms, sparking an ember in the center of my gut.

“Brother,” I force out through the dryness of my mouth and the throbbing ache in my shoulders. “So nice of you to show.”