Page 157 of To Touch A Silent Fury

Braxthorn tensed, his face reddening as all eyes in the congregation looked at him. He lanced a final look of complete rage towards us, and he then softened his expression with calculated precision. “Of course. Settle down, everyone. We thought it best to hide her true nature for this moment. The Daughter of Eavenfold will be a great asset to my reign.”

I forced a smile. So that was how he wanted to play it, as if he had known all along. It saved some embarrassment, and I was lucky he hadn’t decided to behead me on the spot.

I kept one hand firmly in Lang’s, keeping him calm as Braxthorn approached the dais. It was the only thing I could do. Lang extended his other hand as his father held out a key, pressing it so firmly into Lang’s palm it reopened his wound, pooling fresh blood in his hand.

The look Braxthorn dealt me was nothing short of murderous.

I knew then, without a shadow of a doubt, I would pay for this deceit dearly. They would wait until all the hubbub died down, but retribution was coming. Perhaps I would die of some mysterious illness in a month or find myself in the tower with Seth. There was no way I would get away with my subterfuge, I saw that painted as clearly as the blood dripping down my hand.

Lang unlocked Hanindred’s collar, struggling with one hand, but there was no chance I was letting him go. We had to be free of this room before he cursed me, before he pushed me away. I had no doubt he would hate that I had taken his agency from him.

But since I had already broken us before we had begun, and since Braxthorn would already be conspiring for my execution… I had to use the one moment I had. It might be the only one I ever got.

As the gold loop fell away, I whispered into Lang’s ear. If I was dead anyway, I wouldn’t let it be for nothing.

Lang heard my words, and stiffened. His true emotions, blanketed by my constant reassurance, threatened again. The sadness and betrayal hurt me the most, but I pushed past them, forcing complacency, even as I recalled his words from that night by the tree.

How he wanted someone to see him as a partner and not a tool.

Lang straightened, bowing under my emotional assault. He addressed the near-silent room.

“Thank you all for coming here today,” he said. “Before we retire to the gardens for a fabulous party, I have an announcement to make.”

Braxthorn stopped dead, turning on his path back to his seat and clenching his fists. Behind him, Derynallis had stood too, and stared at our clasped hands with a growing awareness.

“In my first act as your general, rather than your prince, I will pull back the troops from Unger Lift and stop all support to the Thane of Sellador. I intend to foster peace with King Odenor and the Euphons.”

Silence, followed by a hesitant clap. It caught, and soon a smattering of claps turned into a loud, if confused, applause.

Derynallis stepped over to a very purple Braxthorn, and whispered in his ear, pointing towards us.

We needed to leave this room. The applause still rang as I scooped up Hanin with my free hand and pulled Lang forwards. He walked with me. My hand throbbed from the cut, my knee complained from the movement, and my head pounded from the exertion of consistently dampening Lang’s emotions. But I couldn’t let my own guilt and fear slip into him, and the effort of projecting calm into him whilst segregating my own emotions was giving me a swift and resounding headache.

Thankfully, the applause was the perfect time to leave, and the congregation continued to cheer, wishing us long and happy lives as we strode back down the runner. I had done it. I had made Lang say something which could not be unheard or unsaid. It was a strong statement, one everyone there would remember.

Even if my head ended up as a rooftop decoration, today’s display would be a thorn in their side.

Once we were at the door, I dropped my grip on Lang’s hand to grab the wrist of the guard at the door. Lang stumbled, holding his forehead as the guard’s emotions, primarily confusion, fell over me. The armoured stranger watched me with uncertain eyes.

I desperately pushed acceptance and obedience into his head. “You’ll close the door behind us and usher everyone out through the left doors.”

I only waited long enough to see his nod, and then I grabbed Lang’s arm and hauled him through the main doors and into the hall. I knew we were supposed to continue into the courtyard gardens for drinks, but I could tell Lang was fading fast. Braxthorn was probably already negotiating with his guards to haul us away for some interrogation.

We needed to get away from them, somewhere we could talk, so I could explain myself. The guard closed the doors behind us as I scanned the foyer, pulling Lang towards the western corridor.

But we only managed to get halfway across the room before he collapsed, and my hand pulled from him again. He cried out, clutching his head and rolling onto the floor. I knelt down beside him, clutching Hanindred against my side.

“Lang? Lang? What’s wrong?” I flipped him over and touched my hand to his forehead as he groaned once more. He didn’t feel hot, and his injuries didn’t look worse.

Then he opened his eyes, the whites around the red stark and wide as he gasped. “Tani—What?”

His head lolled, and he fell unconscious, his eyes rolling back as his body spasmed once and went limp.

“Lang?” I shook his shoulders, my heart pounding. “Lang!”

Footsteps sounded, and I spun on my knees, ready to defend myself with tooth and claw from any guard who wanted to take him from me.

Two guards approached fast from the right-hand door, and then, from the left, Theollan. He was dressed in opulent lavender and had clearly just witnessed our wedding.