Everything in me wants to stand behind her, wrap my arms around her, and have her head fall back on my shoulder as I comfort her.
Instead, I stalk over there, veins popping out as I clench my fists together, and I pound on the railing, causing her to jump.
“Why would you lie under oath?” I say under my breath.
Her eyes are wide when she looks at me. She turns away, looking at the water again.
“I didn’t lie,” she whispers.
“You’re lying now. You think I don’t know you inside and out?”
“Not anymore.”
That hits me in the gut.
“When we were kids, we laid under the stars every night, holding hands and sharing all our thoughts, our hopes, and dreams.” I put my hand on her shoulder and she stares straight ahead. “Do you remember?”
“Of course, I remember. We did it for at least four years before anyone ever caught on and put a stop to it.”
“Do you remember what you said you wanted most?”
She swallows and shakes her head no. Lying again. “You don’t want to relive history with me, remember?”
I ignore her. “You said you wanted to be happy and to have a large family with lots of kids…and we could live in my house on the beach and look at the stars every night.”
She presses her lips together and lets out a shaky breath. “So idealistic. And completely unrealistic—I rarely watch the stars now.” She shrugs and turns to me, a faint smile on her lips.
God, she’s beautiful.
She takes a long shuddering breath and I brace myself. I have a bad feeling about all of this.
“Maybe you can still have that—not with me, of course, I realize that now—but with someone else,” she says. “I’m letting go of this idea I’ve always had of us. I-I know I’ve lost you and I’m not going to keep fighting a losing battle.”
I break out into a cold sweat. I wipe my palms on my pants and breathe through the pain in my chest. I’m not ready to come to terms with what she’s saying, even though it’s been my line of bullshit for how long now?
I lean until my lips brush against her ear. “My dream was just to be with you wherever and however I could have you. The common thread was we’d be together.”
“And look at us now. We can barely be in the same space without fighting. You have all these secrets from me…”
“You’re scaring me, Mara. Are you in trouble? Yeah, we have secrets, but mine have always been in an effort to protect you.” I put my arm on her back and she turns away. Damn her. “Why did you do this? I know your father—what is he offering you to sell your soul? Because after today, you’ve basically annihilated your relationship with your brother.”
“He offered me a solution. If he delivers.”
“Oh, Mara. He’ll never deliver.” I slam my hand down on the railing again and manage to terrify her again. I put my arms around her. “What can I do to get you out of whatever mess you’re in? Name it and I’ll do it.”
She pulls away and looks up at me.
I see the world in her eyes.
My future.
All I have ever wanted.
She smiles sadly and puts her hand on my cheek.
“Thank you. You’re too late, I’m afraid.”
She steps back and walks away, leaving me standing there like the broken, lovesick idiot I am.
I stay the rest of the day. There really wasn’t anything new on the case except Mara’s testimony, which feels like a huge waste of time and money. Mara doesn’t return to court and Titus’s lawyers talk circles around the prosecution, spinning theory after theory on who framed Titus, laying most of the blame on Farthing.
When the day finally comes to an end, the room clears out and it’s just Luka and me. He turns to me and looks decades older. For once, I don’t envy his position. I put my hand on his shoulder and he bows his head.
“What is she doing, Elias?”
“I think he’s blackmailing her.”
Luka shakes his head. “Mara is an open book. What would he have to blackmail her with?”
I stare at him, my thoughts spinning. “Fuck if I know. But I’ll find out.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but…you need to stay away from her. After today, we can’t trust my sister.”
“Go easy on her, man. This doesn’t feel right. You said yourself she was coming around.”
“Everything changed today. We have to distance ourselves, both of us.”
* * *
I drive to the Catano estate from the courthouse, wanting to be there for whatever goes down between Luka and Mara. Brienne answers the door and smiles when she sees me. It drops quickly when she sees the state I’m in. I stalk past her and turn around.
“Where is everyone?”
“You’re the first to get back. Everything okay?”
“No.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “No, it’s not.”
Just then, Mara rushes in, stopping when she sees me with Brienne. I’m stunned when she doesn’t even change expression or say anything snarky; she simply walks past us and goes to her room. Eden comes in right before Luka and looks distressed. She turns to check on him and he walks past all of us, heading straight for Mara’s room. His shoes against the hardwood floor and then his fist pounding on Mara’s door are the only sounds heard. It feels like we’re all holding our breath.
“Mara, open up.”
I can’t help myself—I walk down the hall and stand a few feet away. She opens the door and doesn’t say a word.
“You’ll need to be out of the house within the hour. Your things can be delivered to you this evening. I’ll have Brienne escort you out when the time comes.”
I look at Luka incredulously. “Luka, let’s give her a chance to explain.”
He bites the inside of his cheek and shakes his head. “I know when my sister is lying. I have a feeling we wouldn’t get to the truth today, no matter how hard we tried. Do you have anything to add, Mara?”
She shakes her head and I want to shake her.
“I’ll be ready. Brienne doesn’t need to escort me out.” Her voice is cold and lifeless.
“Oh, I think that’s the least of what you deserve,” Luka says before turning and walking away.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Mara
I’ve been banished from my home. Generations before me have lived in the Catano castle, women even more despicable than me.
I wish I’d thought about this ahead of time and made a plan for where I’d stay—I should’ve known my actions would send me packing.
Brienne knocks on my door exactly an hour later. I’m too exhausted to have much fight, but all of my feelings do stir up when I open the door to see her standing there.
“Best day ever for you, right?” I say as I’m walking away from her to pick up a bag.
“I wouldn’t say that. It will be more peaceful around here, though, yes.” She smiles and I tilt my head, studying her.
“You’re going to be bored out of your mind come sunset.” I laugh and so does she.
She shrugs. “When we see each other next, we can compare notes on which of us is bored most…”
I frown at her. “Is that a joke? Are you attempting humor?”
She pinches her lips together to hold back a smile. “Obviously not.”
“Are you escorting me out or escorting me somewhere else?”
“Out. Where you go is up to you.”
“Excellent. We better get after it then.”
She waits until I reach the door and then falls into step behind me. I walk to the front door, avoiding the eyes of everyone standing in the foyer watching as I leave. I feel Elias’s eyes on me and straighten my shoulders, willing myself to not get so much as a misty eye.
I know I’m in the wrong.
I know I brought this upon myself.
I know Luka is only doing what he has to do.
But I will walk out of this house with dignity if it’s
the last thing I do.
Brienne follows me outside and when she motions to a driver I don’t recognize, I stop and look at her.
“Should I trust him?”
“He’s been vetted, yes. You can trust him.”
I nod and get into the car.
Brienne holds the door open and leans down a bit. “You know, somehow I think you’re not as bad as you let on.”
I snort and shake my head. “You’re picking an odd time to feel that sentiment.”
“It’s taken a while for me to feel it.”
I look at her begrudgingly and with a small ounce of respect. “Take care of him, please, Brienne.”
Her eyes widen and she frowns. “You know he’s in love with you…”
“Not for much longer.”
I pull the door, cutting off our conversation and she backs away, still frowning.
“Where to?”
“What’s your name?” I ask.
“Wells.”
“Take me to the nearest hotel, please.”
“Will do.”
He drives into town and when I realize where he’s going, I lean forward. “I don’t need the most expensive hotel in town. Somewhere private and reasonable.”
He looks at me through the rearview mirror and nods. After a few turns, we’re in front of a small inn. I’ve noticed it before but have never been inside, never had a reason to. I nod, already taking my seat belt off.
“This looks perfect. Thank you.”
“I think this is a safe option. Not as crowded, but the owners are respectable. You should be left alone here.”
“Just what I want—to be left alone.” I smile and try to mean it.
The lobby is small and cozy. There are no exclusive shops or spas inside, just an inviting couch and flower pots everywhere. An older woman sits behind a desk and smiles when I walk in. She freezes when she recognizes me.
“Hello! I’d like to stay here for the next few nights, if you have a room available.”
She stands up and curtsies in front of me, clasping her hands together. “Princess Catano! We will give you our best room!” She beams and shakily grabs a key, motioning for me to follow.
We get in the elevator and go to the top floor, only three floors total. There are two doors in the hallway and she goes to the door on the left.
“Princess Walgalli stayed here in the nineties. She never left the room and didn’t come out for a month! I hope you’ll enjoy the room as much as she did, but don’t feel as if you have to make yourself scarce!”
The room is crowded with too many knickknacks, and paintings line the walls—so many, it’s hard to know where to look first. But it feels good in here. “I’ll try to leave once in a while…mix things up.”
She giggles and clamps her hand over her mouth. “My husband does all the cooking—I do everyone a favor and stay out of the kitchen.” Her shoulders shake as she laughs again. “We serve breakfast every morning from seven to nine and our afternoon tea is from three to five. If you’d rather have it served in your room, just ring me and I will bring it up myself.”
“Thank you.”
“My name is Marjorie and I am delighted you are here.”
I nod at her and walk to the door, anxious to have the room to myself. “Please don’t tell anyone I’m here.”
“I would never,” she insists. “You can trust us.”
I hope she’s telling the truth, but there’s no way of knowing. There are a few paintings I need to study, a couple I might need to take down so I don’t get a headache. As soon as she’s gone, I walk to the painting of the couple gazing at each other on a beach that looks just like the one outside my window. I stare at the lovers and wonder if they had a hard time of it or if everything came easily, as it seems to for some. I lift the painting off of its hooks and take it to the closet, setting it down to face the wall. A painting of a clown goes in there too and one more beach scene with a large boulder that looks like the one where Elias and I spent so much time. I shut the door to the closet and look around, satisfied.
Within ten minutes, I’m ready to climb the walls. I click on the television to find out any news about my father’s trial and they’re talking about it on several channels, but I can’t stand to listen for very long. I unpack the few things I brought with me, and sit on the bed, bouncing up and down.
“What am I going to do?” I ask the room.
I lay back on the bed and before I know it, I’m shifting to my side and letting sleep take me under.
* * *
I wake up disoriented, with no clue where I am. A picture of a brown lamarack stares at me, its soulful eyes beckoning me into the wild. I sit up and remember the eccentric hotel that doesn’t quite know which style it wants to be. The clock reads seven and I pick it up, making sure I read it right, and it really is morning.
My stomach angrily lets me know that I slept through dinner and it refuses to skip another meal. I take a shower and throw clothes on, hurrying downstairs. Marjorie and her bookend husband are in deep conversation when I reach the foyer and I clear my throat, which causes Marjorie to jump sky-high.
“Oh sin of the Niapsians!” she chirps, holding her neck and gasping. “You gave me a good fright.”
“So sorry. I’m still in time for breakfast, yes?”
The man next to her stands taller and beams. “Yes, you are. We have a feast fit for a princess!”
“This is Maclock, my husband. He was chomping at the bit, had to talk him down from ringing your room when it looked like you might miss breakfast too!”
He sticks his chest out and shakes his head. “I’d never want Princess Mara to go hungry on my watch!” A laugh barrels out of him and now I’m the one jumping.
They lead me to the dining area and no one else is in there. The buffet is lined with steaming breakfast foods and pastries.
“It looks like you’ve been cooking for days!”
“The minute my wife told me you were here, I went on a binge.” He holds his hand out for me to sit by the window. “Now you sit right there and tell us what you’d like.”
“Oh, I can just help myself.”
He holds his hands up. “Wouldn’t hear of it. Let us take care of you.”
I sit on the chair he holds out for me and look up at him, emotion suddenly pulling at my heart like a snag that won’t let go.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Mara
Alex: I’m here. Where are you?
I give him the address and he arrives within a half hour. Marjorie calls, whispering that I have a guest. I tell her to send him up. His eyes are wide when he walks into the room.
“What the fuck?”
“It has a certain charm, don’t you think?”
“No. No, it does not.”
“Aw, come on. Wait until you meet both of the owners. You’ll see what I mean.”
“I met Marjorie. She escorted me up here. I don’t think she approves of you having male company.”
I laugh and sit on the bed, leaning against the headboard.
“I wish I’d been able to let you know what was going on before you came all this way. I would’ve told you not to come.”
“You’re all over the place.”
“I know. I’m sorry, Alex. I’ve been an awful friend.”
His eyes narrow as he stares at me. “Are you in trouble?”
I tilt my head to the side, back and forth. “You could say that. I was kicked out of the estate.”
He sits down, taking my hand. “What kind of power trip is Luka on?”
I shake my head. “It’s not like that. I testified on my father’s behalf yesterday and knew when I did that, it would ruin what Luka and I were rebuilding.”
“Why now?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve had months and months to testify for your father. Why now?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Ahh. Everything is wit
h you, Mara.” He gives me a hard look, unable to hide his annoyance. “My parents won’t like this. They’re already giving me grief for coming here so often. They’re not going to like you going to bat for your dad…at all. They have an alliance with Luka and Jadon.”
“I understand. Can you just do one thing for me and then I promise, it’s the last thing…”
He doesn’t say anything, just looks at me and waits.
“Can you put in a good word for me with your aunt?”
He frowns. “Aunt Constrid? Why?”
“I have an exclusive story and I’d like to give it to her. Would she pay top dollar?”
“She is the best. Of course.”
“Perfect. That will help.”
“Do I even want to know, Mara?” He sighs and I feel bad for causing one more person such frustration.
“No. No, you don’t.”
He takes my hand and kisses it, then leans over and kisses my mouth. His lips feel sweet and like a goodbye. When he pulls away, he looks at me intently.
“I’d be willing to go all in for you, if you’d give me any hope at all. This…this changes things. I can’t put my country at risk when you won’t even tell me why you’re willing to do this to yours.”
“It’s best I go alone. I was wrong to ask you to come back. Count it as a moment of weakness. I really do care about you. We’ve had some good times and I’ve needed someone in my corner.”
“You always have that.”
“Thank you. Oh, and Alex? I’ll be transferring the money I promised to your account by tomorrow. Everything will be ready by then.”
“You do that and I’ll just send it back. We’re friends.” He puts his arms around me and hugs me once more. “And we didn’t even go through with the engagement. No deal.”
I laugh when he widens his eyes and makes a face, waiting for me to respond. “I fully intended on going through with that, no matter what.”
“I have a feeling you’re going to need that money. Do not give it to me.” He stands up and straightens his shoulders. “I’ll call Aunt Constrid tonight.”
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