Still Sebastian said nothing. Fiona risked a look at his face; his jaw was tight, his lips compressed in a thin line, and the look in his eyes said he was close to an epic outburst. She didn’t dare say anything. This was between Sebastian and his mother.
Genevieve turned to look back at her son. “Say it,” she said. “You’re wrong, whatever you think, but say it anyway.”
Sebastian shifted his weight as if preparing to throw a punch. “You had him killed,” he ground out. “You had all the resources in the world and you murdered him.”
“Douglas’s death was an accident,” Genevieve said. “Believe that, or not.”
“I don’t believe it. Doug was a better rider than either of us. There’s no way a horse threw him, no matter how green.”
“He was careless,” Genevieve said, her thin voice harsher even than Master Thornton’s. “And you can believe what you like about me, but don’t ever think I’m so stupid as to count on some animal to rid me of a problem.”
Sebastian’s next words froze on his lips. He closed his mouth, slowly. “You,” he began, then seemed to search for words. “What was your plan?”
“Irrelevant,” Genevieve said. “Douglas’s fortunate accident means we will never know what I might have done.”
“But you would have had him killed.”
Genevieve pursed her lips. “Douglas was a danger to this family. I argued, cajoled, even threatened, and he laughed and said no one would ever discover what he was capable of. I told you, Sebastian—I will not see Willow North’s legacy destroyed by a freak magical talent wielded by a foolish boy. I am the Queen. I make the hard choices so you can sleep safe at night.”
Sebastian shook his head. “Your own son, Mother—”
“Don’t come over moralistic at me, Sebastian. You manipulated things in Veribold nicely, didn’t you? I needed Gizane neutralized. You arranged for her death. How different does that make us?”
“It’s not the same.”
“Douglas and Gizane are dead. To them, it’s exactly the same.”
“We didn’t want—”
“What I wanted,” Genevieve said in a cold, bitter voice that cut across Sebastian’s words, “was a son who respected himself and this family enough not to go raping his merry way through the countryside. But we don’t always get what we want. It’s over, Sebastian. Let the dead lie.”
Sebastian shuddered. “I’ll never understand you.”
“Then let’s thank heaven you will never be King.” Genevieve glanced at Fiona as if seeing her for the first time. “And you, Miss Cooper whose fortunes are now tangled with ours. Are you going to be tiresome, and judge me, too?”
“No,” Fiona said. “You did what you thought you had to. It’s not what I would have done. But you’re right about one thing—Sebastian and I are responsible indirectly for Gizane’s death, and we did it to save ourselves. So I don’t feel I have the right to judge you.”
“Very diplomatically said,” Genevieve said with a tiny smile. “You would have made an excellent daughter-in-law.”
She spoke so placidly Fiona didn’t at first understand her. Would have made? “I…don’t understand.”
“What are you talking about?” Sebastian said.
Genevieve’s expression was cold and hard. “I know what happened at the challenge of faith. You have inherent magic, and one far more terrifying to the average person than Douglas’s.”
Fiona sank onto the nearest couch. Her legs shook too hard to support her. “I don’t—that was a miracle,” she said faintly, feeling like an idiot for saying it.
Genevieve laughed. “As if anyone will believe that. It’s only a matter of time before the news spreads, and then everyone will know the truth. And if I was willing to kill my own son to protect my family, you can’t imagine I’ll be any less ruthless disposing of you.”
“Don’t threaten Fiona,” Sebastian warned. “Everyone at the challenge believed it was heaven’s miracle. The Irantzen priestesses swore to that. No one will think inherent magic unless you spread the word.”
“If that’s what it takes to keep this family untainted, you can believe I’ll do just that.”
“Untainted? You think—”
“Sebastian, no,” Fiona said, cutting him off before he could reveal Great-Uncle Sebastian’s secret.
Sebastian controlled himself with visible effort. “Mother,” he said, “I want you to make me ambassador to Veribold. Fiona and I will never return to Aurilien. It won’t be an issue unless you make it one. Please, see sense.”
Genevieve shook her head. “Master Thornton is waiting outside to annul your marriage,” she said. “We’ll provide Miss Cooper more than adequate funds to go wherever she wishes. Say your goodbyes quickly—it will be less painful.”
“I refuse,” Sebastian said. “You can’t force us to do this.”
Genevieve tilted her head like an inquisitive hawk that had just seen a mouse break cover. “I wonder,” she said, “how well you think you can protect her.”
“Mother!” Sebastian’s cry was anguished, and it made Fiona’s heart break. Her week of happiness seemed years in the past. She felt numb, and utterly alone despite Sebastian standing right next to her. Leave him, or spend the rest of her life watching her back for the Queen’s assassins—her short life, probably, because the Queen had resources Fiona couldn’t even imagine.
She looked at Sebastian, who seemed poised to attack his mother; looked at the Queen, whose fierce devotion to her family had been twisted so completely, and impulsively said, “Prince Landon doesn’t know about any of this, does he?”
Both Sebastian and Genevieve looked at her as if she’d gone mad. “He doesn’t know about his brother, he doesn’t know about me—I haven’t spoken to him much, but I get the feeling he’s not a subtle thinker, and you couldn’t trust him with that knowledge,” she went on. “So really, right now the only people who know I have inherent magic are myself, Sebastian…and you, your Majesty.”
Genevieve’s eyes narrowed. “Do you have a point?”
“I don’t have a point. What I have,” Fiona said, “is the ability to burn your bedchamber to the ground.”
Those blue eyes widened.
“So sad, really,” Fiona said, taking a step toward the Queen. “A lamp improperly trimmed, the Queen sleeping so soundly the fire kills her before anyone can rescue her. King Landon will mourn, but life goes on. And my secret…is safe.”
The Queen’s impassivity cracked, revealing uncertainty and the beginnings of fear. “You wouldn’t. You don’t have the heart of a killer.”
“You mean, a heart like yours?” Fiona smiled. “Maybe. You send us back to Veribold, you leave us alone, you repeat the story the Irantzen Temple spread, and we’ll never have to find out.”
Genevieve said nothing. Fiona didn’t look away. She knew she’d won when Genevieve flinched first. “Ambassador,” Genevieve said. “But on condition you renounce your claim to the Crown. I won’t take any chances with this lineage.”
“I agree,” Sebastian said promptly, as if he’d known she’d make that demand.
“Then it’s settled. You’ll want to leave as soon as the documents are drawn up and the announcement is made.”
“Of course,” Sebastian said. Fiona couldn’t look at him. If she did, everything might still fall apart.
The Queen backed away. She’d regained some of her composure, but the look she directed at Fiona was more appraising than cruel. “I was wrong,” she said. “You are a North, after all. Gizane should never have tangled with you.”
Fiona said nothing. Genevieve opened the door and let herself out.
The instant the door was closed, Sebastian let out a huge breath and sagged onto one of the sofas. “You know she believes—”
“Don’t say it,” Fiona said. “She might still be listening.” He was right; the Queen clearly believed Fiona’s powers went farther than they did. So long as it saved both their lives, Fiona intended her to ke
ep on believing Fiona could ignite fires from anywhere she chose.
Sebastian put his face in his hands and rubbed his temples. “You were very believable. How much of that did you mean?”
“All of it, I think. I’m not sure.”
He lowered his hands and looked up at her. “I didn’t know you could be so ruthless.”
“I never had anything so worth fighting for.” She went to his side and laid her hand along his cheek. “I love you. Thank you for kidnapping me.”
Sebastian smiled and stood, taking her in his arms. “The best mistake I ever made.”
“You probably shouldn’t say that to anyone but me. They’d take it the wrong way.”
He kissed her, so sweetly she wished they were somewhere warmer. “You’re my best mistake,” he whispered, “my dearest love, and you will always be the fire in my heart.”
Fiona smiled. “I love the sound of that.”
About the Author
In addition to the Crown of Tremontane series, Melissa McShane is the author of The Extraordinaries series, beginning with BURNING BRIGHT, as well as The Last Oracle series, COMPANY OF STRANGERS, and many others. After a childhood spent roaming the United States, she settled in Utah with her husband, four children and a niece, four very needy cats, and a library that continues to grow out of control. She wrote reviews and critical essays for many years before turning to fiction, which is much more fun than anyone ought to be allowed to have.
You can visit her at her website www.melissamcshanewrites.com for more information on other books.
For information on new releases, fun extras, and more, sign up for Melissa’s newsletter: http://eepurl.com/brannP
Also by Melissa McShane
THE CROWN OF TREMONTANE
Servant of the Crown
Exile of the Crown
Rider of the Crown
Agent of the Crown
Voyager of the Crown
Tales of the Crown
* * *
THE SAGA OF WILLOW NORTH
Pretender to the Crown
Guardian of the Crown
Champion of the Crown
* * *
THE HEIRS OF WILLOW NORTH
Ally of the Crown
Stranger to the Crown (forthcoming)
* * *
THE EXTRAORDINARIES
Burning Bright
Wondering Sight
Abounding Might
Whispering Twilight (forthcoming)
* * *
THE LAST ORACLE
The Book of Secrets
The Book of Peril
The Book of Mayhem
The Book of Lies
The Book of Betrayal
The Book of Havoc (forthcoming)
* * *
COMPANY OF STRANGERS
Company of Strangers
Stone of Inheritance
Mortal Rites
Shifting Loyalties
Sands of Memory
Call of Wizardry
* * *
THE CONVERGENCE TRILOGY
The Summoned Mage
The Wandering Mage
The Unconquered Mage
* * *
THE BOOKS OF DALANINE
The Smoke-Scented Girl
The God-Touched Man
* * *
Emissary
* * *
Warts and All: A Fairy Tale Collection
* * *
The View from Castle Always
Ally of the Crown Page 36