Fires of Ruin (War and Deceit #3) - Erin O'Kane Page 0,61
anger.
Then, in a move I’m sure I’m going to regret later, I step between her and Eldrin. “Your Majesty, please—” I’m cut off as she turns her hatred from him to me, her head tilting to the side as she watches me like a predator stalking its prey, and my words die in my throat.
“Why do you care what happens to him?” Her voice is surprisingly even as she speaks. She takes a half step forward, and I instinctively take a step back, bumping into Eldrin’s hard chest. His hand comes up to rest on my shoulder, and I take a deep breath, trying to stay calm under her anger. “I’ve seen how he treats you. What is it about him?” she questions, and her expression turns into a grimace as she glances over my shoulder at him. “It can’t be his looks, those were ruined years ago—such a shame,” she sneers, and I feel him flinch behind me. A smile spreads across her lips as she hits her mark, enjoying the fact that she can hurt him so easily. My anger bubbles up inside me, so fiercely that it almost takes my breath away.
“You’re wrong.” The queen freezes as I speak. “Besides, in my experience, the most outwardly beautiful people often tend to be the ugliest on the inside,” I state with a confidence I didn’t know I possessed, but I mean every single word.
I expect her to get mad and hit me like she almost did with Eldrin, but instead, she raises one perfect brow. Humming in amusement, she finally takes a step away from me, and I feel like I can breathe again.
“Maybe you are more like us than I first thought. Come.” There is no room for argument in her tone, and I don’t want to risk pushing her again, not when she seems to be so eager to punish Eldrin. For what, I don’t know.
The hand on my shoulder tightens, and I turn to look up at him. His face is torn, and I know his desire to protect me and obey the queen are warring within him. “I’m fine, I promise.” Smiling slightly, I roll my shoulders to try and ease the tension there, and he follows the movement with his eyes. “She won’t hurt me,” I promise, hoping he can’t hear the lie. I have no doubt that the queen will try to get rid of me in any way possible, and the fact she’s sent Vaeril and Naril away worries me.
“That’s not true and you know it,” he grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest. Silence fills the gap between us as his face shows a variety of emotions, as if he’s struggling to pick just one. “You tried to protect me.”
Glancing away from the raw emotion, I shrug, looking at the guards over his shoulder who are watching us with interest. “Of course,” I reply, answering as if risking my life for his isn’t a big deal, even though we both know the truth.
Gripping my shoulders, he lowers his face so we’re eye to eye, his frustration clear. “Why?” Shaking me slightly, he almost begs for the answer, and there’s a pain in his eyes that scares me.
“Clarissa!” the queen calls, her voice sharp as she saves me from answering the question I don’t have an answer for. Taking a slow step back from him to put some space between us, I finally meet his eyes again.
“We’ll talk later. Wait here for me?” I ask softly, relieved when he slowly nods. Part of me expected him to demand I answer him before he let me leave.
Turning, I straighten my shoulders and walk towards the waiting queen, who’s been watching my exchange with narrowed eyes. As I reach her side, I dip my head slightly in respect, even though it’s the last thing I want to do.
“How may I assist you, Your Majesty?” My voice is light, and I make sure to keep my eyes down, following Naril’s instructions. I’m suddenly grateful he’d insisted I have court lessons.
The queen makes a small snorting noise and waves her hand. “You can drop all that, Clarissa. I want us to talk honestly,” she tells me, waiting for me to meet her gaze. When I do, I’m sure my disgust at how she treats Eldrin is clear on my face as she gives me a smug smile. “There you are,” she purrs, her eyes running over me again. “Let’s go into the garden.”