Igniting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology #2) - Robin LaFevers Page 0,55

something behind me atop the cupboard. I see my small casket, then bite back an oath as he heads toward it. It is a good thing Beast is not here, I realize, else they would come to blows. While there is no doubt in my mind that Beast would prevail, it would cost him dearly. It would not just wound his soul, but the repercussions for killing the king’s favorite general could easily cost him his life.

 Chapter 28

Genevieve

When I deem it safe to emerge from the valet’s closet and make my way to the sitting room, the king looks up from the fireplace, his eyes troubled and distant. He blinks at me, as if he’d forgotten I was here. “Thank you for your discretion.”

“But of course, Your Majesty. I have no desire to bring any more trouble to your door. It is my hope to ease your burdens.”

He nods vaguely and turns his attention back to the fire.

I try to keep quiet, to wait for a moment that I can choose once it is ripe, but my anger and my fear for Sybella are too great. The memory of the regent searching my rooms, the sense of violation it filled me with. It will only be worse for Sybella, with the brute Cassel taking pleasure in such a show of raw power.

“They are wrong, you know.” I curse myself for my own artlessness. Recklessness will not aid me here.

He lifts his head and scowls in disapproval. “Were you eavesdropping?”

“Not intentionally, but there were few enough places for me to hide. Would you rather I pretend I hadn’t heard, even though we both know I have?”

“I’d rather you mind your own business and not insert yourself,” he says coldly. “These matters do not concern you. Not if you are, as you say, loyal to me. In truth, it’s getting harder and harder to know if your loyalty is to me or the queen.” He shoves away from the mantel and stalks toward me. “You don’t work for the queen, do you?” While his voice is deceptively soft, the menace in it is unmistakable. “She hasn’t placed you under my nose? To spy on me and influence me to do her bidding?”

No, I want to shout, your rutting sister has. “No, Your Majesty. But you do remember what I told you last night? That the regent and the Bishop of Albi are working together. You would do well to keep a mind to what his motives are.”

“And you would do well to tend to your own affairs,” he says curtly.

My subtlety falls on deaf ears. Very well. Subtlety be damned. “It is my business. I am from the convent. I honor the Nine. Their accusations affect me as well.”

He waves a hand. “Not if you don’t tell anybody, they won’t.”

“I don’t mean in terms of repercussions, but when they disparage my faith and dishonor my saints.” For all that I don’t consider myself particularly devout, the bishop’s words fester in my soul. I take a step closer to him. “They are wrong,” I repeat, willing him to hear me.

“So you are a theological expert now?”

“No,” I admit, “I am Sybella’s sister, and what they say about her and our faith is untrue.”

“You should refrain from reminding me of your relationship with her just now.”

I stare at him a long moment, unable to keep from shaking my head.

He glares at me. “What?”

“I have never seen a man work so hard to ignore the parts of the world that are inconvenient to him.”

“Careful,” he growls. “My affection for you is not infinite. And it certainly isn’t something you can use to sway me from impartial judgments I must make.”

Impartial. I nearly laugh. Why are the bishops’ and Cassel’s counsel considered impartial while mine is not?

“Sybella has multiple marks against her, from her undue influence with the queen, to her unorthodox faith, not to mention that she is an assassin—reportedly of some unnatural order.”

“She is not guilty of the crimes you accuse her of.” At least, not all of them.

“As you said, you are her sister, of course you would defend her.” That is when I realize he is hurt. Hurt that I have taken her side against his, adding one more mark against her.

Desperation fills me. I had so hoped I was beginning to help him see more clearly, but he won’t believe me. He certainly won’t believe her. Not even if she told the full, unpolished truth about her vile brother. It is