Beguiled (The Fairest Maidens #2) - Jody Hedlund Page 0,70

to marry her and then stir the simpleminded of this country to fight against me and support you.”

“I have a country of my own and have no need of another—”

“You have no guarantee of kingship, and therefore seek to take mine with Princess Pearl by your side, rallying the people of this country.”

The queen knew I didn’t aspire to her throne any more than Pearl did. The accusation was her attempt to conceal more sinister deeds. But what? “I have offered Warwick a partnership with Scania in exchange for the life of the woman I love and her younger sister. That is the extent of my designs.”

“Yes, we have certainly all witnessed the way you are taken with my daughter. And because of your feelings for her, she will be able to persuade you to do anything she wishes, including usurping Warwick’s throne.”

“I have no wish for Warwick’s throne. Now or ever.”

“But the princess does, and you have proven your loyalty lies with her.”

“We shall leave for Scania this very day. Your men may even accompany us to assure our departure.”

One of the queen’s narrow brows rose. “You know as well as I do that many queens and kings have continued to plot treason when they are banished afar. If I allow her to live in Scania, what is to prevent her from charming you into doing whatever she asks, including using Scania’s resources and army to plot against me?”

“If I allow her to live.” The words reverberated through me, rattling my bones and sending fear along my nerves. Even though the queen had tried to murder Pearl once before, how had she so easily condemned Pearl to death without a trial and without any recourse?

The knights drew closer and surrounded Pearl and me. Surely the queen had no plans to arrest me along with Pearl. She wouldn’t dare, would she?

The fear in Pearl’s eyes told me the queen would dare.

A part of me was tempted to call Gregor to my aid, but I sensed I was still undergoing my Testing, that even if I wasn’t on the Isle of Outcasts any longer, these current challenges were still a part of shaping me.

No, I wouldn’t rely upon Gregor to help get me out of the situation. I had to do this for myself or die trying. That was the way of honor.

“I beseech you once again to consider my offer of an alliance,” I said to the queen. “And if you pay it no heed, then I ask that you take me as your prisoner instead of Princess Pearl. Allow my manservant to take her to Scania with Ruby, and I shall remain your prisoner for as long as I live.”

“No!” Pearl stepped toward me only to have the guards cut her off, hemming her in even closer. “I shall not allow you to suffer on my behalf.”

Her voice was infused with stubbornness. But at this moment, I refused to allow her to have her way. I had to get her out of Warwick and away from the queen. And if that meant I had to sacrifice myself to win her freedom, then so be it. Perhaps later, I’d be able to negotiate with the queen further for my own release. But even if she kept me forever, I had to save Pearl.

“Let Mikkel go!” Pearl pushed against the knights. “’Tis me you want! You need my heart, not his.”

Heart? She’d mentioned the queen wanting her heart before. What did she mean by it? Surely not her physical heart, the one that pumped lifeblood throughout her body. But what if that’s exactly what the queen wanted. Why would she need it?

I didn’t have time to process this revelation. Instead I held out my arms to the closest knights. “Take me.”

“This is altogether too touching.” The queen’s expression was rigid and cold upon Pearl. “But you may as well hold your tongues, for I have no intention of setting either one of you free. I intend to behead you both. For treason.”

Pearl screamed. I shoved against the soldiers who’d taken hold of me, unsheathing my knife and rapidly slicing into the closest knights. But a dozen more converged upon me. I was outnumbered, and though I fought valiantly, they subdued me, wresting the weapon from my grip and divesting me of the rest. Within seconds, I was chained and being pushed from the room, with Pearl’s cries echoing around me.

Chapter

23

Pearl

I pounded against the chamber door, but my efforts had grown weak,