away. “Then why did you reject me? Nothing is more painful than that!”
His face turned pale.
She turned and walked away a few steps. As she wiped more tears from her face, she realized her anger was fading away. All that was left was a horrible fear that her feelings for Brody would continue to be rejected.
“I can’t deny that I care about you,” he said softly behind her.
Her heart squeezed in her chest. She’d always hoped to hear him confess his feelings for her, but she’d always thought it would be a joyous occasion. Not like this. She curled her hands into fists. Dammit, why did she have to accept this? “I know you can be yourself for only two hours a day, but I’d rather have two hours than nothing.”
“That wouldn’t be fair—”
“Since when is life fair?” She whirled around to face him. “I am stubborn, Brody. I’m not giving up on you.”
His eyes flared with an intensity that stole her breath away. He did want her—she could feel it. She took a step toward him.
A knock sounded at the door; then the latch moved and caught on the lock.
“We have your food,” a voice called from the hallway. “And clothing.”
Brody ran and jumped into bed. Maeve approached the door, waiting to be sure Brody had shifted back into the Seer before she turned the key and opened it.
Ruth and two more servants came inside carrying trays loaded down with food, goblets, and pitchers of wine. They placed the trays on the round table in the sitting area. More servants brought in the Seer’s bundle of clothes as well as some new garments. They took them to the dressing room.
“This is medicine to relieve pain.” Ruth showed Maeve a small green bottle. “In case your father needs it.”
“Thank you,” Maeve told her.
“Are you all right?” Ruth whispered. “You look like you’ve been crying.”
“I—I fear I will lose my father soon.”
Ruth clucked her tongue in sympathy. “I’m so sorry, lass.” She motioned to the trays. “We’ll come back for these later.”
“No need,” Maeve assured her. “I’ll put them in the hall. I don’t want anything to disturb my father’s rest.”
Ruth glanced at the false Seer, who was moaning in bed. “Very well. But if you need me, just tug on the bell pull.”
“I will. Thank you, Ruth.”
She and the other servants curtsied, then filed out of the room. Maeve quickly locked the door.
Brody leaped out of bed, shifting back to his true form. “I’m starving.” He dashed toward the table.
Now this was the Brody she knew. Maeve sat across from him. “How are we going to stop my mother? Do you have a plan?”
He bit into a chicken leg. “I’m flying back to the Isle of Moon tonight, so I can have a message sent to Leo. Are Nevis and Captain Shaw still there?”
“I suppose they are.” Maeve poured two goblets full of wine.
“Thanks.” Brody took a sip from one, then went back to eating. “Tell me what you’ve learned so far.”
She described everything that had happened that morning. Brody’s eyes widened when she described Alfred’s and Darroc’s powers.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Lightning and wind power? That won’t be easy to beat. How many soldiers are there in the Embraced army?”
“I don’t know.” Maeve fiddled with her food, wondering if she should tell Brody about her upcoming wedding. If she did, he might try to kill the evil shifter. He could end up injured or dead. Also, his disguise as the Seer would be exposed, and then Cahira would have the Embraced army attack him. If Maeve wanted to protect Brody, she had better keep her mouth shut.
“Anything else I should know?” Brody asked.
She winced. Now she understood why Brody had withheld information from her. She was doing the same thing. But he did need to know what she had learned about the Chameleon. “The general of the Embraced army is the Chameleon.”
Brody sat forward. “Is he here?”
“He’s supposed to arrive soon.” Maeve explained who he was.
Brody’s mouth dropped open. “He killed his own father? And half-brother? Damn.” He stood and paced across the floor. “No wonder he tried to take Eberon first. We have to tell Leo about him. You say his name is Kendric?”
Maeve nodded and suppressed a shudder at the thought of being forced to marry the monster. She couldn’t do it. Somehow she had to stop it. Without telling Brody. He hated the evil shifter with a passion. And from what she’d heard,