The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea - Kerrelyn Sparks Page 0,74
hurried out the door.
“It’s time for the young ones to sleep now.” Bettina pulled some blankets off the shelves and gave them to the youngest girls. “Are you tired? The princess can bunk with us, and Nevis can go with Elam and Quentin to the boys’ cabin.”
Nevis glanced at Elinor, who still looked pale and drawn from the recent revelation of who had killed her father and brother. “I think the princess should rest. I would like to get a closer look at the guards’ headquarters. The castle, too, if possible.”
“I’ll take you,” Quentin offered, his eyes lit with excitement. “I can be really sneaky.”
“I’ll go, too,” Elinor said quietly.
“Are you sure?” Nevis asked her.
She nodded. “I need to stay busy. If I don’t, I’ll think about . . .” Her eyes glistened with tears.
Nevis touched her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
She took a deep breath. “I’ll be all right. ’Tis better this way, knowing the truth.”
“Aye,” Nevis agreed. “And now Brody has a chance to get his life back.”
She nodded, then touched his hand. “Thank you for being here with me.”
He folded his fingers around hers. When her gaze met his, he was tempted to pull her into his arms. Unfortunately, there was a room full of people watching their every move. He released Elinor’s hand just as a knock sounded on the door.
An older woman opened the door and peeked inside.
“Ruth,” Bettina greeted her. “Come in.” She glanced back at Nevis. “Ruth is the servant who raised us in the nursery. We can trust her.”
The woman entered, casting a curious glance at Nevis and Elinor.
“I’m Colonel Nevis Harden from Eberon, and this is Princess Elinor from the Isle of Moon.”
Ruth gasped. “Oh, no! You must take the princess away from here. Queen Cahira hates her family with a passion.”
Elinor hissed in a breath. “She’s the one who killed my father and brother, isn’t she?”
Ruth nodded. “I’m so sorry, Your Highness. Cahira believes the Isles of Moon and Mist should be part of her domain.”
Elinor lifted her chin. “I’m not leaving. Not until justice is served.”
Ruth sighed. “So many new people here today. Maeve arrived earlier, and then the Seer.”
“The Seer is here?” Nevis asked. “No wonder his cat showed up.”
Ruth noticed the cat for the first time and gasped. “Gavin, is that you?”
The cat trotted up to her and meowed.
Ruth leaned over. “Don’t worry. Gabby is fine. She’s been moved to a servant’s room, the one next to mine.”
“Oh, thank the goddesses,” Catriona said, while everyone in the room let out a sigh of relief.
“We have Maeve to thank for it,” Ruth explained. “She talked the queen into moving Gabby out of the dungeon.”
Gavin meowed again and reared up on his hind legs.
“Do you want to see her?” Ruth asked, and Gavin leaped into her arms.
“How did Maeve manage to convince the queen?” Nevis asked. “Isn’t she a prisoner?”
“Well, yes, she is,” Ruth conceded. “She’s being guarded night and day, because the queen doesn’t trust her. But she’s being treated well. After all, she’s the queen’s daughter.”
Everyone in the cottage gasped. Elinor stiffened.
“Good goddesses.” Bettina pressed a hand to her chest. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Maeve looks so much like her.”
Elinor turned to Nevis with a stricken look. “Maeve is the Sea Witch’s daughter?”
Nevis grimaced. For years now, he’d suspected that Brody was smitten with Maeve. But dammit to hell, that meant the poor sod was in love with his worst enemy’s daughter.
“I have more news,” Ruth declared, and Nevis prepared himself for something even worse.
* * *
After making sure the doors were securely locked, Maeve sat at the table and forced herself to eat. After all, she needed to keep her strength up if she was going to seduce Brody when he came back. Her heart raced at the prospect, but the more she thought about it, the more she felt a heavy sense of regret.
This was not how it should be.
She’d grown up hearing Brigitta weave her overly dramatic stories of true love. It simply wouldn’t be romantic if she coerced Brody against his will. Oh, she had no doubt he wanted her. She’d seen desire flash in his eyes, and he’d admitted to lusting for her. He’d also confessed to caring for her.
But according to Brigitta’s stories, he should want her with a passion that could not be denied. So far, he’d been quite successful at denying it, blast him. Did that mean he didn’t want her badly enough?