Black Rook by Ingrid Seymour

Author:Ingrid Seymour [Seymour, Ingrid]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PenDreams
Published: 2019-05-02T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

Bianca didn’t slow until she reached the edge of the garden. There, she seemed to collapse onto a stone bench behind the safety of a tall hedge, the will that had kept her body erect seeming to drain out of her all at once.

“Are you all right?” I whispered, sitting by her side, my hand an inch from her bare shoulder. Inside, I’d held her hand, but here, the idea of touching her felt different. I didn’t dare.

She tore the mask from her face and turned to me, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

“I can’t help her,” she said in a low tone matching my own.

“I know.” I knew better than she could ever imagine.

“Talyssa, my...” A sob caught in her throat.

“Yes, I know. Your lady-help. ” I finished for her.

She frowned, confused.

“I remember her,” I explained, “from the market. She was with you the day you called the Sentries on me. I saw her shortly after I arrived here and recognized her.”

“She... looked so lost,” Bianca said.

Tentatively, I took her hand. She didn’t pull away, but her eyes were fixed on a faraway point, so I doubted she even noticed my touch.

“What does he do to her?” she asked.

I shook my head. “Don’t torture yourself.” I had no right to tell her that—not when I spent my sleepless nights wondering the exact same thing about Timotei.

“He took everything from me,” she said. “He killed Papa and stole Talyssa. Even my home and the inheritance my mother left me went to him.”

So that was why she’d joined the White Court. She’d had no other choice. Like me. It seemed we weren’t so different, after all. King Maximus had destroyed both our lives.

“He has my brother,” I said in a rush of breath. “He’s only eight years old, but he’s a Trove. That’s why I joined. I tried to rescue him, but I failed.”

She pressed her free hand to her mouth. “Oh, Nyro.”

I glanced away as the back of my eyes stung. The last time I’d shed a tear was when Mother died. I didn’t want Bianca to see me cry. She had her own woes, and I had no business burdening her with mine.

“Talyssa looks after him,” I said, forcing myself to look back at her, a weak smile on my lips.

“She does?”

I nodded.

Bianca sniffled, then a smile graced her lips. “That sounds like her. I feel sorry for your brother. She can be quite bossy.”

I chuckled, glancing down at our interlaced fingers. Her hand was so small in mine. Yet, it felt strong, capable. I moved my thumb in a gentle caress but didn’t dare look back into her eyes.

“Maybe...” she started tentatively. “Maybe we can help each other.”

I met her gaze then. I doubted there was anything we could do for each other. She was with the White Queen, unable to come here unless one of these balls was taking place, and she wore a disguise. And what could I do? I’d failed at rescuing one small boy already.

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