Diviner's Prophecy by Nicolette Andrews

Author:Nicolette Andrews
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2016-09-17T14:58:33+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

I returned from the ambassador’s reading to find Damara and Johai awaiting me. The pair of them sat side by side, and from the scowl on Johai’s face, I knew they had discovered my attempt at freedom.

“Welcome back, dear,” Damara greeted me. She smiled, but it did not reach her eyes.

They know! I panicked, and words tumbled from my mouth unbidden. “I am sorry I delayed. I met Sabine for a moment after Duke Sixton’s—he’s inherited the duchy—and well, I thought Earvin might want some time off, and I did not think you would mind.” I clamped down on the streaming nonsense that escaped from my mouth.

Johai, arms crossed over his chest, glared intensely enough to leave a brand across my forehead. Damara’s brows pinched together in thought, and her hands lay folded in her lap. She clutched bits of fabric between her fingers, running them across her thumb as I spoke. I focused on the action so I would not have to meet either one of their gazes and have my disobedience discovered.

Damara spoke after a lengthened silence. “Duke Sixton sent a message while you were out.”

My heart sank. I had nearly forgotten about Jon’s proposal.

Let it not be to their benefit! I prayed. Goddess knows I do not love the man, and I cannot stand the thought of my life yoked to his.

Silence reigned. I considered telling them about my appointment with the ambassador to change the subject. Though I knew it would not change anything, I would not mind some time to process the day’s proceedings. The tension in the room was palpable, and on foolish impulse, I looked into Johai’s eyes. They were a burning blue and trained on me.

Damara stood and walked over to a window across the room. She placed her hands flat against the sill. “He says you are aware of what he is offering, and I will admit, it is a tempting proposition.”

Johai shot to his feet, and my voice overlapped his.

“You cannot be serious!” We spoke in unison. His reaction stunned me to silence. He continued to be an enigma. Though I had heard him speak of me with regret and tenderness, I could not believe he cared for me. There had to be something in my past that linked us together, and I was not sure I wanted to find out. It was easier to hate him and not know why than to face the likely fact that he cared for me and had betrayed me.

It was a foolish thing to do, but I goaded him. It was easier than facing the truth. “You disapprove, Johai? Surely you’d jump at the chance to spy on Adair.”

For a moment, he appeared as if I had struck him. Then just as quickly as he had revealed his hurt, he snapped closed the lid on his emotions, and his usual impassive expression replaced it.

“Not at this cost.”

I laughed bitterly. An overpowering emotion bubbled up inside me. How could he say those things and then use me like this? Anger made my tongue loose.

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