Chapter 18
Gasps rippled through the great ball
Prince Roland brother to the king of Crownspire, whose coffers rivaled that of any noble house had just promised a third of his holdings?
Eleanor’s heart gave a violent jolt.
She knew Edmund had lived too long among the treacherous waters of court polities. No one in
their right mind would turn down such an offer
But then-Edmund gave a short, cold laugh. “I decline.”
At those words, the Wolveston kin rose in unison. Lady Wolveston herself stepped forward, placing
a firm, maternal hand over Eleanor’s
“She is bound to this house by honor and vow,” she said, voice unwavering. “No man shall treat her
like coin in a wager
A warmth bloomed in Eleanor’s chest. Her eyes stung.
She turned-only to meet Roland’s gaze, desperate and unrelenting
“Eleanor,” he pleaded, voice hoarse with despair. “Come with me. Please. I’ll spend a lifetime
making this right.”
She closed her eyes. When they opened again, they were clear as glass and hard as ice
“No.”
She turned to the officiant. “Ler the ceremony proceed.”
A beat of silence
Then
“Don’t you dare!” Roland’s voice thundered across the chamber
At that moment, one of his men approached quickly and whispered in his ear
“Your Highness, the preparations are complete
Eleanor’s heart seized. She turned sharply “Roland, what have you done?”
as eves glinted with madness, his voare dark and steady “I’ve stationed men around the hall it
come with me no one here leaves alive
YOU WO
The ball beli unterhe silent
“Y’ve lost your senses,” Eleanor breathed
“Ave,” he said, a levered glint in his eyes. “And I’ll lose them a thousand times over, if it means watching you wed another
“Roland!” Her voice shook “What do you want?!
“I want you Come with me. Just give me a chance.”
“I will not
“Then we all die
Eleanor’s breath hitched. Her nails bit into her palms
And then-Edmund reached for her hand, his grip strong and calm “Then we die together
The Wolveston bannermen roared in one voice, “We stand as one.
But not all shared their resolve
The guests, once silent, now fell to their knees in terror, their voices rising in a tide of cowardice
“Lady Eleanor, I beg you! Think of us
we are but guests, we meant no harm!”
“She’s right! Please, don’t doom us all over a lovers’ quarrel!”
Eleanor bit down on her lip. Hard
Then, at last, she took a breath.
Very well.
She turned to Roland. Her voice was cold steel
“You have seven days No more. After that I never want to see you again And if you dare lose
control like this again, I will end it myself.
Hope burst behind his eyes like fire “Yes–yes, anything!”
“Eleanor!” Edmund’s voice cracked
She mrned to him, her voice dropping to a whisper “Do you trust me? Just seven days. Please
Edmund stared at her for a long, aching moment Then, slowly, he let go of her hand
Lusly Wolvestate ame forward, pressing a small bundle into Eleanor ‘n hand. Her voice was soft
Keep this close, child Yim’ll know where the true is right
Eleanor nodded. And with that, she turned and walked away
at Prince Roland’s side
The moment they stepped outside the keep, Roland was all urgency
“I’ll have the horses ready. We ride for Crownspire before dawn
Eleanor’s voice sliced through him.
“You so much as lead me to the gates of Crownspire, and I’ll die right there on the road Kill them all if you like but my corpse is all you’ll have
Roland stopped cold
“Very well,” he said, swallowing hard. “We’ll remain in Westmarch. If this is where you feel safe,
then this is where we stay ”
He gave a signal. Within the hour, he had secured one of Westmarch’s most lavish estates
But when Eleanor stepped inside the manor house, her breath caught in her throat
Everything the tapestries, the tea room, the scent of blooming roses in the courtyard – it was exactly like her childhood home, before her mother’s death.
She stood frozen.
And then, she felt his arms slide around her from behind. His voice was low and hopeful
“Do you like it?”
She laughed but the sound was bitter, scalding.
“I remember you doing the same for Cectly. Renting out entire halls. Carving her name into your skin. And when she was struck once on my behalf-you had me whipped ninety-nine times in her
stead.”
Roland’s heart gave a violent wrench. He held her tighter
“I know,” he whispered. “But I swear, Eleanor I will make it right
