Page 136 of The Faceless Queen

“Brennan,” I said. “I’m serious, do you remember your dream?”

He nodded his head. “There was a chimera. And I–I had to save you.”

It wasn’t me though, at least not a version of me he knew. It was me as Princess Shamhira, me in the form he didn’t—couldn’t know about, a form he had never seen. Not since I was a girl.

Except he had seen my form before, both times when he’d been unconscious–at the lake, and when I slept in his arms.

What the hell!

“I saw your dream,” I said. “More than that, I was … I was you.”

“What? Is that—” he frowned. “Is that part of your power? Part of what you can do?”

“Sometimes. It’s rare. It happens only if⁠—”

“Only if I’m dreaming about you,” he said.

I nodded.

“And did you feed from me when you did that?”

“Brennan …”

“Did you?”

I nodded.

He exhaled sharply.

“Brennan, you know what I am, and I know everything’s a mess between us, and you hate me, but⁠—”

There was an urgent and loud knock at the door. Our eyes met, and I could see Brennan preparing to send the intruder away. He wanted to speak with me further. He needed to. Besides what I had to tell him, we had unfinished business between us. But the guard announced a visitor for the crown prince and did not wait for permission to allow him inside. Before Brennan could speak, the door was already opening.

Rowan burst into the room, his face flushed with nearly as much red as his hair. “Brennan, oh, I’m sorry—Princess Olivay.” He nodded, bowing quickly.

I frowned. He hadn’t told Rowan about me. Why not? Had he told anyone? I’d been so worried when I woke, I forgot how precarious my position was. But my scar wasn’t burning, and it had been strangely dormant last night as Brennan figured out the truth.

Was it because he hadn’t sent me away yet?

“Your Highnesses.” Rowan closed the door behind him, taking quick strides to the center of the room. “I do not mean to intrude upon your morning, but⁠—”

“What’s happened?” Brennan asked. “Is everything all right?”

Rowan shook his head. “Princess Olivay, I suggest you return to your room. Now. They’re coming to rouse Brennan from bed. The King and his entire council. It’s best if they don’t find you here. With what happened last night, the chimera attack, and what your father,” his eyes met Brennan’s, “is now referring to as an act of treason by House Bathiner, he sent the King and Queen of Spartva back home for their safety.”

My mouth dropped. “What? They’re … they’re gone? The king and queen—my parents?”

Brennan’s brows narrowed, watching me continue the lie. But he said nothing.

Rowan nodded solemnly. “I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, princess. They were put into a carriage set for the castle at dawn, and will board a ship to Spartva tonight,” he said. “King’s orders. They could not refuse or wait to say goodbye to you. I know they wished to. I’m sure they’ll send word as soon as they can.”

I felt numb. They weren’t really my parents, and it was good they were gone, away from me, away from any more chances of me stealing years of their lives. But they’d also left before the real Olivay could be freed. Before Brennan could tell them the truth. Before I could be punished for what I’d done.

And before I could say goodbye to the only other woman who had ever acted like a mother to me, even if she had done so unknowingly.

“There’s more,” Rowan said, looking even more uneasy. “In order to counteract any stories and rumors of what,” he sighed, “what happened last night outside the clearing with Lord Stephen, Sir Donavan, Sir Erick, and the princess, to get ahead of any questions regarding your,” he pressed his lips together, his eyes on me, “your virtue, and the legitimacy of the crown prince’s heir, King Tirian moved up your wedding.” His head swiveled back and forth, looking at us both, as he said, “Instead of the ceremony taking place inside of the temple of Castle Lafir at the start of next week as planned, you will be wed here, at the lodge. Tonight.”

CHAPTER THIRTY