Page 94 of A Courage of the Chosen

Would it be a vote that would ultimately end in my death?

I’ve lost so much already and barely survived it. To see Reyne, Brodie, Rach, and Eòghann look at me with no hope, to have Cal vote to kill me, is not something I think I could ever recover from.

And so my truth becomes entombed that little bit more.

“We’re done for the day then.” I dismiss them.

Without hesitation, the council leaves in stony silence, except for Callahan and Brodie.

Reyne hangs back, waiting until the room is emptied of everyone else before she asks the question that’s been burning for a few minutes. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to have to tell it like it is. I needed to be sure your dad wouldn’t be influenced by you. I needed to know, with absolute certainty, that I could trust him.”

Reyne shakes her head, weighing up my reply. “It’s a good job I love you, lass. But next time, you tell me, okay? I was prepared to fight my father on that field, don’t forget that.”

I swallow thickly with the reminder.

“I won’t,” I whisper. “Will you send him back in for me?”

She agrees and quickly jogs away.

Callahan places a kiss on my temple that I let myself lean into. “I’ll see you in our room,” he whispers.

Our room.

Not mine. Not his.

Ours.

I suppose it’s become that. He hasn’t slept anywhere else in the palace, and we haven’t been apart since that first night, when he walked away from me.

Hector appears in the doorway. “You wanted to speak with me?” And in that single glance, he lets his pain shine through.

“Sit with me.” I point to the chair on my left.

Brodie follows Callahan out and shuts the door behind them, leaving me alone with Hector, who remains stood at the far end of the room with his arms crossed.

“Please sit with me?” I ask when it’s just the two of us.

Hector sighs and strides to the empty chair.

“I said I wouldn’t apologize for it. But to you, I will. You were kind to me when I first arrived, and backed me when no one else did.”

“Then why?” He doesn’t hide the hurt now.

“I had to be sure. I’ve been manipulated by people I trusted. Lied to by my own family. I couldn’t take any chances, not with this. It’s too important.”

Hector sighs again and runs a hand through his hair. “I get it, Elsie, I do. But it doesn’t make it hurt any less.”

“I know, and I’m genuine when I say I’m sorry to have done that to you. I hope I can earn your forgiveness. That’s if Reyne doesn’t kick my ass for it first.”

That earns me a small laugh. “She won’t do that. She cares for you too much.”

Hector reaches out and places his hand over mine where it rests on the table. “I really do understand why you did it. I don’t have to like it, but it was very clever.”

“I can’t take any credit,” I admit. “It was Callahan’s idea.”

Hector scoffs. “Of course it was. There’s no limit on what that man would do to protect you.”