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She wasn’t alone.

Chapter twenty-eight

Bria stared at the darkness, listening intently. Had she heard rats?

Another shuffle. No, rats didn’t shuffle.

“Is someone there?” she called, pressing her back to the door.

“Did he say the Midnight Shadow?” a hoarse voice called from the darkness.

Bria peered into the blackness, trying desperately to see the owner of the voice, to make out a shape. Was this one of Kenric’s traps? “Who’s there?” Bria demanded. The blackness was so thick she couldn’t see anything.

Another shuffle, the sound now louder, nearer. Whoever was in the darkness moved closer to her.

“Are they looking for the Midnight Shadow?” The female voice, now a little stronger, sounded strangely familiar.

“Yes,” Bria replied quietly, confused. Trepidation ran along her spine to her neck, sending tingles of apprehension along her shoulders.

There was a long moment of silence, a moment as quiet as the cell was dark. Bria thought she heard a moan from somewhere down the hall, but she couldn’t be sure it wasn’t from the person before her.

“Who are you?” the voice asked.

“My name is Bria.”

“Bria?” the voice queried in disbelief. “Bria?”

Bria stared into the darkness. She knew that voice. But it couldn’t be! She could barely form the name on her trembling lips. “Mary?”

Suddenly, something knocked into her, pressing against her. Arms wrapped around her shoulders. “Oh, Bria, Bria,” the small form sobbed.

Bria lifted trembling hands to her friend’s face, touched her hair. Mary was alive! She touched Mary’s wet cheeks, her forehead, trying to convince herself this was real, that Mary was alive and this wasn’t some wonderful dream. But as Bria stroked Mary’s hair, feeling thick knots in the strands, she realized this might very well be a nightmare.

Bria held her close, putting her face against Mary’s wet, tear-streaked cheek. “Oh, Mary!” Bria gasped. “Mary.”

She was alive! And Bria had left her. She had abandoned Mary to Kenric as surely as Terran had abandoned her. “I’m so sorry,” Bria sobbed over and over.

The two women collapsed onto the ground, crying and holding each other.

Terran shifted in his seat, staring at the fire. Its flickering tongues snapped like whips. With a sigh, he hung his head forward into his hands. How had everything gone so wrong? He should be enjoying his wife, kissing those delectable lips, spreading her thighs, teaching her how to make love slowly and thoroughly. Instead, he’d handed her over to Kenric to question. Terran knew his cousin had a penchant for cruelty.

He rose and took a step toward the dungeon. Then he came up short, his back straightening. Bria had brought this on herself. He’d been willing to make the marriage work, but she’d refused. With those wide eyes and full lips, she’d denied him. And if she wouldn’t tell him the Midnight Shadow’s identity, then Kenric was his only hope. After what had happened with Odella, Terran could never allow any man to come between him and his wife, especially a criminal who was stealing from him.

Terran groaned softly and threw himself back into his chair. Was this only about his pride? No. It was a matter of trust. How could she take the criminal’s side against his? How could she think he’d treat his people cruelly and unjustly? He was certain they were fine. Kenric took care of that for him. It had freed up his time for tournaments and jousting, what he really loved, what he was really interested in -- until now.

“Darling.”

Terran stiffened at Kathryn’s voice. He hadn’t thought of her the entire day. His mind had been occupied by Bria.

“You look terrible,” Kathryn said, resting her hand on his shoulder. “Why haven’t you come to see me?”

“I have a wife,” Terran replied gruffly.

Kathryn laughed huskily. “Most men do. That doesn’t stop them.”

Terran slowly turned to face her. “I am not most men.”

Kathryn straightened. “You love her?” she asked in surprise.