Reign Queen L. Gibbs (best books to read for young adults TXT) 📖

Kambry backed out, shutting the door. Had shemade the right choice? The image of Tomo trapped in the vines andbegging for release came to her mind. It replayed in vivid detail,almost as real as the first time she’d seen it. Several momentspassed before she realized she was sitting in the uncomfortablechair. How well did she really know Russal? So much of her time inKavin they’d been separated.

Their time in the rose garden rose in herthoughts. They’d had time to get to know each other. Perhaps thosegolden moments had failed to reveal enough of each other the waystress and challenge did.

A knock sounded from the closed door by thestairs. The latch lifted, and the door opened a crack. “Kambry, mayI come in and change for bed?”

Her hands tightened in her lap. “Of course,Russal. This is your home.”

His face was damp, but he looked calm. Heregarded the room, his gaze catching on the passageway still open.“I’ll close that up.”

Kambry leaped from her seat. Why hadn’t shethought of it before? “Russal, I could sleep there, in the room atthe end of the passageway. No one need know.”

“You’re not sleeping down there! Neither ofus are.” He sealed the entrance in swift, angry movements. “I’llchange and be out of your way.” He strode past her and into hisdressing room, closing the door with an irate click.

Kambry backed up and sat on the bed corner.She needed time to think, to sort things out, but figuring thingsout came at such a cost. Russal was hurt, and she couldn’t decideif he had a right to be.

Why had Kavin given her that image? Did themagic of the kingdom support Covey’s bid for kingship? She hadn’tthought that magic held a bias. It had seemed a part of Russal inevery way. But if it preferred Covey, she needed to understandwhy.

She paced the room. She’d listened to Covey.Granted, she’d had no choice with him speaking directly into herear and holding her immobile. Was she giving Russal the chance toexplain? She should listen to his version of the event. Kavin mightprovide a second view.

She couldn’t imagine an alternate angle wouldmake the actions she’d seen okay. Russal had tortured Tomo, but towhat end? There had been no sound, but Tomo’s desperation to getfree, his wild eyes and frantic grabbing at the thorny stems gaveher only one way of reading the situation. Russal had just stoodthere until Amily had run up and tore at the cutting stalks.

She owed him the opportunity to explain.Didn’t she, even if his version was no different? Would he admit tosuch atrocious behavior?

The door to his changing room opened.

“Russal, I’d like to talk aboutsomething.”

“Not now, Kambry. I’m weary. It’s been a dayI want to put behind me.”

“It’s important.”

“I can’t,” he said. At the doorway to thesmall room, he paused. “This was once a nursery for me and laterfor Amily. But you probably guessed that.” His angry gaze cuther.

He shut the door, and she was alone in theirpalatial room. Her heart thumped wildly. A tight, painful gigglerose in her throat. It was a nursery. She drew her shouldersstraight. Russal must be desperate to stab at her emotions thatway.

An awful question sprang to her mind. HadCovey ever lashed out at her? She’d stomped on his foot, swung aknife at him, aimed an arrow at his face, but he had never saidsomething meant to break her heart. He’d undermined her faith inRussal, said she wasn’t enough for him, and made her believe he hadbeen faithless. That had hurt her, but he claimed that was all toprotect her from Russal.

Russal could not make that claim. Protectionhad not motivated him.

So it was a nursery once. And one day, theycould expect it to be a nursery again. She married Russal.

She went to the window and peered out at thenight. The stone of the thick castle walls made her fingers chill.She shivered and looked back at the door separating her fromRussal. Was she mistaken about Russal? Was Covey a better man forKavin to have for its king?

From the beginning, Russal held back so muchand expected her to make the kingdom whole again. Sybil had arguedthat everything depended on her earning Russal’s trust. Then it wasup to her again to bring Amily back to Kavin and keep Russal fromleaving Kavin Wood.

She glared at the door. Why was she in thisposition? Why were there all these mysteries she had tountangle?

Now, according to Sybil, she was pivotal tohealing the kingdom. First, it had been the kingdom under attack,then Russal. Was she the target now?

Sybil seemed to think so.

Wait. Why hadn’t Sybil warned her about themaze attack? She had said her loyalty was to the queen. Decisions.Going to the maze was a decision no one anticipated.

Kambry paced. It created an unplannedopportunity. Who took advantage of it?

Sybil had said dangers still awaited Kambryin the maze. Not a very clear warning. But they hadn’t attackedKambry. They targeted Laurents and her parents.

But Covey had come here, into their privatechambers. Sybil had said only to keep them apart. Couldn’t she havewarned Kambry he would be here? Decisions, they changed how eventsunfolded. The attack may have been meant for one of the visitinglords. But Russal's decision to take everyone into the maze changedthe plan. Did she only get visions when Kambry was in danger? Coveyhad not harmed her. No, he’d only destroyed her faith in Russal!She had faith in Russal. She’d wanted to marry him, and she didn’twant to change that.

Why should she even trust Covey? All hisactions were intended to separate her from Russal. Sharing thatvision was one more attempt.

She shuffled back and forth. If only hehadn’t been so sincere. Felip Covey may have shared his version ofan event, but Kavin had supplied the glaring support of thatversion. She was overreacting. Russal had a reason for notstopping. She didn’t know what it was, but he must have hadone.

She wrung her hands. Who could tell her areliable version of the attack on Tomo when he was a child? Amilywas there, but would she admit to her brother being so cruel? Tomowent through the