Beloved in His Eyes (Angel's Assassin #2)(24)

“Because it’s time to leave.”

“Why?” Adam demanded. “Why can’t we stay?”

“It’s not fair to leave Uncle Bruce alone with the all the chores.”

“He said we could go! One more day. Please! I just want to go on the picnic.”

Justina whirled on him. “And before that it was the falcons. What will it be next? Maybe you just want to move into the castle?”

Anger burned through Adam. He had never seen falcons before.

“Stop being so selfish. We are leaving.”

Adam didn’t move. He stood like a statue, glaring at his sister. He wanted to go on the picnic with the princess. She had invited him! And he would probably never be back here. Justina wouldn’t allow it. He would probably never see Lady Aurora again because of his sister! He was going. He wasn’t going to listen to his sister anymore. He ran to the door and threw it open.

“Adam!” Justina called.

“I hate you!” he snarled. He ran out of the room. He was going on the picnic and there wasn’t anything she could do about it.





Chapter 9


Justina raced out of the room. But Adam had reached the stairs already. She knew she would never catch him; he was too fast. She sighed. Was she being too strict? He had never said he hated her before. The words had stunned and hurt her. She was furious with him for running, and disobeying her, but that couldn’t override the feeling of anguish at his words. She sighed. Maybe just this one last time. Maybe she should let him go; there was nothing she could do about it now.

She returned to her room and sat on the edge of the bed for a long time. This entire thing had quickly gotten out of control. She never should have come back. She rubbed her eyes in frustration and weariness. She debated what to do. She could wait here for Adam’s return. Or she could… What? Do what? A strange need arose inside of her. An overwhelming need to see Gawyn, to let him comfort her. Just seeing him would allow her to reasonably go over her options; she knew just talking to him would make her feel better.

Slowly, she made her way out of the castle into the inner ward. She spotted Gawyn almost immediately standing beside her brown and white horse. For a moment, her entire body longed to be in the warmth and protection of his embrace. But she knew that was impossible. Still, she made her way to him.

“Where’s Adam?” he asked.

Justina inhaled. “He really wanted to go with Lady Aurora on the picnic.”

Gawyn stared at her for a long moment. “You allowed him to?”

She shook her head.

He drew himself up as understanding washed over him. “I’ll bring him back.”

Justina grabbed his arm. “No. No, let him go.”

“Are you sure?”

Justina nodded. Of their own accord, her fingers moved through his. She wasn’t certain if it was because she was hurt, or because she was confused, but it felt good when Gawyn squeezed her hand.

“You said no. He should listen to you.”

“I know,” Justina whispered. “But I’m not his mother.”

Gawyn sighed softly. “But you look out for his welfare. He knows that.”

Justina looked away toward the gates of the castle. She did her best, but sometimes it wasn’t enough.

“Would you like to see more of the castle? I could show you the art gallery.”

“What’s that?”

“Lady Aurora’s father collected some of the most remarkable art. It’s stored in a long hallway.”

Justina shook her head. “Just walk with me.”

He nodded and signaled to the stable boy. “Keep the mare prepared. They will be leaving when the party returns from the picnic.”

The stable boy nodded his dark head and held the reins of the mare.

Gawyn looked at Justina. “Are you hungry?”

After the way she had acted toward him, he was still looking out for her. “I’m sorry for the way I’ve treated you,” Justina admitted.

He guided her over to the side of the wall beside the blacksmith shop. A wooden bench was situated beneath one large tree. “I’m sorry for not being truthful.”

Justina sat. It wasn’t his fault. This entire mess. He was being truthful. It was time for her to do the same. “How well do you know Lord Damien?”



Gawyn hesitated. He had never been embarrassed of telling people Damien was his brother, but for some reason, his instincts told him not to tell Justina. “Very well.”

Justina lifted her gaze to him. There was such sadness in her large brown eyes that he wanted to gather her to him and comfort her, but he didn’t move.

Tears entered her eyes. “Did you know?”

“Know what?”

“What he was before he was Lord of Acquitaine.”

Dread washed over Gawyn. He straightened and looked away from her. “Justina, I never intended --”

“Did you know?”

Gawyn hesitated. He could lie to her, but that would end badly. He sighed. “I know everything about Damien. He is my brother.”

Her eyes widened in shock.

Gawyn grabbed her hands. “You have to understand –”

She pulled away from him. “Did you know what he was? Did you know he was a killer?”