Page 75 of Midnight Shadow

She recoiled as if struck in the chest by a war mallet. “What?” she gasped.

“Sheriff Kenric told me you rode out of the castle to rendezvous with your lover. You aren’t fit to be my wife.”

Bria’s gaze shifted to Kenric. “But he tried to poison me!” she protested. “How can you believe him?”

“How can I believe you?!”

Tears filled Bria’s eyes. “I wouldn’t lie about this,” she whispered. “You must believe me.”

“How can I?” Terran asked firmly.

“Terran,” Bria pleaded. “Please. How can you do this?”

“Then tell us who the Midnight Shadow is,” Kenric said.

Bria’s gaze did not move from Terran. It was as if Kenric hadn’t spoken. She saw the disdain in her husband’s eyes, saw the clenching of his jaw. It wouldn’t matter if she told him who the Midnight Shadow was. Terran would never love her.

And that realization shattered her. Her world crumbled. The incredible happiness she’d felt mere moments before disappeared without a trace.

Someone touched her arm. “It’s all right, Bria,” Harry whispered. “You can come home with us.”

Bria swallowed hard and lifted her chin against Terran’s coldness. “I am home,” she proclaimed. “I am lady of Castle Knowles, and this is where I shall remain.”

Fury flamed in Terran’s eyes. “Didn’t you hear what I said? You are not welcome here! I don’t want you. I never have. You are to leave Castle Knowles at once.” He turned his back on her and stormed from the hall.

Bria stood aghast, horrified and embarrassed, but mostly devastated. She felt as though he was ripping apart her heart.

“He’ll try to kill you again, Bria,” Harry whispered to her. “You’d best come home with us.” He gently took her arm.

Bria savagely yanked her arm free of his hold. “Didn’t you hear me? It wasn’t Terran! It was Randolph Kenric! He tried to poison me!”

Harry and Lord Delaney’s eyes turned to Kenric.

Kenric bridled. “She is mad,” he said. “What reason would I have to kill her? I convinced Terran to marry her.”

“You wanted me gone, out of the way. With my leaving Castle Knowles, you’ve accomplished that, haven’t you?” She stood toe to toe with the man, glaring up at him with all the hatred and agony swirling inside her. “This is your fault,” she snarled, “and I won’t let you get away with it.” She swept up her blue satin skirt and raced for the door, running after Terran.

He will be long gone, she thought as she burst through the doorway. But to her surprise, he stood just down the corridor, speaking with a pair of guards. His earnest expression should have alerted her to the seriousness of his conversation, but Bria was too hurt to notice anything but the pain inside her.

She marched up to him. “I deserve answers,” she said.

He turned to her, shock on his face. Then his eyes darkened. “You aren’t going to make this easy, are you?”

“Easy?” she demanded, rage knotting her fists. “I’ll make it as easy for you as you are for me.”

He seized her arm in a tight hold and dragged her down the hallway, turning his head from this door to that. Finally, he settled on a room and opened the door. It was empty and dark. He propelled her inside with a shove.

Bria almost fell to her knees, but caught her balance. He closed the door, sealing them in the darkness. There was complete and utter silence between them for a long moment. Bria could hear only her own heavy breathing.

“What answers would you like?” Terran demanded.

“Why? Why are you doing this?” Bria asked, trying desperately to keep her voice even.

“I told you. You are a failure as my wife.”

“What have I done?” she implored, angry at herself for sounding so desperate.

“Your consorting with my enemy is intolerable,” he retorted.