Page 91 of The Rogue’s Redemption

“I am glad you are here, my lady,” Reid said to her sister. “To escort Allie back to Highgate End, where she belongs.”

With that, he bowed to them both, turned, and walked from the hall. And apparently from her life.

30

Reid bent over, hands on his knees, ignoring the knock on the door. Pounding, more like, and shouting too. Toren’s voice. Finally, his brother stopped trying. He took a series of short breaths, hoping one would fill his chest with the air he so desperately needed.

Since his proclamation yesterday, he’d tried everything he could think of to put Allie out of his mind. He’d trained, too hard. He’d taken a long, fast ride without a destination. He’d attempted to let sleep take him.

None of it had worked.

He stood but did not move. How long he remained in that position, Reid wasn’t sure. But when another knock on the door interrupted his dark thoughts, he did not ignore it. He yanked open the door and stared at his sister-in-law, unable to bring himself to tell her to go away.

Juliette looked past him into the antechamber and crossed her arms.

“You are an incorrigible arse.”

Did she think he would disagree? Reid was about to ask her to leave when she pushed past him and entered the small room attached to his bedchamber. Without windows or a fire, it was dark despite that the morning sun had already risen outside.

“You turned Toren away,” she said, her voice flat.

“Jules, now is not a good—”

“He is distraught.”

“As well he should be.” Reid was not feeling charitable.

Though Juliette was obviously angry, and there was no doubt he had given her reason to dislike him mightily right now, she looked at him with pity rather than hatred. “Do you wish to talk about it?”

“No.”

But the blasted woman did not move to leave. Instead, she crossed her arms and waited.

“There is naught to discuss—”

“Except that the elders denied your request to serve Toren as his second.” She brought her finger to the corner of her mouth. “And I seem to recall something else. Let me remember. Oh yes! You sent away the only woman in the world who tolerates you.”

His hands shook. Balling them into fists to make them stop, he struggled to remain calm.

“As I said, there is nothing to discuss.”

Juliette obviously disagreed. She walked past him, into the darkened room, and began to pace. It would appear she’d picked up the habit from his brother. Though heavy with child, Juliette seemed even fiercer than the chief.

“I disagree. So you can either speak to me about it, or I will send Toren back to plague you. And know this—neither of us will leave you alone to sulk.”

“What,” he growled, “do you wish to discuss?”

As soon as she left, Reid would take another long ride from Brockburg. He had no wish to see any of them just now. But first he had to get rid of Juliette. No easy task.

“He does not agree with their decision.”

“It does not matter.”

“Of course it matters!” If she was exasperated, he was no less so. “Toren wanted you and none other.”

“Juliette, it is done. They’ve made their decision—”

“And until a second is chosen, nothing is final.”