- Now we're sure of it! - Alistair declared. He looked in Rose's direction and completed. - Isn't that right?
Rose began to cry when she realized that she had been caught in a lie and ran out of the room before Alistair said something.
- How are you feeling? - he asked.
- Like I removed a weight from my shoulders, but dying of Rose's pity. - said sighing. - We've nurtured their whims for years. It was natural for her to take advantage of it someday.
- Alec's right! - said Bruce. - If we had stopped her impulses, she'd never have acted the way she did.
- I wouldn't even have as much freedom of speech as she showed I had. - Aideen amended. - Is it me or anyone else who bothers her way of addressing us?
We let out a laugh because she was right. I looked towards Aila and remembered her words in the dungeon and the way she had defended me earlier. Taking a deep breath, I walked to where she was.
- Thank you for believing in me! - he said.
- You asked me to trust you, and that's what I'm doing. - she shrugged her shoulders.
- Is that all it is? - I fired, intensifying my gaze.
Aila held her breath, but the moment she opened her mouth to say something, I stopped her. Without being able to control myself, I tied her waist and pulled her into a kiss. Take it by surprise, Aila corresponded in the same intensity when I grabbed her hair and she moaned. I heard a pigeonhole and I let her go.
- If you're ready, I'd like to talk to everyone in the central room. - Alistair said looking at us with sarcasm.
Sighing in displeasure, I broke away from Aila who laughed.
- Of course we're available to hear it, Your Majesty. - Aila said, also in a sarcastic tone. - Isn't that right, Your Highness?
Shaking my head from side to side, I held Aila's hand, which looked at me in surprise, and headed for the room that Alistair had pointed out. That promised to be a long night, and a good part of it would be my fault.
Chapter 24
Bree
- That's crazy, and it's very dangerous! - Bruce blew up hitting the table. - I will not agree to send Aileen as a lamb into that fortress.
- But I want to help! - shot Aileen standing. - I remember a little bit of that castle and I think I can guide those men inside.
She took a break.
- Bruce, my love! - she said turning around the table. - You know you can't stop me, and I don't speak like the stubborn person I am, but like the lady in Duvengard. I haven't had time to meet the fief that I'm supposed to take care of. I feel that in my position as a duchess, I have to think of the people who live there. If by my life or my death I can protect them, then so will it be.
Aileen's speech surprised everyone. No one had the courage to raise their voice to respond.
- I hate your mania for always wanting to be right and have the last word. - said Bruce smiling. - It makes me madly even more in love with you. Thank you for caring about my people.
- It's mine too. - she returned it in a soft voice.
Bruce smiled and with one hand he fixed a lock of Aileen's hair that fell on his eyes.
- I agree, but on one condition. - Bruce looked in my direction. - I will go with Aileen and be part of the group that will represent the mercenaries.
Alistair laughed looking in the direction of his cousin.
- I couldn't imagine a different situation, my cousin. - he said standing up. - Well, I guess you all agree with Aila's plan?
Everyone nodded accordingly. Alistair started distributing the orders and we redid the strategy. Everything was supposed to happen within three months, which was the deadline for my return. That would give Bruce time to get to the camp in Edinburgh and explain the orders to Keilan. They were to prepare one of the men to pass themselves off as the messenger from Ravenna and deliver the letter I had her write. Aileen will be responsible for the most dangerous part of the plan. It is she who should create the distraction that would lead others to the gears of the gate. That part of the plan worried me a lot, because she'd be face to face with Roy.
Alistair demanded that Alec be at the head of the army on the front, since he would have to stay in Dunhill to protect Aideen. The news made Alec furious, because he wanted to go with me to England. He was even more furious when I did not sketch any favorable reaction to him. I had the impression that his reaction was nothing more than a staging, but that was the Alec I knew, always exaggerated in his actions. Until the end of that night he hadn't shown up and hadn't slept next to me either. For the first time since I recognized him, I felt very lonely. It got even worse when the first rays of sunshine came at dawn, Alistair began to read Ravenna's condemnation. Aileen and I were sitting on either side of Aideen. We tried at all costs to
