Loving Lies by Julie Kavanagh Read Free Book Online

which only added to her distress.
    “I cannot answer that but I can tell you Lord Donovan is a kind, noble man who would no more wish hurt on you than burn in the pits of fire. Sleep now; we will practise more when it is light. Melodia stood, brushing dried leaves from her gown before leaving Willow alone in the night.
    Morning came too quickly. The night had been dark and soulless and Willow couldn’t forget the man she knew she loved. Pain in her chest, tears falling from her eyes, kept her from the rest she needed. She was more tired now than she had been the previous night.
    “You didn’t sleep,” Helen stated, handing her a bowl of ripe fruit and a mug of sweet tea. Willow nodded her thanks, placing the food on the ground beside her. “You look awful.”
    “Well, thanks , H elen,” Willow snapped, most unlike herself. “I’ve been li ed to for seven years by people I trusted, acquired a husband who had abandoned me and tonight I have to battle with a cousin I didn’t know I had, for a kingdom I didn’t know existed, although I don’t want anything to do with any of it. I’d say that would make anyone look a little awful.”
    “Oh, Willow, I’m so sorry. You know I didn’t mean it like that.” Helen hesitated, “I know this can’t be easy for you but we did the very best we could. We thought Donovan was dead.”
    “He is dead to me now because I’ve seen his true worth,” Willow brushed a hand through her tangled hair. “He came back only so he could betray me to my cousin. I don’t have a hope of defeating Colson and we all know it.”
    “You mustn’t talk like that,” Helen protested but she knew, as Willow did that without her memory, without the knowledge of her past life, she couldn’t defeat the rival for her mother’s throne.
    The day was spent in pointless practise but Willow, despite the emergence of that strange blue flame, was unable to perform any mastery of magic either to defend herself or to attack Colson. The smouldering ends of Fluffy’s tail was the only product of the day’s efforts as Willow slumped defeated to the leafy ground at the base of her favourite tree. Within moments, her eyes were closed in exhausted slumber, the only peace she’d known in two days. Her arms were crossed over her chest as though she wished it were someone else who held her.
    “This is futile,” Nico rose from the black cat form, his dark face pained, his eyes cast over the woman’s sleeping body before glancing to Melodia’s serious expression, the truth dancing in the silence she offered.
    “We could take her away from here, hide her and let Colson have the crown,” Helen offered, her eyes full of the knowledge of Willow’s certain death. Colson would be cruel in his combat.
    “You cannot. It is not only Lady Willow’s life in danger. Colson has promised Donovan’s death should she flee,” Melodia told them all.
    “Who cares about him? He left her. She hates him,” Helen spat.
    “She doesn’t hate him,” Garion stepped in with a father’s awareness. “We couldn’t do that to her again. She’d never forgive us.”
    “But she’ll die, you know that. We can’t allow that to happen,” Helen sobbed, her voice breaking as the truth soaked through.
    “We have to trust the Lady,” Nico bent his head so none could see the fear etched in his cat-green eyes. “Her power is dazzling, stronger than anything Colson can invoke. We must trust she’ll remember everything she needs.”

Chapter Nine
    The night was a deep, blue velvet with stars twinkling with mischievous flare. The crowds began to arrive first from the shadows, strange folk with brightly coloured clothing and ornate hairstyles as though it was the perfect night out and they’d dressed their best for the occasion. Each of them bowed low to Willow but, apart from caustic glances, she paid them no mind.
    Magical seating formed around the edges of the wooded glade, seats soon filled by the curious arrivals. Muted