Loving Lies by Julie Kavanagh Read Free Book Online Page A

chatter, discreet finger pointing and shrill laughter did little to quell Willow’s soaring nerves.
    “Look how they come to watch me die,” she spat coldly, reminding Nico of her mother’s tone.
    “We can leave here before anyone else arrives. We have a place you can hide until Colson forgets you exist,” he offered, watching Willow’s face for a reaction.
    “Been there, done that,” Willow snapped. “Colson will never forget. He hates me. He always has. He’ll hunt me down and kill all of you in the process.” Vestiges of memory danced through her mind; childhood glimpses of a cruel and nasty boy pulling at her hair, pinching the soft skin of her arms and the needless slaughter of a much loved cat and her tiny kittens. Colson was older and capable of so much more. Her only option was to face him, no longer caring if she lived. Donovan’s betrayal had stolen her life. What did she have without him?
    She still couldn’t remember her husband although she’d chased through her dreams in search of anything she could hold to her heart. But all thoughts previous to the last few days eluded her every effort. He would be here today, although in her enemy’s camp, but she would see him, would get to look at that beautiful man before she left this world and his forever. It was a price worth paying.
    “I’m ready,” Willow faced her father’s frightened features. She wore a long gown of the deepest emerald green, her feet bare and touching the earth’s leafy carpet. Her hair was pulled off her face, exposing wide eyes which flashed sapphire blue. “I’m not afraid,” she whispered as Garion drew her into his arms. He didn’t speak, couldn’t speak. All his fears of the last seven years had materialised and there was nothing he could do. After a quick hug from Helen, Willow stepped into the centre of the glade where Colson awaited. His hair was wet to his head, weighed down by copious handfuls of some sickly scented gel, his face pink from the addition of a thick layer of cosmetics. From afar he looked healthy, but up close he reminded Willow of a badly made-up clown.
    “I’d begun to believe you had run, like the nauseating little coward you are,” Colson hissed out of the corner of his mouth as they awaited the seating of Queen Felicity.
    “And deny you the chance of killing me? I don’t think so,” Willow murmured which did little to appease her cousin.
    “You won’t deny me that pleasure. How’s the memory?”
    “I don’t need a memory to recognise a nasty, spoiled little weasel when I see one,” she snapped back, refusing to show the fear building in her chest. “Did you leave your hound dog at home?”
    Colson smiled a cruel grin, a flash of white teeth beneath his pale lips. He spun slowly, his arms raised in praise of the audience gathered all around them and bowed slightly in appreciation of the gentle applause, before stepping closer to Willow, his lips next to her ear as he whispered.
    “So you finally gained something of your memory, but it won’t help you. Lord Donovan was so brave, offering his freedom for yours, pleading with me to spare your worthless life. It would have been amusing had it not been so nauseating.”
    “Is that your word of the week?” Willow absorbed his words, taking in the truth of Donovan’s offered sacrifice. Would a man who didn’t love her offer such a thing?
    “What?” Colson spluttered at her insolence. What had happened to the frightened girl he’d terrorised in their youth?
    “Nauseating…do you even know what it means?”
    “What?” Colson repeated, a tight knot crossing his brow but his next insult was interrupted by a fanfare of trumpets and the heralded arrival of Queen Felicity. The cousins turned in unison, their faces neutral, as the Queen and her retinue took their seats, the red velvet throne visible to all eyes.
    Felicity wore a sleek gown the same colour as her pale skin so that if one looked too fast she’d appear naked; an effect