Loving Lies by Julie Kavanagh Read Free Book Online Page B

the Queen believed enhanced her beauty. Many of her subjects would disagree but never in her hearing. It was foolish to argue with a woman so bloodthirsty.
    “Hear ye, hear ye,” a stout man in a scarlet doublet and hose rang a bell, calling for the attention of the Gathering. “Here is the time of the Gathering, the midst of the most worthy. We are gathered to witness the merging of the mighty, the champion for the crown. Our most beloved Queen has deemed this day to be her most majestic finale and commands her daughter, the Lady Willow and nephew, son of Bryon, Lord Colson to commence their long-awaited ch allenge for the right to govern the Kingdom and beyond.”
    A soft round of applause echoed around the glade, the line of the watchers etched into the distance. A slight shimmer of power flew around the edge of the glade, creating an arena and bringing about a barrier between the audience and the two waiting to do battle.
    Queen Felicity stood, her eyes raking over the figure of her only child, the disappointing daughter. Only Colson could control the land. Only her brother’s son could rule the people in the same manner as herself so she could remain, a counsellor in power at court at Colson’s side. Her future depended on Colson’s victory.
    “Let it be. Her words, although softly spoken, were heard throughout the glade. Garion held Helen’s hand tightly as he watched his youngest daughter slowly back away an equal distance from her cousin.
    Soft moonlit crossed Willow’s face; her fear apparent to all who watched but there was only one she sought, only one to give her the courage to die proudly. Was he here?
    “Prepare to die, my dear cousin. Your useless life will end shortly,” Colson mocked coldly. His arms flapped furiously about his head but ceased when he noticed Willow’s eyes searching their audience. “Missing someone?”
    “What have you done with him?” Willow drew up the last vestiges of her courage. She hadn’t asked for this, she wasn’t ready, but her thoughts were of Donovan, her husband. He mattered to her, more than she could explain, but this emotion, this heady sense of overpowering love, was more than she could contain in her slight body. It didn’t matter that she couldn’t remember him; she loved him and she hoped, she prayed he loved her too. She could die content if she knew for certain. Colson laughed, a sound that chilled Willow down to her bare feet. There was death in that sound, as he waved his hands, and she could smell the distinct odour of magic. She knew that smell, recognised the power. It dove into her heart, her head, bringing all sorts of images swirling in her mind. Most of them were of Donovan -his face gazing into hers, his mouth breaking into a warm smile and that smile was lit by the love he held in his heart for her. Only for her.
    “He loves me,” she whispered, a confirmation of the feeling building inside her chest, but the pain, the heat of the lightning bolt as it struck her stole all thoughts from her mind. She slammed into the ground, the leafy carpet the only thing to break her fall. She screamed, echoed by her sister’s cry. It was only the soft words in her ear and the strength of their father which prevented Helen from attempting the arena’s barrier.
    “Do you still live?” Colson stepped forward, his tone a mocking insult. “Yes, he still loves you even after spending seven years in the darkest pit. Nothing could destroy that love, not the beatings or the food deprivation. The fool endured everything believing you were outside my reach but even now he struggles to save you. That is my revenge; he will watch you die and live out his days alone.”
    Willow pulled her aching body to her feet, her head turning at the movement of her cousin’s hand to where Donovan stood outside the perimeter of the glade, beyond the shimmer of the magical protection. Heavy chains looped his body, his arms were tied behind his back as beefy uniformed men