Beyond: Snillotia Trilogy Book One by Donna Wagner (books you have to read TXT) 📕

room. Anna stopped in the doorway and threw her arms around Tim. Be safe and come as quickly as you can.

Promise.

Tim closed the door after her and turned to face his uncle.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“Continue your story, Uncle Ron.”

Ronnoc flinched at the use of Tim’s familiar manner. “I do wish you’d stop calling me that. My name is Ronnoc.”

All pretense of being friendly had vanished as soon as it was just the two of them. Tim was not surprised. Although Tim had felt his uncle was being truthful with some things, he sensed that he still despised his family and the Royals. Tim nodded. “Of course, we don’t know each other. I apologize,” he paused, for effect, “for reminding you that I’m related to you.”

Ronnoc narrowed his eyes. “You certainly don’t sound like a child, even if you do look like one.”

He stared at Tim, as though he were trying to look passed him, as though he guessed that there was more than what he was seeing. “I’ve had to grow up fast, what with your friends murdering my mother and all.”

Ronnoc flinched again, but his eyes softed a bit. “I’ll tell you the rest of what I was planning to tell everyone. Then you can leave, since I’m sure you’ll trust me even less.

“After your mother started at the Y and became friends with the Prince and Princess, my parents could talk of nothing else. My mother was so sure that the Price was going to fall in love with Nelle. However, now that I know of that interesting information about the Old Woman E, I realize that my mother thought this was what the “start of something wondrous” nonsense meant. I couldn’t be around them anymore. Their constant talk about the Royals made me incredibly angry. Having nowhere else to go, I stayed with some friends from the Y. Yes, the same friends who later became the Rebels. And yes, before you ask. I became a Rebel, too.”

Tim looked at him with a bored expression. “This doesn’t surprise you.”

Tim shook his head. Ronnoc looked confused. “Why?”

“Honestly? Because my mother never mentioned you. I had no idea who you were until today. If my mother had been proud of her brother, or sad that he was gone, she would have reminisced, as she did about her parents, often. She had to have known what you became, even if your parents didn’t. Also, because how else would you have been able to “save” everyone? Do you want to hear my theory?

“I believe you still are a Rebel. I believe you’re trying to gain our trust, only to find out ways to end the Royals once and for all. You and your Rebel friends found a way into the castle, with all intentions of killing whoever you found there. However, as much as you claim to hate your parents, I think it shocked you to realize they were there too. I honestly believe you thought they were dead. I wasn’t expecting to find them in the castle, either. So, you changed the plan, which means you’re pretty important. It’s the only thing that makes sense. Your house here is not more secure than all the spells that were on the castle. If those were able to be broken, any Rebel who wanted to attack here could have, unless, of course, they were given the order not to.”

“You’re right.”

Tim couldn’t hide the surprise on his face. “You’re surprised to be right?”

“No,” Tim shook his head, “I’m surprised you admitted it. I was expecting you to continue to try to convince me I’m wrong.”

“There’s no need to. However, you did get one detail wrong.”

Tim waited for him to continue. “I was a Rebel. I still am. However, I’ve been also working to shut them down from the inside.”

Tim looked at him skeptically. Ronnoc went on to explain. “I believe that others should have the chance to rule, that it shouldn’t just be because you’re born into a certain family. However, I never wanted anyone to die. I was happy when my sister escaped with your father. I was happy we couldn’t get into the castle for years. When I realized that there were people like Aaron- people who didn’t even care about the original reasons for becoming a Rebel- people who just liked violence, I started taking notice of some of the activities I wasn’t involved in. When Aaron ordered my sister’s murder, it was the final straw. I knew then that the Rebels were no longer the group I joined years ago, or even the group that did fight to remove the Royals from power. I want to help you, Tim. I want to defeat the Rebels. I can help you by giving you inside information.”

“I’ll have to think about it. You say you want to help me, but you can’t help but sneer when you talk about the Royals. My mother may have been your sister, but my father was the Prince. I am a Royal. I am who you seem to hate. I will take what you have said into consideration. I will share it with everyone. I will get their input. I know where to find you.”

Tim turned toward the door to leave. “If I wasn’t willing to help you, would I really let you leave?”

“If you were trying to convince me, yes, you would.”

Before Tim could open the door, Retep rushed into the room. “Wait!”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Tim waited, partially shocked that Retep had even spoken. It hadn’t seemed as if his cousin actually had it in him to speak up without being spoken to first, based on Tim’s first impression of him. Again, Tim was surprised when Retep walked past his father and right up to him. “I know your secret,” Retep whispered quickly and quietly, “I don’t freeze.”

Tim’s eyes widened. “I want to go with you,” Retep stated, loud enough for his father to hear.

Tim paused