“You have your girl, just leave.” Veramorr swallowed.
“Were you going to let her go?” Victor lowered his mouth to his ear, not taking his eyes off the other men.
Blood covered his face. His cheeks had multiple scratches, blood seeped from a gash below his eye, sliding down his chin. His one good eye was wide, unhinged with deadly intent, lethally focused.
“You’re making a mistake.”
“Were you going to let her go?” Victor repeated, pushing the blade tighter against the man’s side.
“Yes.” Veramorr reached for one of his pockets.
“Fucking liar.” In one swift move, Victor opened the man’s throat from ear to ear.
The whole room erupted into motion and sound.
“Shift!” Victor shouted and I forced my body to assume my beastly form.
Victor had already changed, he spit fire, avoiding the blade that swung just inches away from his head. With all the strength I had left, I lifted myself up toward the broken window. Behind me the room erupted in flames.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
ALINA
My heart raced as I stopped by the door that was left partially ajar. I looked into the brightly lit room before entering. It was an elegant study, filled with furniture and art. The tall windows let in sunlight that landed on the pristine, hardwood floors. The room belonged to Augusta. I was sure that she was the one who decorated it according to her taste. It was adorned with silks of soft beige and sky blue, its refinement far surpassing every other room in the palace.
Augusta was working at her fashionable, mahogany desk. Her delicate dip pen moved with soft, meticulous steadiness.
“Your Majesty?” She raised her head.
“Lady Augusta.”
“Is there something I can help you with?” She appeared composed, but more subdued than that time we spoke in the stables.
I stepped into the room, looking at the pictures in sturdy, gilded frames. Augusta patiently waited for me to start, but I was not about to put all my cards on the table. I had to be able to trust her and as things stood, I barely trusted anyone.
Slowly, I brushed my fingers against a side table, noticing that its surface was freshly dusted. Was she the kind of person who liked everything a certain way? Was she careful and calculating, or had I misread her entirely?
“I wonder when will we have the pleasure of seeing your father?” I met her gaze.
Her lips were pressed tightly together. Was she displeased about something? Was she scared?
“Unfortunately, my father’s health?—”
“Yes, I remember,” I interrupted her.
A wave of irritation arose from deep in my chest. I knew what she was doing. For some reason, her father thought that keeping us in the dark was going to work. But, playing by their rules was dangerous, especially if we did not know what game we were in.
I picked up a statuette of a dragon and traced my fingertips along its wings.
“You are the oldest child. Why didn’t he make you his heir?”
Her head snapped up, her eyes widened. I placed the figurine back on the table.
“My father had his reasons.”
“Did he prefer to grant his blessings to his son instead?”
“With all due respect, you don’t know how things are.”
