Instead, he closes in on me with long, confident strides.
I have to turn to follow his movements, leaving me with my back uncomfortably close to the table as he approaches. Ipretend to be unbothered by it, hoisting myself up on the table’s edge and casually crossing my legs.
“I want to hear you say it out loud,” he says, planting a hand on either side of me, mirroring my attempt at casualness. “Why don’t you tell me what you’re going to do to me if I don’t cower before you and your demands?”
“If we aren’t making civilized deals any longer, then don’t expect me to keep behaving.”
“Is that what you’re doing right now?” His brows lift. “Behaving?”
“Trust me when I tell you I can be so much worse. And if I have nothing to lose, then I have no problem dragging us both down to hell when I go.”
“I know my way around that place well enough.”
“Not as well as I do.” My gaze darts toward a knife close to his left hand.
Another soft, taunting little laugh. “Go ahead. Grab it.”
I do, mostly because he clearly thinks Iwon’t. A hint of shock flashes in his eyes, followed by a sharp inhale as I whip the blade straight toward him, settling the tip of it against the hollow of his throat.
“…Your hand is impressively steady,” he says, quickly composing himself. “This isn’t the first time you’ve held a knife to a man’s throat, I take it.”
“And it likely won’t be the last.”
His smile turns savage, his eyes lighting with what almost looks like achallenge.
If he had any idea how many times I’d fantasized about slitting his throat, he wouldn’t be encouraging me right now.
He leans a little closer, close enough that I can taste the hint of sugar and citrus on his breath when he murmurs, “I have overlooked your defiance more than once, partlybecause I find itamusing, how unaware you are about who holds the power between us. I’ve shown exceptional grace toward you and your smart little mouth?—”
I dig the knife into his skin, cutting him off. “Playing games and stringing me along for your entertainment doesn’t make you a gracious man.” My voice is low, venomous.
“No,” he agrees, matching my tone. “It doesn’t. Far from it. Then again, I’m not really interested in leaving a legacy ofgrace.” The knife bobs as he leans even closer, and my steady hand gives just an inch.
I don’t know why, but I hear myself whisper, “Whatareyou interested in, Your Majesty?”
His gaze dips from mine for a heartbeat. I don’t dare to follow it, to try and guess at what he’s looking at.
I open my mouth to speak only to be interrupted by footsteps, followed by a gasp and the sound of someone hurrying away—an unsuspecting servant, I assume.
I look toward the noise for only an instant.
The king doesn’t need longer than this to make his move; he grabs my wrist, pinning my knife-wielding hand at an awkward angle behind my back.
“I want the same thing I’ve wanted since we met,” he says. “Your cooperation.”
“I find myself feeling lesscooperativewith every passing moment of this conversation,” I snarl.
His hand moves against mine, fingers carefully prying my grip apart. “Consider yourself fortunate that I’m giving you a choice in the matter—and that I’ve been reining my power in since the moment we met.” He wrests the knife from my hold and slides it down the table, far out of reach. “But don’t thinkfor asecondthat I would be afraid to wield that power if necessary.”
“I think you need me more than you’re letting on,” I counter. “So what power do you truly have over me, in the end?”
He leans back slightly, studying my face. I use the opportunity to slip out from under him, hopping down and putting plenty of space between us. He gives only a slight turn of his head, watching me closely but not following.
“Let my friend go, or we’re finished. And yes, you can kill me for not cooperatingif you like—I don’t care. But I thinkyoumight care. So I believe it’s your move, Your Majesty.” I help myself to one of the crescents cooling on the nearby tray, taking a bite and savoring the buttery layers while I wait for his reply.
He doesn’t give one.
Flashing a triumphant little smile, I walk away, leaving him speechless.
