Yeah, in a dream world. That Paris didn’t exist. That Paris was too busy dripping with shame, constantly tempted by the call of forbidden desire.
Give me all the bites of the naughtiest fruit…
Ugh.
I took Jon’s hand.
“Thanks,” I said, brushing myself down, grateful for the help to get vertical again.
“No worries. So, how we getting out of here? Because I’m not giving up.”
I glanced left and right, hearing a guy call out somewhere close by, a lot more panicked than the other voices.
“I’m here!” Jon bellowed.
The other guy didn’t respond.
The merman tried again, even banged on a wall with his fists. “Martin! Follow my voice! I’m here!” He blew out a frustrated breath. “He sounds so close. Can’t he hear me?”
Fuck this. “I don’t know,” I answered, “but you have to listen to me. There’s no escaping this place, no matter how positive you are.” I smeared on more of the ugly truth. “You’re trapped, they’re trapped, and now I’m trapped. This is the palace’s defense system. I think this is where Glenda Green died.”
His eyes widened. “For real?”
I didn’t know for sure, and maybe Silvanus would never tell me. But I had a hunch the legendary, and missing, executioner died in these corridors.
“Think so, yeah,” I said.
He frowned at me. “I don’t believe you.”
“That’s up to you.” I shrugged, which felt like a bit of a dick move.
“Why are you here with me if it’s so dangerous?” he questioned. “To die with me? Take me out quickly.” His eyes widened. “Hold on. That’s it. The king’s little puppet is here to kill me.” He chortled, shaking his head. “I’m an idiot.” He pointed his stakeblade at me. “We’ll see how far you get.”
“What—”
He lunged at me, taking a swipe. The tip of his weapon sliced through the air, inches away from my face.
Whoa! That could have been one nasty cut.
“Listen to me!” I yelled without anything on hand to cool the situation with.
Other than an uppercut, of course.
He came at me again, stabbing at my belly. I hit the floor just in time, rolling out of the way, and sprang back to my feet.
He growled, charging full throttle before I could even take a breath. I twirled out of his trajectory, the crystal dagger appearing.
“What in Aidan’s name is that?” he spat.
Ah, now then. What if I started singing? He’d see the truth, right?
His eyes fixated on my weapon. “Where did you get that?” he asked, his tone cooling with curiosity.
I held it up, the crystal heart above the handle glinting in the scarlet light. “Do you know what this is?”
He swallowed, tugging on his jacket collar. “It’s not possible.”
“What isn’t?”
