“Your Majesty.” The words dropped from my lips with a bitter aftertaste as I met his eyes, my head bobbing in deference.
His hand flicked in dismissal toward the female beside me, and I felt the air chill as she left my side in another quick motion.
Keeping my head lowered in submission, my eyes darted to the sides, taking in the five—no, seven—no,nineguards were standing at attention in the room with Luc.
“Raelyna Kingsley.” My name fell off the king’s lips in a disappointed statement.
“Yes?” I lifted my head, taking in his narrowed brown eyes and onyx wings that were fully flared behind his back. Lucanus was leaning against a large oak desk, his arms folded across his chest, and one leg was crossed over the other as he waited for my undivided attention.
“I thought we had finally come to an understanding the other night,” he said, his voice devoid of emotion as his eyes pierced mine.
I swallowed thickly, the ever-present threat of what he may do to Orela stark in my mind. “We did, Your Majesty. I know we were cutting it close on timing for today’s performance, but we made it just before the set began. If we need to be even earlier in the future, I can guarantee that we will.”
His voice was a harsh laugh as he watched me, his eyes lingering over my body. “Do you truly think I would call you into my presence to discuss something as meaningless as your performance on my stage today?”
A flare of anger spiked in me at those words.
I had never wanted to be a dancer—it was one of the few career opportunities afforded to someone with such a low-caliber affinity. However, whether I wished to pursue this career or not, I liked to think that what I was doing with my life wasn’tmeaningless.
I said nothing, choosing instead to bite the inside of my lip until the taste of iron bitterly coated my tongue.
Don’t say anything.
Don’t contradict him.
Don’t argue.
Don’t say anything to disagree.
Don’t set him off.
“Not so courageous now, in the presence of your king, are you?” His words filled the otherwise silent room, and my head shot up in confusion.
“I’m sorry?” The words slipped from my lips in a confused question before I could control myself. Before I could hold my tongue.
“How long have you been allied with the Guild?” His question was a sharp demand as his eyes narrowed on me, the guards behind him shifting their hands to their firearms as they all awaited my answer.
My heart stuttered . . . then my pulse began to race as I realized the gravity of my situation.
“I-I don’t understand what you’re asking? The G-Guild? As in theAurelian Guild?”
Lucanus laughed. It was a dull, empty laugh that echoed across his office.
“You have no qualms dancing with members of the Aurelian Guild in my court, yet you’re incapable of answering a few questions about when you began working for them?”
“W-what?” The word was a question, confusion rising within me as I stared at the male I’d knownliterallysince birth.
“How long have you been working with the Guild?” Luc’s voice rose, his words shouting across the space.
I took a step forward then, red flaring in my vision at his accusation.
Weapons raised the instant I moved, guns pointed at me from all angles, and I froze instantly, fear coursing through me as I lifted my hands in surrender.
“Luc,” his name fell from my lips in terror as I stared at him, praying to whoever would hear me that he would see reason. “You have known me since we were infants . . . you’ve knownmy familyjust as long. I’ve made an unbreakable bargain with you for my sister’s protection. Do you truly think I would do something as stupid as committreasonby colluding with the Aurelian Guild?”
“I’d say that based on your own father’s act oftreason, it is not an unlikely option at all,” he answered calmly—too calmly.
“You can’t be serious right now, Luc.” My words were a sharp burst of unbridled anger. “We both know that the only reason my father wastried for treasonis because you needed to prove your loyalty to the throne. Becauseyouneeded to show you were in control. My father was a good man. A man who didn’t deserve to be killed for your political gain.”
