Page 136 of Fallacies

“Wait,” I rush to his side. “You said you’d answer my questions.”

The Hound glances down at me, confused at first, and then the memory of the deal we made comes flooding back to him. “I did.” He fixes his gaze straight ahead.

“You’re going to answer them, right?” I take hurried steps to keep up with him, twigs snapping beneath my boots. “Truthfully?”

“I said I would, didn’t I?”

“Well, yes, but…” But maybe you tricked me? But surely it can’t be that easy?

Granted, burning a body in the woods with a stranger is far from easy, but still, he’s the Hound for fucks sake. He can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Who am I to think he makes honest deals?

“I’m not sure what your word is worth,” I tell him.

The Hound whirls around to face me, such intensity on his face that my mouth snaps shut.

“I’m not sure what you’ve heard about me, Lucina. Probably that I’m heartless, cruel, unforgiving…” he prattles off. “All of it is true.”

I swallow, shrinking in the shell of his stance.

“But there’s a key difference between me and your enemy. Yes, I’ve done awful things, but I do them to awful people. I am not, as you said, merciful. Not when it comes to those who don’t deserve mercy. I deflect questions because I hate liars and refuse to become one—it causes me physical pain to do so,” he grits out. “You asked me to answer honestly. That is the deal we made. So that is exactly what I will do.” He lets the statement linger for a few seconds before adding, “Do you understand?”

Something clicks.

I’m not sure what or where, but I feel pieces shifting. Gears turning. And when I manage a nod, I actually mean it. I do understand. Worse even, I think I believe him.

Somewhere between his keeping Alesi a secret, his guidance in taking down the ward, and his assistance in covering up my crime…a morsel of trust has appeared in whatever fucked up relationship we’ve formed.

But the way he spoke just then—the intensity in his voice, his stare, his expression. He didn’t want me to believe it; he needed me to.

And it worked.

The skepticism is still there, lingering in the back of my subconscious, but I do, to a certain extent…trust him.

It feels like a trick. Like he’s slipped something into my brain and orchestrated it all. But he didn’t—I don’t think. It feels too…natural.

The Hound holds my stare a moment longer before glancing in the direction of the Estate. When he looks back at me, there’s a defeated look on his face. “We don’t have time.”

“Time for what?”

He crosses the distance between us with purpose, reaching out like he’s going to grab me.

I throw my hand up between us, my previously calm heart now pounding in my chest. “What are you doing?”

“I’ll need to Snare us. We won’t make it back inside without being seen.”

My brows jump up my forehead. “You’ll need to what?”

“It’s how I got you out of the dungeon.” Before I’ve even given consent, blue smoke begins to swirl around his feet. “Just hold on.”

“Absolutely not.” I jump backwards, furiously shaking my head. “No. I hated the way that… stuff…made me feel.”

“It was your first time, and you were unprepared.”

“I’m still unprepared.”

My attention snaps to the sound of voices ahead, and he utilizes the distraction, grabbing my wrist and yanking me towards him.

“If you had a choice, Lucina, I promise I’d give it to you.”