Page 59 of A Lie so Pretty and Poisonous

The implication that we were in this together made my stomach flip.

Acrion eagerly greeted me as soon as we stepped through the front of the library archway. “Lady Aurora! So happy to have you back!” He grabbed my hands in his, and I held my stony expression. The lies and embellishments he told the king made me less inclined to be warm to the ancient-looking seraph.

I pulled my hands from his. “Yes, well, lead the way, Acrion.”

He didn’t react to my demeanor and led me through the rows and stacks of books, Darragh following close behind me. After sharing a horse with him for hours, I could feel his presence near, even when I couldn’t see him.

Acrion opened the door to the same room we spoke in before, but this time, another two old seraphs sat at the table, both in deep purple robes. One scholar had completely hazy white eyes and sat passively staring at the wooden walls of the room. The other seraph scholar reminded me of a stern priest, ready to scrutinize the minute details of my life. Neither had exuded the same warmth that Acrion gave off, however artificial that may be. Both intimidated me.

“He can stay out here until we are done,” Acrion addressed only me.

“That is not happening,” Darragh growled, narrowing his eyes on the three ancient scholars.

“You don’t have a say in the matter, crossling,” Acrion sneered. “We cannot efficiently interview her with you lurking about, intimidating us, and trying to challenge our word at every turn. You wouldn’t understand because you lack the scholarly mind. Now be a good guard and stay put!” He firmly pointed to the ground.

Darragh’s eyes darkened, and he took a step toward the ancient seraph. I put myself between them, placing a hand on Darragh’s broad chest to stop him from hurting the scholar, even if Acrion did deserve it. His warmth seeped into my hand, and his heart strummed steadily.

“Acrion,” I addressed coldly. “I am happy to answer all of your questions, but I require the captain to be in the room with me.”

He opened his mouth to argue, but I raised my hand to cut him off. “I understand your concern. His Royal Highness, the king’s brother, commanded the captain not to let me out of his sight, and he is just following the commander’s orders. Would you like to explain to His Highness why you refused to allow his Captain of the Guard to fulfill his duty?”

Acrion stared at me for a moment.

“Let the crossling in, Acrion, and let’s get on with it,” the hazy-eyed scholar said.

Calling Darragh a crossling pissed me off. I wanted to unleash a barrage of unsavory words on them, telling them how I felt about their beliefs. My face warmed, but I held my tongue. The fire within me would only make matters worse and unsafe.

“Fine. But I don’t want to hear a word out of him,” Acrion grumbled. Quick as a flash, his voice changed to warm and sweet. “We are here to listen and learn from you, Lady Aurora. Thank you for indulging our insatiable need for knowledge. Your story is invaluable.”

Darragh and I sat across from all three scholars. My stomach turned. I didn’t eat before leaving in haste to get to the library before Torrish decided I was more trouble than I was worth and tossed us to the streets.

“Lady Aurora, this is Epicuro,” he gestured to the hazy-eyed scholar, “and this is Zeno,” he flourished a wave to the stern-looking scholar. “Thank you for coming in to speak with us again.”

Like I had a choice.

I would be truthful, but I wouldn’t give them anything beyond answering their questions. They didn’t deserve my stories, personal thoughts, or details of my life. They deserved to be punched by Darragh. I would keep my voice steady and emotionless. Men loved to use a woman’s emotions as a weapon to dismiss the validity of their voice. I had to disarm them.

Acrion began, “Aurora, could you please tell us about your childhood through your adult years? The highlights mostly.”

“What do you want to know?” I kept my voice dry and direct.

“Well, for starters, where did you grow up?” He asked with a smile.

“Tellisonuh City.”

Acrion continued, scribbling a quill across a roll of parchment. “You grew up in nobility?”

“Yes.”

“Your parents’ names?”

“Eliza and Fionn Alwine.” At the mention of my parents, my leg started bouncing up and down under the large table. Darragh lightly brushed my arm with his hand, unseen to the scholars. It helped anchor me.

“Do you have siblings?”

“No,” I said, maybe a tad too clipped. Keep it together, Rory.

“Let’s move on to human society in general,” Zeno gruffly pushed, but I remained silent. “What would you say are the greatest strengths of humans? I mean, we know humans are not strong in comparison to seraphs, but where do you believe humans excel?”