AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Your husband.”
Her lips part, and she shuffles on her dainty little feet. “I would have remembered marrying someone as handsome as you.”
I rub my chin and frown. Is this one of her deceptions?
Nothing on her features indicates that she’s lying, but Alienor is an expert of concealing the truth. Her features radiate a sweet innocence and eagerness that I’m certain is an elaborate game.
If so, I can play along.
“Oh dear,” I say with a low chuckle. “How embarrassing. I appear to have mistaken you for somebody else.”
“So, you’re married then?” She frowns.
I shake my head. “That was centuries ago. My wife is long dead.”
“Does that makes you a widower?” she asks.
Nodding, I offer her what I hope is a warm smile. I even hold my hands behind my back, so she cannot see the claws. If I succeed in my ruse, I will be the happiest man to have ever lost his wife.
“Alas, I am indeed a widower,” I lie, sounding grave. “And you bear a passing resemblance to my wife.”
The suspicion in her eyes softens, and she takes a step closer to my prison. I lean forward and inhale the faint scents of freshly sliced peaches, orange blossoms, and vanilla—scents I couldn’t pick up the night before when I tried to kill her.
Perhaps her protective magic only activates if someone tries to attack. I lean against the barrier and savor her sweet aroma.
“Will you please accept my apology and set me free?” I ask.
Her gaze sharpens, causing me to straighten. I sense no magic on her, but it’s like she’s trying to look into my soul.
Before I can persuade her further, a knock sounds on the other side of the house.
“Wait here.” Alienor puts on a robe and dashes out of the room.
I gnash my teeth. As if I could leave.
Moments later, I hear the sound of a door opening, followed by determined footsteps.
“Did you get the broomstick?” asks an impatient female voice.
“Grandma didn’t let me in the first times I visited.” Alienor replies. “Now, I’m running out of excuses to knock on her door.”
“Shit,” the other woman says. “You promised to steal it.”
Alienor hesitates. “Why do you want it so urgently?”
“It’s been over a week since you promised to get it back for me,” she snaps. “Why else would I spend half a day sweating over that stupid trap?”
Interesting. I rub my chin. Alienor still recruits others to do her dirty work.
“You owe me.” A raven-haired young woman steps into the room, wearing a floor-length black dress.She glances around with a frown. “Your locket activated. Did you fix the broken furniture by yourself?”
Alienor sweeps her arm toward where I stand. “Thanks to your trap, I caught the Boogie Man before he could smash up my things.”
The other woman glances in my direction, her gaze looking past me. My magical sigils flare.
“It’s empty,” she says.
“He’s right there. Look.” Alienor walks up to the cupboard and places her hand on the magical barrier.
