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“We can’t tell anyone,” I snapped.
“Why not?”
“That witch is deadly and if we want any chance of getting real answers out of her that could help us, she has to stay alive. If anyone else knows, they’ll kill her. As I should have done.”
Her teeth ran over her lip in a moment of thought. “But what did you tell everyone happened to your parents?”
“Well, the guards that witnessed the attack either died or the few that lived were paid off. I told everyone else it was an assassin who wanted a chance at the throne.”
“I’m sorry I yelled.” Ryker combed her hand through her curls, giving them volume as she did.
“That was you yelling?” I laughed. “If that was as mad as you can get, I don’t think we’ll ever have a problem.”
Her expression didn’t change. The soberness of her apology left little room for jokes or humor.
“I’m sorry for lying. Again,” I finally responded.
“Next time I won't stick around,” she said quietly. “I won't be in a relationship with someone who can’t tell me the truth.”
“Let me make it up to you.” My lips teased at hers, our noses brushing.
The space that she occupied became empty as she yanked herself away from me. “No. No kissing me until I’m dizzy and I forget.”
“My kisses make you dizzy?”
“Stop it.” Ryker smiled slightly, though I had no doubt she meant what she said.
From now on, no matter the cost, I’ll tell the truth. Or try to. No, you’ll tell the damn truth always. Gods above, I’m so sick of arguing with myself.
“I’ll make the vow now. Truth, from now until forever.” I looked into her beautiful green eyes.
Ryker nodded and walked past me, leaving me alone by the witch’s door.
Chapter13
Milo
King Windre’s trust in me had grown from shackles and a cell, to my own room and a few hovering guards. I hadn’t a clue where Randsin was, I’d assume far away from here. But that didn’t stop me from looking. I’d called it ‘learning my way around’ and ‘interest’ in things like King Windre’s extensive book collection. Really, I was looking for the bastard who held my freedom.
My morning shower was spent washing away the sweat from scouring the courtyard. King Windre was fully committed to dropping the act and all of the interesting, and rather fun, torture devices had been removed, leaving the courtyard empty and bland. The devices were rather cool, in my own personal opinion, and added some flavor to his plain castle.
Now I was followed by the two guards who couldn’t so much as let me take a shit without their presence, and I ventured toward the dining hall for breakfast. I had nicknamed them. One was Fiddle, because his fucking nose sounded like a string quartet every time he breathed. The other, Birdie, becausehisnose looked like a bird's beak.
“Will you actually be eating with us tonight, boys?” I strolled easily down the hallway, tucking my hands into my pockets with a shrug. These men never ate, at least not that I’d seen. Come to think of it, I was not sure they even stopped to use the bathroom.
Muffled voices rose, growing louder the closer I got to the closed door that led into the dining hall. At first, I wondered if Red was throwing some sort of fit, as she had done about me being present again. Rightfully so, even if I wasn’t going to admit it to her. That Hattie girl seemed to have a lot to say, especially when it came to King Windre. Then I realized it was a chorus of voices instead of only two bickering.
“Are we having some sort of party today?” Turning my stride, I faced them as I walked backward, rubbing my hand. I didn’t hesitate as I pushed against the door with my back and fell into the commotion. Fae everywhere. Eating, laughing, and even sitting on the floor like they were having a picnic.
I’d never understand these people.
I narrowed my eyes. Every inch of my skin crawled with the need to turn and leave. No matter which way I turned there was a suffocating crowd waiting for me. The longer I looked the more I noticed leafy green skin, or fluttery ever blown hair, even ashy stained fingertips. Nymphs. Not Fae, Nymphs.
“This puts a damper on my breakfast,” I mumbled.
Uninvited shoulders bumped into me as I tried to move through the crowd to the seat I preferred at mealtimes. The closeness and insufferable smell brought back vivid memories of the day I tried out for Ottack’s guard. It created an uneasy feeling that suppressed the hunger which had brought me to this hall to begin with. Behind me, I could feel the guard’s presence as they parted the people like ships cutting through the sea.
A heavy sigh fell from me at the sight of a small Nymph woman sitting in my seat.No, no, no, this will not do.There was little here for me, in this weird realm full of weird creatures, and all that I had was that damn chair.
