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I pursed my lips. “Not particularly.”
“You are a smart girl.” His eyes fell pointedly to my neck. “I’m sure you can figure it out.”
I bristled, imagining an axe being swung back before it was brought down on my—nope. Didn’t like that idea.
His brown eyes looked into mine. “If you answer my questions with honesty, I will ensure you leave this place without a silky, white hair out of place.” His fingers captured a ribbon of hair before he tossed it to the side. “If you continue to lie, then I will be forced to take you back to the castle, where I will utilizeothermeans to loosen your tongue. So you see, I have given you a choice. Which of the two will it be?”
Some choice.
As much as I wanted to pay a long, overdue visit to the king, I was running low on time, and so I answered with a sigh. “Okay, fine. I drugged you with a truth serum. But it was not my intention to hurt you. I was not aware what the other side effects would be. I know now because, in the process, I accidentally drugged myself.”
“A truth serum?” he repeated, processing. Then he—he chuckled.
Well, I certainly was not expecting that response.
“That is rather ironic,” he muttered under his breath. His gaze shifted back to me. “You gave me a truth serum, which implies you are looking for information . . . What do you want to know?”
“I need to know where the conscripted are being sent,” I said, hoping he didn’t pry any further.
“Why? Do you have asuitorthat was conscripted?” he asked curiously.
The question felt out of place, like he was fishing for relationship status more than anything. I didn’t like the intrusion into my personal life, no more than I liked the sheer cloth they made me wear earlier. I felt a slight thankfulness for Von and his departure gift.
I shook my head. “No.”
“Another lie,” he hissed as if I had scalded him with hot water. He pulled his hands from the chair and started to walk to the door. I knew what waited on the other side.
“Wait. I wasn’t lying. It’s my brother,” I disclosed swiftly, amazed at how fast he was at detecting my half-truths.
He came to a quick stop. “Abloodbrother?”
I did not understand why it mattered, but I answered anyway, “No, but a brother, nonetheless.”
“What do you intend to do with the information should you have it?”
I ripped the bandage off and the truth came oozing out. “I’m going to break him out.”
“And you intend to do this on your own?” he said, although it felt like he already knew the answer.
“Yes.”
“Tsk, tsk, another lie,” he replied in an almost teasing tone. There was a brief exchange of silence before he looked at me and said, “I would like to make you a deal.”
“A deal?” I asked. This sounded vaguely familiar.
He nodded. “Yes, a deal. You give me the name of your brother, the place where he was conscripted, and I will find where he has been stationed. It may take me a few days.” He waved his hand, dismissing the last detail. “Semantics. I will find the information you seek.”
Hearing compared to believing was as stark a contrast as day and night. Everything I had done since I left Meristone, although it had not always gone as planned, all of it had led up to this exact moment. He was going to find where Kaleb was, and although I should feel happy, relieved, or something in between, I was far from it. Because one question clouded my victory—why would the king’s advisor, of all people, help me?
I swallowed hard, ignoring the rising nausea. “What do you want in exchange?”
He flashed his perfect white teeth. “I would like to court you.”
The mansion was quiet tonight. Soren, Lyra, and Ryker had gone to bed hours ago, and, as per usual, Von was nowhere to be seen.
Harper and I sat at the kitchen island, fork deep in a strawberry cake.
I inhaled the smell of sweet cream butter, smooth vanilla, and humble notes of strawberry. Lyra had made it this morning and it was nearly gone. Three quarters of it were left—before Harper and I found it tonight, which meant we were the reason for its quick departure from this world.
