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Sinsorias left the apple on the ground where he’d dropped it and paced with hands behind his back. “Your husband’s little stunt last night will cost you. No one steals an item that belongs to the Sun Sovereign.” He waited for me to speak, studying me with narrow eyes.
Recalling Rafael’s words last night, I swallowed and steadied my voice. “He’s no husband to me.”
Sinsorias snorted. “Is that so? Last night you clung to him like a leech.”
“You ensorcelled me. I had no idea what I was doing.”
“Ah, but before that.”
Cheeks heating, I realized I was doing a poor job convincing this man that I hated Rafael. I’d need to get better before meeting the Sun Sovereign. “He told me he doesn’t want me.”
That part was true, anyway. And fae couldn’t lie.
The man’s head tilted. “Did he now? He said those very words?”
“Something to that effect.”
“Ah, but the wording is key.” He lifted a finger. “He wants you to think he doesn’t care for you because, my dear, he cares for you very, very much.”
My brow quirked in confusion.
Then I shook my head. This man had tricked me, spelled me, and nearly taken me captive. I couldn’t trust him. Stars, Rafael’s snap bargain hadn’t been all that different, but I’d at least agreed to it while in my right mind.
“Leave me alone.”
He nodded politely. “I shall happily wait until the dips arrive.”
“Dips?”
His smile widened maliciously. “The king’s dogs. They really like mortals. Particularly your blood. The crows sent word to the palace, and I expect them to arrive within the week.”
Dagger lifted, I bent to grab another lily.
“If you pick one of those, you must pay the price.”
“I don’t trust anything you say.” My fingers closed around a stem.
“Well, it’s your blood.”
My hand loosened. “What?”
“Picking an enchanted flower always leads to a geas. Don’t you know that?”
“A geas? Like a spell?” Plenty of stories had them. They never ended well for the people trapped by them. The man couldn’t lie outright, so I stood and left the flower in the ground. I tucked the loose one back into my hair.
“I’m expected in the stables,” I announced, stepping quickly away from the courtier.
Even when he was out of my sight, I gripped my dagger tightly, envisioning a pack of wicked dogs coming after me.
25
Talia
Rafael did his best to avoid me throughout the next week. I saw him only once, in passing, as we crossed paths inside the estate one night. I tried to stop him, but he blazed on as if he’d not even seen me. It hurt, but I ascribed his behavior to this plan of his to convince Sinsorias that we disliked each other.
At least that way, his avoidance became somewhat of a game. I saw him from a distance one night as I wandered up from the barn. He was standing in an upstairs window, watching me. I glanced around to ensure Sinsorias was nowhere in sight, then I smiled up at him.
He turned quickly away, leaving me with a sinking feeling in my chest.
