A Court This Cruel & Lovely (Kingdom of Lies, #1) (116)

I held up my lantern between us. “My source insists it is.”

He rolled his eyes at my source.

I scowled at him. “I’ve been down here every night, looking for this entrance. You can dislike Lorian as much as you want—and I can’t blame you for any of it—but he helped us with this, Tibris.”

“Fine. I guess I can thank him for that at least. I wouldn’t have thought to look here.”

“Me neither. He even told me how it works.”

“You’re not an idiot, Pris. He’s playing his own game here. If he gave you any information to help you, it’s because it benefits him somehow.”

“I know. I’ve spent more time with him than you have, after all. That doesn’t mean we can’t benefit from whatever he’s up to.” I circled the stairs and crouched in front of the second step from the bottom. The catch was tiny, created to look like just another crack in the stone. Shoving my finger into that crack, I pressed on the tiny metal latch.

Tibris pulled me off the stairs, and we both watched as a door slid open. Completely silent.

We glanced at each other and stepped into the tunnel.





As usual, I made my way to Lorian’s rooms after I left the dungeon. This time, I was feeling exultant. The tunnel had led us all the way out to the main market. Just days from now, every person in the dungeon would be free.

I wanted to thank him. I knew Tibris was right. But Lorian was still helping us save the hybrids’ lives.

My power came to me easily tonight, my mind on the mercenary. Lorian had the ability to both calm me and infuriate me. Either way, he was a distraction from the way my skin constantly felt too tight in this place, and I longed to run just to burn off some of the tension that consumed me.

The moment Lorian opened his door, it was evident he was in a filthy mood. He even seemed bigger somehow, like he was done hiding away and pretending to be the prince. It was a good thing no other courtiers were in this room right now.

I opened my mouth, but he was already speaking.

“Tell me where the amulet is.”

My heart stuttered at the threat in his eyes. Once Lorian had what he wanted, he would have no reason to work with us to get the prisoners out. And we needed all the help we could get. I forced myself to raise my eyebrow with a smirk. “I don’t think so.”

“I could make you tell me.” This time, I didn’t think he was talking about the pleasurable kind of torture. I gave him the look that threat deserved.

“And I could leave you frozen at any time,” I reminded him.

“For now.” He smiled, and I barely suppressed a shiver. It was a scary smile.

Lorian had just confirmed all my suspicions. He had power, but I’d never seen it. And somehow, that power was tied to the amulet he wanted me to find. If I gave him that amulet, he could abandon all of us to our fates.

“How do I know you won’t just kill everyone?”

“Oh, Prisca,” he purred. “I would never kill you.”

He was trying to unsettle me. Trying to ensure he had the upper hand in these negotiations. Unfortunately, it was working.

The blood pounded in my ears as we stared at each other. Finally, he sighed.

“We will make a blood vow.”

My mouth dropped open, and his gaze dropped to my lips. “You’ve been spending too much time with the fae.”

He gave a languid shrug. “They taught me a few things.”

I’d heard about fae blood vows. The rumors about them had made it even to our tiny villages. The cost of breaking a blood vow was…death. If I was wrong, and the amulet wasn’t where I thought it was, I would die screaming, begging for someone to end my suffering.

But if I was right…

I knew Lorian. If he agreed to get the prisoners to the city walls, that was what he would do. He and the rest of the mercenaries. If I died, it would be because I couldn’t find the amulet. That would mean Lorian wouldn’t have whatever dark power it would give him. I’d just have to warn Tibris and Vicer about the possibility, without letting them know about the death part. If I didn’t appear, they would know to make sure the prisoners fled.

It would mean my life for over three hundred others.

A good deal.

“You look uncertain, wildcat.”

“I’m not. We’ll make the blood vow.”

He studied me. “I will trust you to get the amulet.” A flash of what might have been surprise flickered over his face at his own words. “But if you betray me…” His voice turned colder than I’d ever heard it. “None of your prisoners will live unless you give me that amulet.”

I stared at him. Sometimes I’d forget who he was, until he reminded me.

He caught my chin in his hand. “Don’t look at me like that. Lives depend on me.”

“So you’d threaten over three hundred innocents?”

He leaned closer. “In. A. Heartbeat.”

“Well.” I swallowed. “I’m glad to know where we stand. From what I’ve heard, blood vows can’t be broken anyway.”

“They can’t. But you’re sneaky. Cunning. If anyone could betray me, it would be you.”

I didn’t know if I should feel satisfied or worried about that fact. Especially when it looked like Lorian was shaken by that little admission, and his expression had turned calculating.