Two things I did remember…
The woman who birthed me had said her family was killed because of a magic they carried.
And she’d said I would be killed if that magic were revealed in me.
I would need air soon, but I didn’t want to leave the water and the safety of its embrace. I lingered another moment, then I broke the top of the water and gasped, relieved to see that Narine had left me to myself. Clean clothes lay folded on the chair in front of the window.
This might be the last bath I ever took. King Valdren did me a small kindness in letting me clean up before my interrogation, but I knew what I was about to walk into. The king could smell a lie, and so this interrogation was going to be a truth bomb of epic proportions that would no doubt get me killed.
I only had one thing he desired, and that was my womb, so I needed to hope like Hades that he really wanted an heir that badly, and promote my child-rearing powers lest my life end today.
It was time to take my mother’s advice and make him fall in love with me. Whether it was possible or not.
When I stepped out of the washroom, Narine looked right at my unbuttoned tunic and a slight smirk graced her lips. I’d left it open just enough to give a hint of my cleavage. I also kept my hair down in loose waves, as I had heard men at the tavern say they liked that once. I wasn’t proud of what I was doing, but I was desperate enough to do it. I needed the king to see me as more than a threat, which was all I was to him now.
A king killer.
Especially after hearing Narine’s story. If that was true, and my great-great grandmother nearly killed off all of his clan, then I was in grave danger.
I waved goodbye to Narine and she gave me an anxious smile of encouragement. Regina stood, her face devoid of all emotion as she gestured for me to walk with her. I needed allies if I was going to save my life, and Regina had been kind to me before.
“Treason for having wings? How is that possible? I didn’t even know I could do that until he put me through that test,” I told her as we left my rooms.
She kept her head forward and said nothing.
“Did he tell you what I did at Gypsy Rock? That I rode on his back and killed a warrior from Nightfall? I protected him!” I yelled.
She stopped, turning to face me, and my heart hammered in my throat.
“I’ve fought beside the king in many battles. He is a just man who does not make irrational decisions. I trust that he has his reasons for your… treatment.” She then resumed walking.
Okay, that wasn’t exactly a declaration of becoming my ally, but I would take it.
It was a long walk to the torture room or whatever place they were taking me. We passed a library, kitchens, two training rooms, and finally made it to a set of double doors.
I released a shaky breath as Regina reached out and knocked.
I turned to her, suddenly desperate. “If he kills me, tell my mother and Adaline that I love them.”
She looked stricken, as if the idea that the king would kill me was preposterous. But I was just imprisoned for the last twenty-four hours and now I was being questioned for treason, so she nodded, and then the door opened.
The king stood there in full battle armor, his jaw clenched. “Thank you, Regina. You may wait out here.”
She nodded. “Yes, my lord.”
He opened the door wide. Behind him, I saw a single chair sitting in the middle of the room. A small whimper escaped me and I swallowed it down, stepping inside. The door closed behind me and I peered around wildly. There were no windows, only four sconces on the walls that burned with orange dragon fire.
“Sit,” he commanded, and I swallowed hard, taking my seat.
I looked up to face him and he walked towards me, his face bathed in the orange glow of the flames. He didn’t look as mad as I expected, more curious.
When his eyes fell to my open tunic, I couldn’t help but feel a small internal victory. Stepping right up to me, he reached out and I stilled. Grasping my tunic, he began to button it up.
“Nice try, but it will take more than a beautiful woman to distract me,” he said, and then dropped the shirt back down to my chest.
My cheeks burned with embarrassment. He knew what my plan was?
Did he just call me beautiful?
“Let’s get this over with. I’ve done nothing wrong.” I crossed my arms and glared at him. I would never forget that he’d made me use a bed pan over the last twenty-four hours like a sick patient!
He stood before me, towering over me.
“I’ll determine that.” His eyes flashed yellow. “Now, tell me everything you know about your power, and if you do not lie I may be able to repair my broken trust with you.”