Her eyes narrowed. “What about my face?”
“How you looked when I asked you if you would give me your body. No one has ever propositioned you before. Am I right?”
Miffed and furiously blushing from the invasive question, she grumbled, “Now who’s asking one question too many?”
He laughed again.
Turning to her other side, Semras tried to ignore the pounding of her heart. He was obviously toying with her. And she needed to focus on what was important rather than overthink such needless distractions.
There was a witch out there, a coven sister, who stood accused of murder. All that mattered was clearing her of charges. Semras could help her, but only if she swallowed her pride and worked with Inquisitor Velten. His own pride wouldn’t make it easy, but she didn’t have the luxury of choice concerning that either.
To save her coven sister, she’d do anything—even if it meant sleeping with the enemy.
She just … never expected to be so literal about it one day.
Chapter 06
Thesoundofpouringwater stirred Semras from sleep.
Bleary-eyed, she blinked in confusion, then jolted awake as memories of the previous night filled her mind. Her head spun toward the fireplace.
The bedroll was gone, and the desk had been cleared. Only the large bag slumped against it betrayed Inquisitor Velten had ever been here.
Semras stared at the rumpled sheets of her bed, victims of her restless night, but they revealed nothing amiss. For good measure, she discreetly sniffed the linens; they didn’t smell of musk and wood essence.
The inquisitor hadn’t approached her.
She exhaled deeply—half out of relief, half out of irritation. Her wary mind had kept her half awake all night, awaiting his inevitable betrayal with strained ears. It had been for naught.
Holding back a tired groan, Semras surveyed the room. Near the windowsill, the blonde tavern maid she had seen the prior night was filling the bathtub with steaming water.
Velten had called her … Luisa? Sara?
The maid emptied the last bucket and turned. Her hand flew to her chest. “Oh, goodness me! You are awake, miss! So sorry for the noise. I hope I didn’t disturb your rest. The inquisitor told me you’d probably want a bath, and I thought it best to get started before you’d wake up. These tubs are mighty fancy, but take a while to fill.”
Semras glanced at the bath. Pouring the water into the large copper tub must have taken the maid multiple trips. Had the poor Deprived been a witch, she’d have only needed to weave a few threads to accomplish the task.
The maid slapped her hand over her brow. “Oh, where are my manners? My name’s Pepa. Please let me know if there’s anything you need. It’ll be my pleasure to help!” Then she turned back to the bath, humming to herself as she straightened the towels hanging on its side.
Pepa? So the inquisitor hadn’t even remembered her name correctly. Semras scoffed to herself. At least she wasn’t the only woman he couldn’t recall the name of. “Thank you, Pepa. When did Vel—when did Inquisitor Velten leave?”
“Hmm, ‘bout an hour ago, I reckon? Said to wake you up if you lingered too long, but to be gentle about it.” The young woman turned to her, giggling. “He’s so thoughtful for an inquisitor. I thought they were all just old creeps who’d kick a girl out as soon as their business was done.”
The witch sat on the bedside, feet dangling just above the floor. “Their business?” she asked, confused.
The maid crossed the room to join her side. “Well, the servants of the Radiant Lord aren’treallysupposed to have fun, you know? It’s not forbidden, but they can’t get married, so imagine the scandal if one got a girl pregnant.”
She couldn’t. Very few witches chose to take their lovers as Wyrdtwined, even if they had children with them. The pain that came with losing one—to sickness, or death, or betrayal—wastoo great to endure for most witches, so choosing to partake in the sacred binding ritual was rare.
Eyeing her, Pepa whistled. “Well, well, Blessed Light! I see why he keeps you around, miss! I’d also risk excommunication for golden eyes like yours.” She tugged on Semras’ nightgown, trying to pry it over her head. “Now it makes sense why he rejected me last night.”
Semras fended off the helping hands. “I don’t need help with—what do you mean, rejected you?”
He hadn’t been joking?
Giving up, the maid stepped back. “Don’t worry. He was very courteous about it, but I wouldn’t have wasted my time had I seen you properly before. It’s obvious you’ll have no competition for his favour.”
Heat radiated from Semras’ face; Pepa thought she was Inquisitor Velten’s mistress. She knew it would happen, but it still made her unexpectedly sheepish. “That’s not—we didn’t—”
