“Bitch,” she seethed.
I did not know why she hated me so instantly. It was not my choice to visit the Sidhe territory. I probably wished to have been gone as much as she wanted the same of me.
“Mirror is that way.” I nodded to an area behind them where a part of the wall was decorated in a starburst pattern with broken mirror shards. She should have taken a good look at herself before she began throwing insults.
There was a momentarily sweeping silence in the room. Then the Lysian moved as quickly as the ones I had grown to know, grabbing the dinner knife from Clause’s dining set. She shoved it forward. Despite the table distance between us, a shimmering distortion flickered around me, and four blades appeared within inches of my throat. By reflex, I pushed myself from the table, the chair screeching horribly as I stood.
The knife in the Lysian’s hand vanished to the hilt, while fouridentical blades formed around me. Was it her conjuring gift? I had never seen anything like it, to take one of something and make copies of it at a distance.
Landin unsheathed his sword, rising to his feet a fraction of a second behind me. Only Edda and Clause remained seated.
If I had not moved when I did, then the Lysian would have cut me. Anger rippled through me, and power instantly ran over my skin and down my veins. It pooled in my palms, and I thrust my hand forward, shoving mist into the Lysian’s lungs. She lost hold of the blade in her hand, and it clanked on the table before her. The four knives around me disappeared. Her hands instinctually went to her throat for breath which was no longer where it should have been. She tried to gasp, but one did not come. Her hand found Clause’s shoulder, panic in her icy gaze. She was reaching to him for help.
He looked at her with a dark sparkle in his eye as she crumpled to her knees beside him. Only then did his knuckles brush over her skin, and even though I had not released my conjuring, she began coughing, gulping down one greedy breath after another.
I couldn’t help but glance at my palm, still feeling the power very much alive in my fingertips, yet the effect on the Lysian vanished. Clause may have seen a glimpse of my conjuring, but I also just caught a glimpse of his. He only had to touch her, and it completely nullified the effect of my influence on her.
“I must apologize. Mal can have quite a temper at times. She will not upset you again this evening, for she was just leaving.” His blatant excuse of her was calm, though she flinched as if he had yelled it.
Malavika stood once she regained her bearing. Her eyes met mine once more, and she snarled, her teeth flashing before she turned and left. It was impressive, for the control he had over herwas strong. Malavika did not seem like someone typically easily dismissed.
“She gets awfully spirited at times, but I would never have allowed her to truly harm you,” Clause commented, taking a sip of wine before gesturing for me to take my seat once more.
Landin looked from me to the King. A deep frown etched onto his face, and he glanced at me once more. He hated everything about what was going on, that I was being tested by someone we knew so little about, someone who likely posed a threat. His jaw clenched, and I knew that he was making a great effort not to say a word. As long as the promise Clause made was upheld, then Landin’s purpose was for moral support, not to get involved. He sheathed his sword when I gave him a small nod. However, his entire demeanor remained rigid. Following my lead, we both returned to the table, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade the entire time.
Landin’s eyes promised of death as they stared at the Sidhe King. Quick, shallow breaths caused his chest to rise and fall with furious anger. He did not like me threatened, but we also knew that the Sidhe King would likely try to see my conjuring. It was all orchestrated. Landin knew that as much as I did. His hand was in a fist under the table, and I reached for him. My touch did nothing to relax him. When his fist did not relent to allow my fingers to slip through, I withdrew from him, hoping he could keep it together just a little longer.
Clause took a single bite of chicken while his gray eyes studied me the entire time. Being under the watchful eye of a Lysian was uncomfortable, but this was so much worse. It was as if I was there merely for the purpose of him to observe and be entertained at my expense. I had the urge to gouge out those eyes so that he could no longer view me in such a superior manner.
I did not exist for his pleasure.
“So, tell me, Ariana, are the rumors true?” he asked casually. Itwas another game, he was toying with me. Giving me just enough to force me to follow. He could have been alluding to anything.
I swallowed a single red grape. It seemed the safest thing on my plate to try.
“I cannot confirm nor deny, for I do not know what rumors you speak of.” I reached for the glass of water before me, my throat incredibly dry.
A smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth. “Why, the ones that say you killed your father.”
I nearly choked on water, and he tilted his head, a full dark smile appearing on his lips.
“I can assure you that I have not killed anyone.” It was an effort to keep my jaw moving, to keep my teeth from grinding.
His gaze held mine. “But youareresponsible, are you not?”
What was I to him? A source of amusement? He invited us to this meeting, the first of its kind as far as I knew, and now he asked of such personal things. He had no right to expect an answer to such a question. I owed him no answers. Yet he, too, owed me no answers, but I refused to leave without getting some.
“I’d like to askyouof a rumor,” I said, not answering him, for two could play at this game.
“Please.” He was still smiling, gray eyes darkening.
“Do you have a Lysian by the name of Iona hidden somewhere amongst your territory?” I asked of Erik’s sister, sitting back in my seat. I would never cower to him, no matter how cold and powerful his presence was.
Edda froze mid-chew, turning her onyx eyes to me. Though she said nothing, I felt her scorn. She didn’t want me to push thehospitalityof our host.
“You intrigue me,” he said as if it were a compliment. “I swear to tell you mine if you tell me yours first.” There was a spark of enjoyment in his gaze.
A moment passed between us, a silent standoff.
