He wasalwaysthis man.
“One little conversation and you decided to trust me. It was so easy.” He shakes his head in mock disappointment. “I’m embarrassed for you.”
“Why Tiberius?”
“Why? Because I needed him dead, and I needed to be sitting by my father’s side while it happened, with all my most trusted people in full view.” Temper simmers in his eyes, and it’s almost as if he’s truly furious at how easy it was to manipulate me. “You didn’t even make it difficult. You’re going to have to fight harder than this if you’re going to survive here, little rabbit.”
A heavy weight settles on my chest. I loathe Rorrik, but he’s right. I was desperate to get to my brothers. I grew complacent and let it make me reckless. I know better than to trust anyone, and yet I trusted the evilest man I’ve ever met.
It was beyond stupid.
“You saw a chance, and you couldn’t help but take it.” Rorrik is still watching me intently. “For all your logic, you have problems controlling your impulses, don’t you? You caught a glimpse of a way out, and you couldn’t help but try.”
I don’t say a word, but I don’t need to.
Rorrik steps closer. “Does it hurt?” he asks, his tone curious.
I suck in a sharp, painful breath. “Does what hurt?”
“The innocent people you’ve killed in the past twelve hours. There will be more of them, you know. He’s not the only guard who was away from his post.”
I flinch, attempting to turn away, but he catches my chin, and something dark flickers in his eyes. “I saw you kill that griffon. I bet you havenightmares about it even now. You couldn’t even let a criminal die in front of you when you had the chance to save her. So tell me …” He leans closer, until his breath is cool on my face, the scent of ice stinging my nose. “Does. It. Hurt.”
My chest aches, throat so tight my voice comes out as a whisper. “Yes.”
He tips his head, satisfaction flickering in his eyes. “You’re such a perfect little victim.”
I don’t bother asking why he’s doing this. I know why Rorrik’s loathing is personal now. This is all about Tiernon. If he’d stayed away from me like Ibeggedhim to, his brother wouldn’t have turned his attention to me.
Rorrik lifts one hand, gently brushing a finger down my cheek as I tremble. “Did you truly believe someone could hide in the emperor’scloset? Do you have any idea how powerful he is?”
My cheeks burn at the derision in his voice. But he’s right. I was beyond idiotic. I was desperate and angry and impulsive. All my worst traits combining for one insane decision.
I ignored my instincts.
The moment I pulled out that cloak, some part of me knew I had done something terribly wrong.
Rorrik winks at me. “Say something, darling. Fight back.”
“What do you want me to say? You won, Rorrik.”
His eyes flare. I’m not sure if it’s the admission that he won, or my use of his name. Either way, he’s not done.
“You know I thought at any moment you were going to understand. But no. You really thought aguest roomwas the emperor’s quarters. Although I shouldn’t be surprised given the slum you grew up in.”
“You used your power to make Tiberius look like your father.” The words come out remarkably steady considering I want to heave once more.
“An easy feat for a vampire, especially one such as me.”
Blood spraying, a choked gasp, a man turning into a corpse.
Rorrik angles his head at my silence. But his eyes are sweeping greedily over my face. He’s waiting for a reaction again.
I won’t give him one.
“So what you’re saying isyouoweme,” I say.
Delight sparks in Rorrik’s eyes and he leans closer. “Excuse me?”
