I shrugged. “I don’t see the harm. He seemed into it, and that could help not only our situation here but Wolf and Huntyr’s situation in the future. They need allies. I’m only doing my civil duty.”
Scoffing, he paced across the room, as if the space belonged to him. “Civil duty. That’s one way of putting it.”
“I’m sorry—are you shaming me right now? You know just as well as I do that Cornelius was falling for it. How could this possibly be a bad thing?”
“It’s a bad thing because he’s obviously hiding something.”
“So? Who isn’t? He’s a king, Jessiah! Have you ever known a king to not keep some sort of secret? Goddess above,” I huffed. “We stormed into his kingdom on our horses just a few hours ago. It would be more suspicious if he just opened up his book of secrets and let us take a look inside, don’t you think?”
He stopped and faced me. “Something isn't right. I asked about the rebellion multiple times, and he avoided the question every time.”
I lifted my chin, eyes narrowed. “Maybe he just doesn’t like you.”
“Right, perhaps you should ask him next time, just make sure you get him naked first. That way he’ll be more eager to spill all his dirty little secrets. That’s how you like to play, right?”
It could have been the wine. But his words were extra sharp tonight. The barrier I’d erected around my heart was cracking, slipping.
“Watch what you say to me, Jessiah. You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t I, though? This is your thing, isn’t it?”
“Stop.”
“You want something from him, and to get it, you’ll put on your pretty little dress and you’ll bat your eyelashes. Eventually, if you flirt enough, give him what he wants, he’ll tell you what you want to hear. Is it worth it, Rummy?” He stepped in closer. “Is it worth losing yourself to these people just to get what you want? Do you ever get fucking tired of?—”
“I said STOP!” My voice ricocheted off the stone walls around us.
Jessiah halted. So did I.
“Get out,” I ordered.
His eyes softened, but not nearly enough. “Rummy, I didn’t?—”
“I did not invite you in here, and if your goal here is solely to insult me, I’d prefer if you left. I don’t need this.”
His jaw tightened and his wings perked up. But he didn’t move.
“Did you hear me?” The back of my throat stung. Yes, it was definitely the wine. It was definitely exhaustion, the mixture of his futile words.
I couldn’t seriously be letting him get to me. I couldn’t let his words perforate the wall I’d built. “I said go.”
But Jessiah only cleared his throat. “I did not come in here to insult you. I came here to tell you that I’m going into the city tonight.”
I swallowed back tears. “What?”
“You saw the same things I did when we arrived here. There’s more going on here than we know. There has to be. If he won’t answer our questions about the rebellion, then we’ll find otherways to get them. We need to see these people firsthand so we can understand what’s causing these uprisings.”
Heart still pounding, tears still threatening, I turned away from him and stepped toward the balcony. “Fine,” I said. “I’m coming with you.”
I expected him to argue. Instead, he said, “I expected you to. That’s why I’m here. Change your clothes and meet me at the far end of the hallway. We’ll have to move quickly so we aren’t seen.”
Finally, he turned and let himself out. When the door clicked shut behind him, I took a full breath for the first time since he’d entered.
Pull yourself together, Rummy. This isn’t the time to get your feelings hurt over something the arrogant prick said. You’ve got work to do.
So I stripped the ridiculous dress off my body and put on the most practical outfit I’d brought.
And, with the buzz of wine still pulsing through my veins, I went to meet Jessiah and sneak out into the night.
