"Take your hand off me."
"You think you have a choice?" He leans closer, his breath hot against my face. "If the council investigates, they'll strip you of everything. Your estate, your position, your wealth. You'll be ruined."
"And if I comply? Get rid of Oliver?" The words taste bitter as they leave my mouth.
"Then this stays between us. I'll make sure the rumors die. And perhaps..." His free hand comes up to cup my face. "Perhaps we can discuss a more appropriate arrangement. You and I. A courtship. Marriage, even."
Disgust roils through me. "You're blackmailing me into marriage?"
"I'm offering you a way out. A way to salvage your reputation and secure your future." His thumb brushes my cheek. "I've wanted you for years, Primsyn. I would have been a far better husband than that impotent fool you were bound to."
I jerk away from his touch. "Get out of my house."
"Not until you agree to my terms." His expression hardens. "Dispose of the human and accept my courtship, or face the council's judgment. Those are your options."
My mind races. If he brings this to the council, I'll lose everything. The estate, my independence, possibly even my freedom. But if I agree, if I let Oliver be taken away or killed...
I can't. I won't.
"I need time," I say. "To make arrangements. To handle things."
Thrain studies me, suspicious. "How much time?"
"A few days."
"You have until tomorrow evening." He moves toward the door. "And Primsyn? I'll be watching. If I hear even a whisper of you going to that human's quarters, our deal is terminated."
He leaves, and I sink into my chair, shaking.
What am I going to do?
I need to see Oliver. I need to warn him. But Thrain said he'd be watching.
Corvask enters after a soft knock at my door, his face grim. "I heard raised voices, Madam. Is everything?—"
"Send for Oliver," I interrupt. "Bring him here. Now. Use the servants' corridors and be discreet."
"Madam, if Councilman Thrain?—"
"Just bring him to me, Corvask. Please."
He bows and leaves. I pace my study, my mind spinning with impossible choices. How do I protect Oliver? How do I protect myself? How do we get out of this?
Ten minutes later, Oliver enters through the servants' entrance. He takes one look at my face, and his expression darkens.
"What happened?"
Oliver
The moment I see her,I know something's wrong. Primsyn looks shaken, her usual composure cracked, her hands trembling as she closes the door behind me.
"Primsyn, what's going on?"
She doesn't answer right away. Just moves to me, her arms wrapping around my waist, her face pressing against my chest. I hold her, confused and increasingly worried.
"Talk to me," I murmur into her hair.
"Councilman Thrain was here." Her voice is muffled against my shirt. "He knows about us."
