I dipped my head in response. “She’s very determined.”
A surprised grin lilted upward. “Well, I just continue to be surprised today,” she said with a “hmph” and a shrug. “It appears you’re doing a fantastic job of training her, then.” It was a statement laced with a subtle hint of accusation—a trap.
There was only one way to answer. “I was trained by the best. So, why wouldn’t I be?”
“Ah, yes. Smokey is quite the exceptional trainer, isn’t he?” she said, as if her own son hadn’t played a large role in my development as a Warrior. “So grateful that he chose to work for the Royal Domain,” she mused, claw-like nails lazily drawing designs on the arm of her chair.
“How long am I expected to train the princess before Smokey takes over?” I asked a bit brazenly, but I was done with her games. Even still, I maintained my calm exterior.
My aunt tilted her head to the side, scrutinizing me with pursed lips and squinted eyes. “I’m not sure yet. That’s a decision for the king to consider.”
“Of course, Aunt Amethyst,” I said, dipping my chin to stroke her ego.
Amethyst smiled wide, showcasing her perfectly straight teeth, bleached to the sun and back. It was meant to appear warm, instead of baring her teeth in pain. I didn’t think she was capable of conjuring a warm smile if her hair’s life depended on it.
“I have a question for you,” she asked, still smiling.
This was it. The assault.
“Anything, Aunt.” I kept my voice level and upbeat, appearing none the wiser of her tactic.
“Do you know anything about the disappearance of Kale Brighton?” she asked, taking another sip of her water ever so slowly, pinning me to my chair with her piercing stare as she did.
The metaphorical dagger slid into my lungs, robbing me of the ability to breathe. I clenched my jaw, maintained my easy posture, and slowly directed oxygen up my nose and down my throat.
Tilting my head, I pretended to ponder the name. “Kale? That’s the Scout, right?”
With only a lift of her brows, she gave confirmation.
“Pardon me, but I was unaware he was missing.”
“Oh, yes. It’s quite worrisome. Such a loyal Scout for the king. It would be a shame if you knew something about his disappearance and didn’t speak up about it, wouldn’t it?” she pressed, feigning her false kindness. “You know the saying.” She paused, her grin reminding me of a tiger before it pounced on its prey. “If you see something, say something, yes?”
“Oh, absolutely,” I agreed with her. Fuck, I had to keep Hazel and Chrome out of this. “And I most assuredly would if I knew anything of the matter.” I placed my hand over my chest to appear sincere.
Amethyst flicked her gaze to the gesture before twitching a brow. “Would you?”
“Without a doubt.”
The two of us remained locked in a challenging stare, daring the other to break it. She didn’t believe me, and I knew it. But there was no way I would reveal that I knew anything.
“Might I ask where you were on the afternoon of April 2nd?” she questioned, still not breaking eye contact.
“That was Thursday, right?” Shit, Chrome had been right. Only three days had passed before they started looking into Kale’s disappearance. “I was with Hazel at Centennial Park.”
“Until what time?”
“About five-thirty that evening.”
Still not breaking her stare, she studied me as she chewed her lip. “And was there anyone else with you?”
I shook my head. “No. Just the two of us, relaxing and enjoying the spring weather.”
The smile she gave me was one of pity. “Ah, I thought you might say that.”
The blood drained from my face. My aunt turned to her computer monitor, typing away and clicking the mouse excessively. It might’ve only been a minute at most, but it felt like an eternity. My mouth dried up faster than water on concrete in Georgia summers.
“Ah! Here it is,” she said under her breath before spinning the monitor around to face me.
