There was a small sound from my right.
"As ever, you are right, Lady," Don said. "I'll take my leave."
Again, silence descended as the door opened and closed.
A heavy sigh came. "I am sorry, cousin. This wasn't my intent."
Travis's voice gentled. "It’s not entirely your fault. I know full well how stubborn and head strong she can be. I should have warned you."
Clothing rustled and Callie's face came into view, her eyes earnest, holding a kindness I hadn't expected in an assassin. She looked down at me. "I hope you can do this. If you can't we have no choice but to do it the twins' way. You won’t like that option. I can promise you that."
How exactly was I supposed to do what they were expecting?
Every other time I'd broken an enchantment, I'd been looking at the enchanted thing. If I couldn't move, I couldn't see myself. That left me with nothing to unravel.
"Good luck, Aileen, daughter of Brin. I wish you well."
Callie left the room.
By my count that left only the captain and the twins.
Hands took my shoulders, shifting me so I had a better view of the room. Mostly of the upper half of the wall and part of the ceiling, but considering what I'd been staring at, it was an improvement. At least I could see a bright red drape out of the corner of my eye, the color welcome after bland grays.
Wry disbelief curved Travis's mouth as he shook his head. "You've certainly made a mess, sergeant."
Yeah, because this was all my fault.
He reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I really wish you'd listened to me when I told you to avoid the vampires. We wouldn't now be in this predicament."
He tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling, his expression weary. "I know you're not going to understand my reasoning. I don't expect you too. You've barely occupied a blip of time. You can't know what it's like to be us."
What I wouldn't give to be able to roll my eyes.
If he hoped this would cool some of my anger, he'd sorely miscalculated. Listening to his excuses and platitudes made me even more bloodthirsty than before.
His laugh was little more than a puff of air. "You're so very like him."
His gaze went distant, nostalgia settling on his features. He shook himself and reached for me, lowering me back into my previous position.
"If he'd done his duty and given me the crown, none of this would be necessary. So, you see, Aileen, the one you should blame is your father."
I didn't know what he was talking about, and I didn't care. More excuses. The man had a silver tongue and liked to wield it to assuage his own conscience.
"I don't really care if you break free on your own or not," Travis confessed. "All I care about are the end results. Try not to disappoint me, sergeant."
Quiet followed, marred only by the opening of the door.
"Oh, Aileen, one last thing," Travis said, pausing. "Right now, you're telling yourself you'll never help me. I want to remind you; eternity is a very long time—and pain is a powerful motivator."
A threat. Not even a subtle one.
I guess we were past the point where he needed to pretend to be on my side.
Oddly enough, I preferred this version of him. At least now I knew what and who he was—the coward who would stick the knife in your back if given half the chance.
The twins whistled. "That one has always been a bit two-faced. Few ever see it. You must have annoyed him."
"He did always get angry when people destroyed his precious plans," the other twin said.
