“Not accused, no. But I know you desire the tiger-shifter, and he desires you. I also know from personal experience how difficult it is to resist you, my Misha. So, I can't imagine that he hasn't tried to seduce you.”
“He has not, Your Majesty. The Garin is an honorable man.”
“Is he now?” His lips twisted.
I feigned reluctance, then said, “He did admit to me that he had an ulterior motive for enlisting my aid.”
“Oh? And what is that?”
“He wanted to get to know me better.” I shrugged as if this were a foreign concept to me. It rather was. “He said if he's to claim me, he wants to know I'm more than a pretty face.”
Nikolay laughed, low in his chest, and leaned back against the couch. “Now that, I believe. What an interesting man this Garin is. He has my court all atwitter. Half are trembling in fear and half are panting in lust. I've heard he's had several offers of companionship, but he's denied every last one.”
“He's focused on his work, Your Majesty. And, if I may be so arrogant, your offer has him focused on me as well.”
“Well, that was the point.” Nikolay licked his lips, as he often did when deep in thought.
“If you wish me to cease helping him, I will stop immediately. I only started because Lord Ilya asked me to attend his interview with him, then the Garin saw how smoothly it went with me reassuring Ilya and asked me to attend the other interviews. But—”
“No,” he cut me off. “You will keep assisting him.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to prevent myself from betraying my relief.
“But you will come to me every night and report your findings,” he went on. “Report andpay tributeto your king. I want to know what both of you are up to every day, and I want you to be reminded every night thatIam your master.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“What have you learned so far?”
“He has not reported to you?”
“Brief summations. He's holding things back. So you will be my informer, Misha. You will tell me everything. Now, what have you discovered?”
Over the years, I'd learned that the best way to lie was with the truth. So, I'd give Nikolay as much truth as I could. Hopefully, my honesty in that would cover the lie of what was really happening between Kon and me. Besides, there was no reason to hold anything back from Nikolay.
“We learned that Lord Timofey's body was moved after discovery, and it was done so under your order. However, the Garin believes you issued that order at the request of the Master Librarian.”
Nikolay straightened. “I did make that order because of Andrei's request. I thought nothing of it at the time. It seemed reasonable enough. Are you saying that he's under suspicion for it?”
“Yes, Sire. The Garin thinks Master Andrei is hiding something.”
“And if he's guilty, he's made me an accomplice by enlisting my aid to cover up his foul deeds.”
“We don't know what, if anything, he's guilty of, Your Majesty. The Garin is still gathering information. But Master Andrei is his main suspect.”
“I see.” The King rubbed a hand over his mouth and chin. “Anything else?”
“No, Sire. The interviews and inspections of the exhumed bodies have offered no additional evidence. But so far, the Garin has focused mainly on Lord Timofey's murder. He intends to start the investigation into Eva's murder tomorrow.”
“Eva was the maid?”
“Yes, Sire.”
“Very good. You will attend the Garin and watch everything he does, Misha. I want a full report tomorrow night.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” I bowed my head.
“I have found you innocent of treason; the charge is cleared.”
