I waved a hand at the man lying at my feet. “I don’t know much about your magic, but you work on the dead. Is there anything you can do here?”
An instant shake of his head. “I can’t resurrect the dead, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Can your magic do anything to help us find his killer?”
“No, your majesty. My magic specifically deals with the power of the dead. It wouldn’t help you here in any way.”
I swallowed and nodded once. “All right. You can go hide in the shadows again, if you wish.”
“Actually, I thought I’d leave. I shouldn’t be here listening in on what you discuss confidentially.”
I quirked one eyebrow, not feeling much of anything right now. “Afraid you’ll overhear something that makes you dead, too?”
“Something like that, your majesty.” He dipped his head to me and then bowed deeply to the king standing between us. “My king, may I leave this death trap?”
All right.
He didn’t always know when to keep his mouth shut.
“You may, but sign that document on the bar before you run. It proves you were a witness to the new laws.” King Belshazzar flicked his wrist. “And be out of this stronghold by tonight.”
“Yes, your majesty.” The druid signed his name quickly on the sheet and then shut the front door silently behind him as he left.
Out of the corner of my eye, I peeked at my father.
He swiftly jerked his eyes away from King Belshazzar and back down to the dead. His lips thinned, but he didn’t speak again.
I turned to face him. “Lord Cato, who are all of the individuals who have seen that list you created of my lovers?”
My father’s mouth thinned even further. “Only the people in this room. And Joshua.”
I inhaled slowly and turned to my lover. I peered up into his cold,coldice blue gaze. My eyes ticked back and forth between his, waiting for…anything.
King Belshazzar merely stared down at me.
And it was his lack of emotion that told me the truth.
Anytime I was upset, he comforted me.
This time…nothing. If anything, he’d been gruff.
I asked, “Why?”
One word. Such a simple word to say, too.
But it was never so simple to answer.
King Belshazzar’s lips pulled away from his teeth, and he flashed his fangs.Therewas the emotion. He snarled with wrath, “You aren’t ready to know yet.”
My eyes perused his furious features slowly. “And that pisses you off?”
“No, I can wait for you to be ready,” he hissed. “You crying overLord Pippinpissed me off.”
I stared, seething.
He peered down his nose. “And there will be no evidence linking me to his death, either.”
Proud. He looked fuckingproud.
