My poorly conceived plan was quickly dashed to pieces.
“You’re adorable, really,” he said, condescension thick in every word. Then he lifted his arms as if holding a dance partner, and began to waltz around the room, his steps graceful and dainty. “I hear your dance with Harthon at Ellan’s party was precious. I’d never have thought Harthon would be such a delicate instructor.”
He twirled, as if he had not a care in the world.
Spies. He’d had spies at Ellan’s party.
Something must have shown on my face, because he abruptly stopped his show and approached the bed. “You do know he was responsible for your parents’ deaths, no?”
The bastard. Hurt lodged anew in my chest at the reminder.
Don’t let him rattle you.
I shrugged as best I could with my arms above my head. “I’m aware of the role he played.”
“Did you find out before or after you gave him your precious little heart?”
The question hit like a slap. I’d had feelings for him, sure, but I hadn’t given Harthon myheart.It wasn’t like I’d been in…inloveor anything. Besides, how would he know? No one had ever seen us kiss.
Koerlyn was simply playing games with his words.
“I don’t see the relevance of this.”
“After, then,” he concluded pleasantly, and then he planted his hands beside my head again.
He watched me for a moment. “I don’t know,” he saidin that same amiable tone.
“Don’t know what?”
“Where she is. Your non-mother who you treat as a mother. What’s her name?”
I stared at him in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“I asked what her name is. Is that what you need me to explain?” he answered, playing dumb.
“Where is she?” I demanded.
“I don’t know. But hopefully that’ll change soon.”
Aggravation gave way to apprehension. “You have her but you don’t know where she is, or you don’t have her at all?” Tendrils of despair bloomed, wrapping around my throat as I asked the question.
“The second one.”
I’d known this was a possibility. I thought many times that Koerlyn could be playing me—leveraging my love for Merelda, luring me to him with a lie. Maybe Jac had known, or maybe he’d been fooled too. Not that it mattered now.
What mattered was that I’d willingly walked myself into Koerlyn’s hands fornothing.My limbs began to tremble at the realization.
Regret filtered in, and I quickly squashed it. I couldn’t be upset with my decision to come. I could never gamble with Merelda’s life. Koerlyn had simply guessed as much.
Hatred for him, raw and caustic, welled, and I strained against the ties at my wrists, wishing to wrap my hands around his throat and squeeze until he could no longer taunt me with his words.
“But don’t worry,” he assured, giving me a consoling look. “It’s not all a waste. We’ll find her soon, and we’ll use her to ensure your cooperation as we move forward. In the meantime, though, where is the path into the Domus?”
I shook my head, fighting the urge to spit in his face. “I can’t tell you.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Themagvisswore an oath not to tell anyone the path. That transferred to me.” I didn’t evenknowthe path, but Koerlyn didn’t know this.
