“Why should I do that?” she asked. Ah, the girl was no fool. She already knew about Rylo’s ability to pull uncomfortable secrets and truths from her through food and drink.
“You may pour your own tea. What is your name, pet?”
The tightness in her face grew. “I’m not your pet! You haven’t even bothered to learn my name, King Rylo?” Her tone was sharp, like a knife’s blade.
Rylo shrugged and turned to his library. “It was of little consequence to me what your name was, and I haven’t had reason to learn it until you unceremoniously launched yourselfoff a cliff. Come inside and warm up, or stay out in the cold. The choice is yours, although I’d rather not make a servant nurse you back to health when you’re sick.”
He heard her slight footsteps behind him as she followed him into the room. She sat across from him in the same seat that her sister occupied only a little over a week ago. He gave an amused grin when the teapot appeared on the table. One of the greatest perks of his home was the way the Tower responded to his needs. The look of surprise on the girl’s face delighted him.
“Your name, witch,” Rylo said as he poured himself a cup of tea.
“It’s strange being called a witch when less than a week ago I’d thought witches were only things in stories and Halloween costumes. I once dressed up like a witch for Halloween in college.” She shook her head, lost in her own thoughts, before turning to pour herself a cup of tea.
“I’m beginning to wonder if you even have a name. Should I call you ‘Avery’s sister’ or perhaps ‘pet’ would do.”
She rattled the tea cup as he called her that. He loved to see her composure slide a bit. “Kingslayer has a nice ring to it. Maybe you’ll be next,” she said in mock sweetness.
“Perhaps I should pour a bit of that tea for you so I can learn all your little secrets, Kingslayer. Like why you had that weapon on you. I had it delivered to the Tower of Teeth and used on a particularly vexing prisoner. It was an interesting way to learn how it worked, with the brains and bits of bone of the prisoner splattering the wall. How did you come into possession of such a weapon?”
The woman just looked around the room, not answering him. She didn’t even seem particularly phased by his description of the death of the prisoner. But no matter, he didn’t need to know any of this. She’d already interrupted a perfectly relaxingmorning and he may as well have a bit of fun seeing how far he could push this woman.
Finally she said in a soft, cool voice. “It’s a gun and I’d like it back. Now, take me back to my room. Avery’s probably panicking by now.”
“You are much more interesting than your sister,” Rylo said with a laugh.
“I think you’re the first person to say that to me.” She stood and headed toward the door, but Rylo stopped her.
“I’ll fly you down,” Rylo said as he grasped her wrist.
“I’d rather walk,” she said, tugging herself from his reach.
“I insist, pet.” He pulled her into his arms. She was all skin and bones, nearly no muscle to her and he briefly wondered if she was getting enough to eat. They leapt into the air as she continued to struggle in his arms.
Once they were airborne, he felt the tendrils of her dark shadows snake around his wings. The pressure of the shadows grew tighter as the woman’s expression hardened.
“I didn’t want to go with you!” she shouted.
Rylo felt a mounting panic in his chest as he pressed against the tethers on his wings, but still they wouldn’t be released.
Down they plummeted toward the ground, picking up speed as the darkness entangled his wings. “Stop woman!” he shouted, real panic like he hadn’t experienced in years began to build. She was going to smash him into the ground. He’d been a fool to think this kingslayer would stop at Jasper.
The rocky outcropping along the side of the Tower of the Moon was quickly approaching, and yet he could do nothing to uncoil her dark tendrils or slow their speed. His back muscles screamed in effort as he tried to work her magical bindings off him. The entire time the woman smiled at him like a cat toying with a mouse, delighted with herself.
Morgan. The damn woman was named Morgan.
“Now Morgan! Release me now.” He put a honey-coated glamour into his voice and his wings sprang outward, slowing their speed merely feet from the rocky earth.
She began laughing with hysterics that made his heart speed up as he set her feet on the ground. On and on she laughed, shaking through what must be mild shock.
“Stop!” Rylo shouted, but the laughter continued. Putting glamour back into his voice, he ordered Morgan to stop laughing, but the small woman seemed to be beyond reason.
He couldn’t stand the shrill sound of it and he struck her hard in the face. Immediately, her lip began to swell and bleed. The laughter ceased, and Rylo saw a strange gleam in her green eyes.
She grinned up at him, blood dripping across straight teeth. “Don’t forget my name next time, asshole.”
Avery
By the time Avery had run back up the stairs to Rylo’s library, the only place she thought to look for him, her sister was gone. Rylo sat back in his chair, casually drinking a steaming cup of tea.
