“As I keep telling you, you’ll need to be patient,” said Livia, her features taut.
Oriane scoffed. “And I’m growing tired of you saying that.” She paused, and then, “How long?”
Livia lifted her shoulder. “I can’t be certain. A week perhaps?”
“A week!” Oriane gaped at her.
“Lower your voice,” hissed Livia.
Oriane glared at her. “You cannot possibly expect me to wait that long, Livia.”
“Apologies, Oriane, but I’ve been otherwise occupied,” Livia said with biting sarcasm.
“Fine. One week. But if I find out you are lying about this, we both know what I’ll do to you.”
I didn’t hear Livia’s response to Oriane’s threat—a tap on my shoulder startled me out of my eavesdropping. I turned and found myself staring into the hazel eyes of Filip, Hugo’s guard.
“Could I have a word?” he asked. His voice was low and calm, but he looked troubled.
“Yes,” I responded apprehensively.
Turning away from Livia and Oriane, I followed him to a private corner of the hall.
“Why did you help Prince Hugo the night he was attacked?” His tone was verging on accusatory, which, in my sleep deprived state, only made me defensive.
“Because he would have died if I didn’t,” I said in a flat voice. I didn’t have the energy to feign pleasantness. Not when I found myself having to defend my actions once again.
“But he knew you were hiding something.” Not a question,a statement.
“Oh, that,” I said. “Yes, he learned my secret—I haven’t exactly remained chaste. Now don’t go spreading that around, Filip. If word gets out, I’ll know it’s you.” I wagged a finger at him.
He pierced me with his gaze. “Are you a witch?”
Clearly, he had spoken to Hugo before he was attacked.Excellent. “Yes, I’m a witch because goddess forbid a woman enjoys sex,” I snapped. “Now, if that’s all, I’ll be on my way.” I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm.
Looking unamused, he said, “Tell me honestly, are you a witch?”
“No, I am not,” I replied curtly. I yanked my arm back and made to leave.
“Wait,” he called.
Something in the way he said it gave me pause. “Why? So you can ask me if I’m responsible for the war in Anerdor too?”
“I’m sorry. I just want to find out who did this to him. Will you tell me whatever you know? Please?”
I was taken aback by the hint of anguish in his voice, the flicker of desperation in his eyes. Especially considering he didn’t strike me as the type to show emotion, based on the brief interactions I’d had with him. He must have felt tormented by his charge coming so close to being killed.
Sighing, I said, “You and I want the same thing. I want to find the murderer before they can harm anyone else.”
“Why?” At my answering glower, he added, “I mean to say that you are not from this land, nor have you been here for long, so why do you care?”
Good question.“I care because I don’t want to see another innocent life lost. I care because whoever committed those atrocities against Lord Hywell and the prince should be brought to justice. And I care because people, yourself included, havebeen wrongfully accusing me, and I’d like to clear my name. Shall I go on?”
He nodded once. “Fair enough. So, what do you know?”
I ran my fingers along my charm bracelet while I thought. I contemplated telling him nothing. Walking away and leaving him to his own devices. But the logical part of my brain intervened. I had been targeted by the murderer, with no substantial clues about their identity or what they wanted with me. If I did share something with Filip, maybe he would reciprocate and tell me something useful.
WhatcouldI tell him? I couldn’t mention the note. If I did, it would certainly result in a multitude ofwhys.
