“A place in Lafontaine’s closest court,” she replied.
He nodded. “This is different than in the Restes, and the rules have been designed to make you fail. To everyone out there, you’re not a person. You’re a rodent best crushed beneath a heavy boot.”
Her nostrils flared.
“And you?” she asked. “What do you think of me?”
His chin snapped up.
She was standing here, inhisoffice, fillinghisspace with the smell of sugar and wine as if she didn’t know the impact she had upon him.
The animal clawed at his insides again.
“You’re to do as you’re told,” he said, ducking back behind the safety of his desk.
“If you wanted a doll you could dress up and pose, you chose the wrong girl.”
“Clearly.”
She closed her eyes as she took a deep breath.
“Why did you choose Gaetan?” she finally asked.
“He was a random pull from the few Restes Professionnelles.” The lie was too easy. “Why?”
She shrugged.
“Did you know him?” He flipped a paper absently to avoid looking too eager.
“Once,” she said. “A long time ago.”
It wasn’t a lie, not exactly, and he admired that. They both needed to do whatever it took to protect themselves from their damning pasts.
“Come down with us.”
She was waiting for a reply as if she really meant the invitation.
Laughter echoed from below as music played from a gramophone.It was likely warm down there, and he craved a glass or two of wine to calm his nerves.
No.
He grounded himself by rubbing his fingers together, feeling the grit of charcoal from where he’d already strayed too far from the path.
“No, thank you.” He sat back down.
“We’re having cake, and I—”
“I said no.” He slammed his book into the drawer. “Not with you.”
Her shoulders straightened. Any ounce of progress he’d gained with Elara was gone with one foolish outburst.
“What I meant was—”
“You don’t have to explain.” Then she dug the knife of his mistake deeper by lowering into a curtsy. “Good night, Patron.”
And she was gone, leaving Nik to his empty office.
15NIK
