I drew in a slow breath, deliberating over what to say.“Because he murdered my family.”
My skin crawled at the quiet of the room as he said nothing.His bodyguard shifted on his feet.Valeris crossed his arms.“I’m going to need you to elaborate on that for me.”
I pulled from my past, drawing together names, weaving together both Nadiyah’s past and my own, trying to make my lies as convincing as possible.
My life depended on it.
“After the last Paravellian Balls, one of the ambassadors our kingdom made an alliance with went back on his word.He tracked us down and killed my family, tried to kill me, but my brother and I escaped.I watched my house burn to the ground with my slaughtered family inside it.All their lives erased in minutes by the flames, disappearing like the smoke.That night, I vowed to avenge their deaths, and I’ve been waiting five years to attend the Paravellian Balls again.To find him.And to kill him.”
Valeris’s mouth twitched.“You attended the last Paravellian Balls?”
“Briefly, not as much as I would have liked, but my parents thought I was too young.That’s why I don’t know who he is—because I never met him.All I know is my parents knew who it was that came to destroy us that night.”
“You think my uncle is this man?”
I shook my head.“No.I swear, we weren’t going to hurt him, we just wanted to question him.We were told he might have information on who killed my family.”
Valeris cocked his head.“That’s quite a tale you’ve told.”
He leaned forward, hands braced back on the windowsill, voice lowered as if we were sharing a secret, his intense green eyes fixed on mine.“But why am I supposed to believe any of it is true?”
Either he didn’t believe me, or he sensed the truth but was calling my bluff.I remained calm, keeping my body language and voice steady.
I shrugged.“You don’t have to believe it, but why would I continue to lie to you?”
“Is your brother head of the court in Allowyn, or was that a lie as well?”
“That part is true,” I lied.
“But that was him running away with your friend, which means you also lied about coming here alone.It’s hard to believe someone who struggles to speak the truth.What’s your friend’s purpose in all of this?The one who tried to poison my uncle?”
I pursed my lips.“Her reasons are her own.If you want to know you can ask her yourself.My brother is in love with her, which is why he wasn’t willing to let her rot in a prison cell.”
“Ahh, young love.”Valeris grabbed a chair, spinning it so the back was facing me as he sat down.He interlaced his hands on top of the chair, examining me.I struggled to not squirm beneath his scrutiny.
“Assuming everything you told meistrue, what am I supposed to do about it?Am I supposed to let you go?”
His question haunted the air like an unresolved seventh note, leaving uncertainty behind.Even if he believed me, why would he release me?He had no reason to.It offered him no benefit.I had banked on him believing my story, but I was at his mercy now.
He smiled as if reaching a decision.“I’m going to offer you a deal.”
I didn’t like deals.And I especially didn’t like the look on his face.
“I won’t mention this indiscretion to anyone,” he said.“Your poisoning friend is free to reenter the balls as long as she swears to never tamper with another’s drink again and is aware she will be under constant observation from the guards.”
I blinked, a shallow breath slipping out.
He had to be bluffing.
“Your uncle will never go along with that,” I said.
He shot me a questioning look.“I’m sorry, do you think you know my uncle better than I do?”
I kept my mouth shut.
“As I was saying.”He studied me.“I would rather seek a higher authority to throw you out, but I will allow you to remain a guest for the final three balls.I want something in return first.”
I didn’t move, fearing the prince’s sinister mind and what might come out of his mouth next.Moonlight cascaded across his dark auburn hair, his striking features possessing the ability to draw the attention of any woman, but beauty had a way of masking the true ugliness underneath.My lips pursed into a thin line.
