“You speak a traitor’s words.”
She stuck her chin out. “Or a hero’s.”
“I’ve tried it your way before, Rylla, or do you forget?” He stepped toward his sister. She shrank at his approach, though she didn’t back away from him. “Surely even you cannot forget our father’s head falling from the block, or mother’s screams as they pushed her down beside his bleeding body. The King’s mercy kept you alive, sister, nothing more. Next time you ask this of me, imagine your children’s faces as they watch their mother die, knowing they’ll soon find their turn.”
Rylla dropped her gaze. Her chest rose and fell, and the hiss of her breath echoed through the chamber.
“Leave the revolution to others.” Dray held out his arm as a knight would offer a lady. “I’ve lost enough already.”
Rylla’s hand shook, but she perched it on Dray’s elbow. He led her back the way we’d come, and I scrambled to the bars to watch with a thousand questions I couldn’t ask burning my lips.
Rylla turned back and caught my eyes. She shook her head in a universalI’m sorrysignal. They quickly faded from view.
I looked around the meager cell. A makeshift cot with a threadbare blanket. An iron bucket settled in one corner. No food, no water, no windows. I sank against the cot and closed my eyes, pretending the soft clatter against the stones was rain from outside, and not the tiny scratching of rats’ feet.
I couldn’t bring myself to despair yet. I knew Dray would be back for me. That final glance told me as much. And when he came, I’d be ready to steal my orb and finally break this damn curse.
Chapter Seven
The constant torchlight refused to identify daytime from the night, but it hadn’t felt long before the scratch of familiar footsteps on stone floors woke me from my light slumber. I shot up in the cot and scrambled to my feet.
I knew why he came, and my treacherous body already hummed in anticipation. This time, though, I had a different plan.
I needed Dray to remove the satchel and give me time to find the orb. Bouncing from town to town avoiding the Curse Catchers gave me plenty of experience with men. They may not understand the most witty phrases, but they all understood what a naked woman wanted.
And their clothes tended to quickly follow.
My heart pounded as his steps grew near. A lot hinged on Dray’s reaction to my approach. If he became suspicious or arrived angry, my plan may dissolve immediately.
His shadow covered the torch, then he appeared in front of my cell and paused. He looked me up and down, and his brow creased at whatever he saw on my face.
“I expected to have to wake you,” he said.
I forced a slow smile over my lips. I let my fingers dance along the edge of the borrowed tunic, and slowly drew the hem up my stomach.
Warmth filled my core. I’d expected this to be a grueling task of necessity to break the curse. Surprised highlighted my cheeks as I realized my body longed for him.
I pulled the tunic over my head. Dray’s veiled gaze roamed over my flesh, hungrily consuming the view of my exposed breasts.
He ran one hand over his mouth. “Seduction will not save you from the King’s decree.”
I dropped my head, feigning embarrassment. I pulled the shirt against my chest, and turned my back, hiding from the Reaper’s view. He needed to think he’d caught my scheme, and not suspect I planned another.
The iron gate shrieked open, as I hoped it would. I fought to hide my smug smile.
Dray caught my arms. He pried them from my chest and squeezed my wrists until I dropped the shirt.
“Do not hide yourself from me,” he said. His smokey smell wrapped around me.
The metal on his armor turned fluid. A flash of adrenaline seeped into my veins. I needed my hands to remain free, which would be impossible if he bound me.
I turned in his embrace and pressed my breasts against him. His eyebrows raised, but the Reaper said nothing. I loosened the belt and let the borrowed breeches slip to the ground. Modesty didn’t have space between us anymore.
The air slipped over my nude body. He hadn’t left me any undergarments to worry about. I tried to convince myself this plan benefited my ability to break the curse, but the lower part of my core tried to say otherwise.
Dray wrapped his hand in my hair and pulled my head back. I didn’t fight his hold as he searched my gaze. I tried to paint desire across my face. It came more easily than I cared to admit.
He brushed one finger over my lips. “I’m sure this ease carries an ulterior motive. And yet, I will play through with your plan, Elys.”
