Page 54 of Shadows and Roses

"No. I swear." That would need to be enough for them. His back twinged at the possible ways they could interrogate him, but he was willing to risk it. If his suspicions were correct, they’d need his willing cooperation.

The duchess and her guard left the room. Faint murmurs on the other side of the door turned sharper, louder. Commanding. Anais, likely. She walked in a few moments later, slamming the door shut. But her irritated frown wasn’t directed at him as she leaned against it.

Although, he wasn’t sure what the look she gave him meant.

"Castien. I need to tell you something. They don’t want me to, but I will not build an alliance on lies."

He kept his expression blank.

She continued, "Two things, truthfully. First, we know that you’re friends with Damon Mieskar. Are you aware he’s the leader of the rebellion?"

He hadn’t decidedon his response. Silence instead.

She took a breath and sat across from him. "This is why I brought you to court and made you an Escort. We need him to believe our offer of alliance is real. We need someone he trusts, who we both trust, to see who we truly are."

His eyes went flat. There. That was the reason he was made an Escort. "You’re using me."

Something flashed across her eyes, gone in a blink. "No. Youareone of us, Castien. Insomuch as you are an Escort, then yes, I am using the people who serve me. No more, no less."

All those people had a choice, he wanted to say. They agreed to be here, they agreed to serve her. They wanted to serve her. He was hardly one of them.

But, this was also an opportunity. "Then I want my freedom. I’ll help you win over the rebels, and in exchange, you'll release me from the court, the Escorts, and the five years’ contract—all of it, with full access to my funds."

Her shoulders fell, a nearly imperceptible movement. Was that regret in her eyes?

The same regret in his chest, he realized. He could fall into those soft emeralds, melt into her slightly parted lips. Shehadmanaged to gain his trust. And the others weren't intolerable, just overprotective. He’d convince Damon not to harm her. That much, he could give her.

She nodded once. "That is the second truth. There is no contract. As for your Escort rank, I will do what I can. Escorts can have duties that may take them away from the palace. It may take a few moons…"

He wasn’t listening. No contract? She’d let him believe he was trapped here for five years. Why? He hadn’t made any plans because he thought himself tied to a House that no longer had any claim on him. Instead, the Queen’s claws caged him. Had she wanted him to blame the Night Courts?

"Castien?"

Even now, her eyes were a temptation. He stared at the door. "A few moons will suffice."

A few moons instead of five years, and all of this would be in the past. Including a woman who enticed him for the first time in years.

Lied to him, manipulated him.

"I apologize for misleading you," she said softly.

The courtesan turned back and let a polite smile settle on his lips. "Thank you for the truth. I appreciate honesty. Shall we agree on no more lies?"

This was a good thing. No contract, no complications. Once she released him from the Escorts, there’d be nothing holding him here.

Her smile seemed a brittle thing.

"Agreed." She extended her hand.

Lightning flew up his arm when their fingers met, almost stiffening his muscles. He was an absolute fool. It wasn't only his training and his body reacting—there was something abouther.

She didn't seem to notice, though she did snatch her hand back uncharacteristically fast.

Then she glanced at the door. "I apologize for not telling you before. We wanted you to see us without any bias, without wondering if everything we did was only to earn your trust. And the contract—I thought you’d feel safer with some connection to the Night Courts."

He only nodded. He would have been suspicious, it was true. It had been difficult enough accepting her—accepting all of them—as other than they appeared. Still, the betrayal stung.

She seemed hesitant. It was an odd look on her.

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