Page 12 of Married By Treachery

“Slight girl with raven’s hair and beady eyes?”

“She didnothave beady eyes!”

“See? I remember.” He glanced at the knife in her hands, which now trembled with barely controlled rage. “Careful, my beloved, or you’ll drop it.”

“You wretched, heartless…how can you be so callous?”

He tapped two fingers to his chest. “No heart, remember? But to be fair, I am not one to get particularly attached. Especially when I know a person isn’t going to be around for very long.”

“Youare the reason she’s gone!”

He strode for the hearth and snapped his fingers. A fire sprang to life, and Raquel suddenly noticed the ampoule and silver goblet standing atop the fireside table. He snapped his fingers again, and a second goblet blinked into existence beside the first.

“If you think I am going to share a drink with Adina’s murderer, then you have grossly underestimated me.”

“I don’t think I have.” He picked up the ampoule and tipped it over one of the goblets, his back to her.

This was her chance. Answers be damned, she’d let this futile interrogation go on far too long already.

She threw the knife.

It was a good throw. Lee would have been proud. And the bladewould havestruck this abominable Forest kith right between his broad shoulders, but at the last second, he raised two fingers like an afterthought. The blade promptly flipped around and shot right back at Raquel, halting impossibly just one inch from her breast.

Raquel’s breath lodged in her chest as she eyed that little flash of silver hovering in midair before her. She took a step back, but the blade followed. She stepped to the side, but still, it followed, never increasing the distance, while never decreasing it either.

Meanwhile, the man—Jake—lazily picked up his goblet and took a long sip.

“Scoundrel!” she snarled.

He raised his chalice in toast.

“Hateful…conceited…murdering piece of—”

“Here, have a drink.” He picked up the second goblet and approached her as easily as one might approach a fluffy kitten.

Which only inflamed her anger. “You can burn in the fiery pits of hell!”

“I probably will someday, but before then, I would like to share a drink with my bride. And I find that awkward situations are better digested with wine. Probably a lot of it, in our case.” He stopped before her, goblet extended.

She spat at him.

The glob of spittle landed on his chin, which he wiped upon his shoulder. “Yes, I can see why you’re still a virgin.”

“Ah!” She lunged for him—to what end, she couldn’t say—but she did not make it far, because the knife still hovered over her chest, and the moment she leaned forward, its tip dug into the upper swell of her left breast, puckering the skin.

He eyed her. “I see this is a sensitive subject. Here.” He held the goblet before her again.

Raquel clenched her teeth. “IsaidI will not share a drink with Adina’s—”

“Murderer. Yes, I know.” He leaned in close, over the dagger, his mouth at her ear. He smelled like the forest, like summer and fresh rain. “I did not murder your dear Adina, my bride,” he whispered. His sweet breath tickled her ear, and a shiver swept over her skin. “She still lives. However, I would greatly appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone. Especially my brother.”

Adina was…alive?

Raquel stood frozen in shock. Her gaze met his, and then she remembered how close he was standing, and she promptly looked ahead at nothing, though his presence filled her periphery and invaded all of her senses. “Liar.”

“I cannot lie, my bride.”

Raquel had nearly forgotten this part about the Forest kith. She didn’t know if nature prevented them from lying or if it was something to do with magik. Perhaps both. Whatever the reason, this inability to lie had made the Forest kith infamous for twisting truth.

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