Page 64 of A Kingdom of Lies

“Among other things.”

The sound of muffled speaking became the lull of singing far beneath us. From the sheer sound of the voices, I could only imagine how full the mass was.

Duncan swung his legs over the edge of the bed, wincing as he did so.

“Whatareyou doing?”

He swatted away my hand. “Getting up and getting out of here.”

Duncan swayed as he stood, arse thumping back down upon the flattened mattress as though his legs knew better than to allow him to move.

“You are in no fit state to be going anywhere, Duncan. Look at you. What do you think will happen when the people of this village see a Hunter and a fey walking through the streets? Need I remind you that we are both covered in blood and smell like warmed horse shit?”

His dark, full brow raised inquisitively. “It would seem we have both bumped our heads. Need I remindyouthat you are my prisoner still, certainly not in a position to be commanding me as though our roles have reversed.”

I raised my wrists, both held together as though an invisible cord of iron bound them. “Would you like me to pretend I’m bound to please you?”

Duncan could hardly fight the urge to turn up the corner of his lip. “That does not sound like a terrible idea.”

Slapping my hands back down onto my thighs, I sucked my teeth in frustration. “Drunk and infuriating. A terrible mix. Perhaps you should sleep off the wine and concussion and we can discuss our next play when you are of sounder mind.”

“Are you sour with me because I didn’t leave you more wine?” He shook the empty bottle before me which I snatched from him in a blink.

I held the bottle by its neck, brandishing it like a weapon. “Do not give me a reason to put you back to sleep myself, Duncan. If we’re going to be stuck here for a while you need to either drop your sarcastic and – may I add – repulsive attitude. Or, easier than that, learn to keep quiet around me.”

“You find me repulsive?” he asked, leaning forward until his face was close to mine. His jade-green stare flickered between mine and my pursed lips which made holding my expression of concentration rather difficult.

The question hung between us.

I broke eye contact first, knowing that if I carried on my cheeks would have turned scarlet. “How about we discuss what happens next for us, rather than listening to my list of reasons as to why you are, in fact, repulsive.”

“It will not be long before the Hunters expecting our arrival in Lockinge realise that we have beenunexpectedlydelayed. I give it a few days before a search party is sent out, finds the bodies and notes that mine is missing among the dead, then they will come looking for me.”

“Us?” I asked, hesitantly correcting him.

“Oh, Robin, they wouldn’t care for your life as they would a general. Finding you alive, with me, would simply be a bonus.”

I scowled, unsure why I expected him to speak of me differently. “Then we are taken to Lockinge, and I get my audience with the Hand?”

I get my answers about the imprisoned fey and use everything in me to free them.

“If I was you, I’d be more concerned knowing the Berserker is still out there. What is to say he will not find us before the Hunters do?”

I paused, swallowing audibly. “I told you, he’s dead.”

“You could just be saying that.”

My eyes burned with tears, but I refused to let them fall. “Shut up.”

“Ah yes,” Duncan slurred. “You stopped me killing him, why should I believe you finished the job? Instead, you gave him another chance to hunt you down. And I was beginning to think you were stronger. I suppose my view of you was misplaced.”

“Because I did it,” I snapped, voice raising, no longer caring who heard. “I killed Erix.”

Intentionally or by mistake, it didn’t matter. Not anymore.

The wooden stool clattered to the ground as I stood abruptly. “I don’t care what you think of me, Duncan.”

“Do you not?” he asked, verdant eyes drinking me in. “Because your reaction suggests otherwise.”

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