Page 159 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

“Can… can I talk to him alone before I decide?” She forced the words out.

Frayson started arguing that he was a prisoner, but Loche interrupted him. “She will be allowed to talk to him. I was allowed time to make my decision, and she will be as well.”

“Loche…” Frayson started, but Loche stalked up to him, his eyes glacial as he glared down at the man.

“I am still regent, and this is an order, Frayson.”

With a clenched jaw, Frayson finally nodded, gesturing for the guards to leave the room.

Amalise burst into tears as two guards started to drag her toward the tunnel, and Lessia had to fight with everything in her not to cover her ears as her friend’s heartbreaking cries reverberated between the walls.

Zaddock stalked up to her side, and shoving the two guards out of the way, he held Amalise up when her body nearly slumped to the ground. Whispering something into her ear, he managed to stop the worst of the crying, but tears still spilled down her cheeks when she stepped into the darkness of the passage.

Loche was the last one to leave. With a pained expression, he hesitated for a moment. “I can’t buy you much time, so get to the important stuff right away.”

She nodded once, and Loche finally followed the others.

When she could no longer hear any footsteps or Amalise’s sobs, she walked up to the cell again.

Her eyes lingered on Venko’s body on the floor. “Is he alive?”

Ardow inclined his head. “They roughed him up quite badly, but he’s breathing. He’ll live. At least for now.”

She stared at her friend. “Why, Ardow? Why would you do this?”

His gaze flitted to the dark passage for a moment before returning to hers. “Why do you think? You know better than anyone that we’ll never be treated right here or anywhere in Havlands. It’s time for new leadership—a new world where everyone is welcome.”

“But it’s changing. Loche is changing Ellow!”

Ardow’s eyes narrowed. “It’s not just about Ellow. It’s about every oppressed person and creature in Havlands! And while Loche might be a lesser evil, he used blackmail to win last time, Lessia! Blackmail made possible by someone who wanted to control Ellow through him! He’s not a good man.”

She shuffled her feet. “He didn’t do what they wanted, though. He’s following his own path.”

“You knew!” Ardow growled. “I can’t believe this! You knew he only won because he blackmailed people into voting for him! That all that comes out of his mouth are lies! And you still trust him to lead Ellow? Have you lost your mind? You, out of all people, I thought would understand… especially after what your king did to you! What he continues to do!”

“Loche told me about it. He trusted me with it,” she mumbled as heat burned her cheeks.

Ardow slammed his hand against the wall, and she jerked at the sudden movement. “You’re in love with him.”

She started shaking her head, but Ardow interrupted her. “You can’t trust him! You can’t! This will end badly for you, Lessia. Mark my words.”

“And I can trust you?” she snarled, unable to contain her anger. “You kept this from me! Loche is at least truthful. How long has this been going on?”

Ardow glared at her. “Longer than you think. But I wish it had been longer! This was in the works for decades. We just needed the numbers before we acted.”

She glared right back at him. “And what do you thinkyou’ll accomplish? You’ve killed people, Ardow! They came after me!”

His eyes dipped. “They weren’t supposed to. But you weren’t supposed to become friendly with anyone. You should be on our side, Lessia!”

“And whose side is that?”

Ardow snapped his mouth shut.

She laughed hollowly. “You’re not going to tell me.”

He reached through the bars for her hand, but she shied away from him. “Lessia, you know why I can’t.”

Biting her cheek, she drew a breath through her nose to calm the simmering rage. “I can’t believe this.”

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