Page 56 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

“Where do you think Loche is?” Venko grinned. “Your little show must have drummed up some energy in him as well. I nearly saw him smile as he stalked off deeper into the woods.”

She frowned. “Are you sure?”

The daylight was already dimming—the sun only stayed up for a few hours this deep in winter—and she didn’t want to have to go out in the dark again.

“I’m certain. Come on. I’ll get us some water.” Venko motioned to the seat next to him again, but Lessia ignored it and eased down in the spot on the floor she’d barely left since they’d come here.

Her eyes trailed Venko as he rose and grabbed her cup to fill it with snow, then set it down together with his own to melt before the fire.

“Why are you being nice to me?” she asked cautiously.

Venko wiped his palms on his tan tunic. “Because we’re on the same side.”

As he sat back down on the couch, she frowned at his pristine boots and the expensive leather of his breeches.

She needed to figure out why he was here.

Needed to ask the right questions.

“And what side is that?”

“The same one.”

She groaned. “What does that mean?”

Venko shrugged. “It just means we’re on the same one.”

“What would you do if you won the election?” Lessia shifted to be able to study his face.

Venko met her eyes, a spark of surprise flashing in his gaze when he responded. “I’d make sure what’s been wronged is made right.”

Wrapping her arms around her knees, she asked quietly, “What has been wronged?”

“You should know better than anyone, Lessia.”

She ground her teeth. “Stop being vague. Tell me what has been wronged.”

“The people who are in power.” Venko dragged a hand through his hair. “They’re what’s wrong.”

Lessia cast a quick glance at the door. “Do you mean Loche?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Clenching her fists so not to raise her voice, she shifted onto her knees. “You must know if you’re here.”

“I’m only following the orders I was given.”

“And what are they?”

“To participate in the election, win if I can.”

She frustratedly pulled at her greasy hair.

He was telling her nothing.

Casting another glance at the door and behind the couch at the staircase, she tugged on her magic, the warmth of it thrumming over her skin, warming her far more than the fire behind her.

“When you find out more, you will tell me. Now, forget we had this conversation.”

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