Page 141 of The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating

“I hope you did something fun to him.”

A wicked smile crossed her face. “I set his cravat on fire.”

Ah. The pieces of the puzzle clicked into place. I’d heard this story even before I’d kidnapped Arabella. It was the reason I’d originally warded her chambers against fire.

Arabella’s voice turned icy as she gazed at Perris. “So tell me, Lord Perris, why are you here?”

He swallowed hard, black veins creeping up his neck as he fought for breath. “Because... you’re a healer. I—I had no choice but to find you.”

A flicker of mild amusement crossed Arabella’s face. “That’s not much of an offer. There are other healers much closer to your home.”

Perris’s expression twisted, rage warring with panic. “You turned traitor. Married the Dark Lord. You—you’re worse than your father ever said.”

The temperature in the hall plummeted as my magic responded to a surge of rage. The shadows around me darkened, ready to tear into his flesh. Terror filled Perris’s eyes as he just realized how suicidal an insult that was.

Arabella gave me a subtle headshake.

I warred with myself, but let her control the conversation. Though I made sure Perris saw the truth in my eyes—that if my wife hadn’t intervened, he would be screaming his apology before dying.

“My father’s opinions have never concerned me,” she said to Perris. “But I am curious about yours. Why are you poisoned? And why come to me for healing when the last time I saw you, you were calling for my imprisonment for attacking you?”

“Because, if you heal me, I’ll tell you anything I know.”

Arabella’s face was a mask of cold calculation. I was fascinated by this darker version of her compassion. The healer deciding who deserved salvation.

She glanced at me. “I assume you have no objection to me healing him for information?”

“As long as he understands that lying to us afterward will result in me reapplying the poison myself. With interest.” I directed this last comment to Perris, whose eyes widened in fear.

She turned back to our captive. “Then you better speak quickly, or I might not be able to do anything for you.”

“They poisoned me,” Perris began.

“Who?” I asked.

“King Auremar. We had an arrangement.” Perris gasped for air, and I thought he’d die before giving us anything useful.

“Spit it out,” I commanded. Much as I wanted to hurry this interrogation along, my dominion magic would likely be too strong for him in this state. He’d die before revealing anything useful.

Perris flinched. “If I hadn’t done it, someone else would have. The king needed someone to meet with bandits and let them know the border defenses were... pulled back.”

The shadows around me darkened further, my runes thrumming. “So you’re the one funneling gold to the bandits,” I said softly. “Torching villages on the king’s orders.”

Arabella’s gaze never left Perris. “You ruined how many lives?” she pressed, her voice calm, but not gentle. “I could let you rot. Unless you have something else worth trading. Something more than what we already know.”

I let my shadows swirl menacingly around him. “I should kill you here and now for all the trouble you’ve caused me,” I said, voice low.

He coughed wetly, black spittle flecking his lips. “I swear there’s more. I overheard the king. He’s planning something with you, Lady Even—Blackrose. Some ceremony, not just a marriage.”

She stepped forward. “What kind of ceremony?”

He clutched at her sleeve, half pleading, half furious. “I don’t know the details. I—please?—”

I tensed, ready to yank her back. But Arabella raised her hand, motioning for me to hold. A glint in her eyes told me she wanted to see what else he might confess. She leaned in. “Do you know more?”

Perris nodded frantically, eyes wild. “Yes, yes, much more—I’ll tell— Just heal me.”

But Arabella’s eyes burned with righteous fury. “You know,” she said with deceptive softness, “I’ve spent my entire life being told I have a duty to heal.” She tilted her head. “But I think I’ve finally realized something important.”

---