Page 30 of Poisoned Kingdom
‘Nobody, but I wish I’d killed you! Should I askyouwhat you were doing in that forest, forcing yourself onto a helpless woman? What is it—you like hunting peasant girls for sport? Do you like taking them kicking and screaming?’ I asked. ‘You’re supposed to be a fucking war hero?’—I laughed—‘You’re no different to a beast, fighting over the right torapeme first.’ The memory I’d buried deep in my mind resurfaced, and a sneer twisted my features. ‘Go on, King Reynard. Show me the kind of man you really are.’
His eye narrowed to a slit, but the words had tumbled out before I could stop them.
I was done. I knew it.
A vein pulsed in his neck as he drew back his free hand, fingers balling into a fist. I turned away, squeezing my eyes shut, waiting for the blow to land. I almost laughed at the utter mess my life had become, but I promised myself that whatever happened next, I wouldn’t cry or beg.
Only—the blow never came, and I slowly turned my head forward again, cracking an eye open. He stood there, legs spread, panting like a wild animal, a deep frown marring his features. His fist tightened and opened rhythmically. Noticing my gaze, he exhaled, and something shifted in his expression. As if whatever monster lurked beneath his skin hid behind the ironclad façade.
‘I didn’t force myself on you . . . Is that why you disfigured my face?’
His words, or rather, the broken tone of his voice, gave me pause. This massive man was holding himself back despite my outburst. My anger flickered and died.
Had I misjudged him?
A sliver of hope blossomed within me, and I forced my body to relax in his grasp.
‘Did you, even for a moment, consider that our first meeting was an accident and what happened next was a tragic misunderstanding?’ I whispered, trying to keep my voice calm.
‘Finding a Dark Brotherhood spawn with her thugs at the dwarven border just as I arrived was a misunderstanding? Don’t insult my intelligence.’ The anger still burned in his eye, but the mindless rage had bled away, and I sensed my chance.
‘I wasn’t with them. The man who sent them after me also wants your head. I thought you were one of them.’ I sucked in a breath. ‘I thought you were wanting to take your turn . . .’ My voice broke, tapering off while his brows drew closer. The king shook his head, searching for something in my eyes, his expression strangely vulnerable. However, moments later, his features hardened.
‘Spare me your lies. You’re like a fox trapped in a snare, willing to do anything to get away,’ he said, though there was a flicker of uncertainty there that maintained my hope.
‘Then spare my life until you find the truth. I was running from Wiosna. Send a messenger to Mlot’s court to confirm, if you’dlike. I worked there as a healer before I was imprisoned under false pretences,’ I said. ‘As soon as I arrived in Truso, I tried to warn people, to warn the mages.’
I didn’t know how much I could disclose without revealing all my cards and losing my bargaining power, but his gaze softened the longer I spoke.
‘I swear I didn’t plan this. Please . . . release my wrists.’ I hated begging, but my shoulders felt like they were coming out of their sockets, and tears fell unwillingly from my eyes. ‘You’re hurting me.’
‘Do you think I’m someone who’ll break at the sight of a woman’s tears?’ he asked, but he eased back on the pressure
I sighed in relief.
‘Guards!’ he yelled.
‘No, wait, please. Listen to me—’
My words were cut short when he placed a hand on my mouth, his thumb brushing a stray tear from my cheek. My eyes widened, surprised by his actions, and I pressed myself back against the wall, but he pushed in closer.
‘Stop.’ He blew out a breath. ‘Just stop. You can’t soften me with your tears. The man who’d fall for such tricks died in the forest. You fooled me once . . . I won’t let it happen again,’ he said calmly.
Closing his eye, he inhaled deeply. ‘Enjoy your petty victory, little Viper. You’ll live until I confirm your story.’
I turned my head to the side as I needed my mouth free to speak. If he didn’t listen to me, next time, he might encounter a more proficient killer. But he tightened his grip, not allowing me to move.
‘Stop fighting me. You damaged more than my eye that day, so for your own sake, don’t make me lose my temper again,’ he said, his hand shifting only for a moment as he crowded his body so close to mine that my breath hitched.
‘I’m not . . . please stop,’ I whispered, tensing when his forehead touched mine.
‘Fuck . . . for Perun’s sake, be quiet.’
He said it so softly, almost pleadingly, that I exhaled slowly and complied.
He confused me. His eye was so dilated I could barely see the iris, and beads of sweat trailed down his face, mixing with the blood from the cut on his lip. Reynard looked like a man fighting an internal struggle as he breathed in and out, his expanding chest touching mine without him even noticing.
I relaxed in his grip once again, forcing my eyes closed. I remained still until, with a quiet grunt, he pulled away. When I was brave enough to look at him again, he appeared to be in control.
