Page 40 of Poisoned Kingdom
That was the last thing I’d expected after his previously arrogant display.
Another shard of anger melted inside me.
‘Thank you, and I’m fine.’ I gestured for him to sit. ‘It’s not my first time sleeping on a stone-cold floor.’
There was only one chair, and even as he shook his head, I walked to the bed, leaving him with the option. It took a moment to clear a space to sit, but as I did, I wrapped a soft wool shawl over my shoulders. ‘Thank you for letting me send my friend a message, and for the accommodation.’
He laughed. ‘“Staying with a friend?” How could I refuse such a nicely phrased request?’ he said, licking his slightly swollen lower lip. ‘Riordan confirmed your story about warning the mages.’
So, this is my reward.
I didn’t push the subject. Growing up in the Brotherhood had taught me that there was only so much grovelling or arguing a man could take in one day, and he had done a lot already.
Despite the abundance of space, Reynard still stood at the door, observing my battle with the throws with an amused expression.
‘You know you can sit down. The door won’t fall off its hinges if you stop leaning on it,’ I said.
His lips twitched, and he coughed, looking away as if being amused by me was a crime. ‘Thank you, Viper. I’ll stay where I am. I have a few questions, though.’
‘Ah, now we discover the price for all this luxury. Of course, Your Majesty. I’ll answer all your queries. Every. Single. One of them,’ I said, throwing his words from last night in his face. ‘So, what do you want to know? Do you want to hear about Wiosna or about who wants you dead?’
‘Those can wait for Riordan. He’ll be back in two days, maybe a little longer. I . . .’ He paused as if holding himself back before his posture relaxed again. ‘Tell me, little Viper, why did you join the Brotherhood? What were you looking for? Money? Power?’
‘Revenge, but why are you assuming I had a choice?’ I answered, placing my hand on my stomach as it rumbled.
Reynard frowned before opening the door and calling for food. This time, when he closed it, he sat on the chair near the door.
I rolled my eyes. ‘Sitting so far away is bizarre. You can come closer, I won’t bite.’
I don’t know what had made me say that, but he looked me dead in the eye and licked the small wound on his lower lip, as if reminding me that Ihad, in fact, bit him. My cheeks heated with embarrassment and his smile grew bigger.
‘First lie . . . but I’ll let it slide,’ he said, stretching out on the chair. ‘Why did you want revenge?’
‘My parents. They were killed when I was young. And before you ask, my father was no saint, just a horse trader who thought swindling a local chieftain was the height of cleverness. His triumph only lasted a few days before a group of mercenariesturned up asking for money . . . I’m sure you can guess how that went,’ I said, unwilling to share the painful memories.
‘I still want to hear it,’ he answered calmly.
‘Only if you promise to leave me alone after I tell you. I’m tired and want to rest.’
His brows shot up before he scoffed. ‘You still think you can tell me what to do? Just answer me, Viper. How did you become a dark sister?’
‘After the mercenaries burned my family alive as . . . an example, keeping me for . . . a bit of fun, a man turned up and offered them money to be my first,’ I stuttered, the memory of that day still difficult to talk about.
Reynard stood from the chair and moved towards me, halting mid-step. ‘Did he hurt you?’
‘No. Although I almost hurthim. I promised to rip his neck open with my teeth if he came any closer,’ I said. ‘Seeing that I was serious, my willingness to kill earned me a contract and the means to avenge my family. The price for my soul was a small bag of herbs and the instructions on how to poison those bastards with it. And before you pity me—I enjoyed every moment that I stood there, watching them die in agony next to the ashes of my mother and sister.’
I turned my head towards the window, hiding my unwanted tears. ‘That was my first kill,’ I whispered, seeking comfort in the shawl as I wrapped it tighter around me. ‘Now you can leave. I’m too tired to listen to your judgement.’
My story wasn’t a secret. Jagon bragged about it often, letting everyone know thathewas the one who had found the ‘gem amongst the ashes.’
Still, even after all these years, it was difficult to talk about it. My father was a naïve fool who had earned his fate, but my mother had possessed a childlike innocence that made her death even more horrible. It often felt like her spirit was elsewhereas she looked at me with those verdant green eyes, her smile making the flowers bloom.
My mother lived simply, happily. She loved her garden and the orchard, her kindness and laughter burning brightest when we cavorted between the trees, fireflies dancing around us. What those bastards did to her . . . what they wanted to do tome. . .
I took a deep, calming breath, blinking away the tears while I pushed my bittersweet memories back into the deep recesses of my soul. ‘Please leave, Your Majesty. It wasn’t a lie, and I’m tired.’
My words caught him off guard. Reynard frowned, but before he could argue, a soft knock announced the arrival of the food he’d ordered. Still, he looked indecisive, silently watching the maidservant as she placed the tray on the table.
