Page 51 of Poisoned Kingdom
The mage led us through endless halls, and I sighed in relief when we passed the doors to the dungeon and the grand throne room before heading to a much smaller audience chamber. Before we entered, Riordan stopped.
‘A word of warning,’ he cautioned. ‘Despite what you did to him, Rey rose above it, and instead of revenge, he wants to understand. A lesser man would’ve killed you, but he has more compassion than I, so don’t waste this chance and make him regret trusting you.’
I pulled away from him, his words catching me off guard. It was more than a warning; it was advice.
The guards before us opened the doors, and I stepped forward.
‘Thank you, but I assure you I never wanted to hurt the king,’ I said with a tense smile, adding for good measure, ‘And that won’t change.’
I raised my head high and strode confidently into the room, leaving him to catch up with me.
Riordan’s words burned because they were true. A lesser man would have killed me, though Reynard—confusing and arrogant as he was—hadn’t truly hurt me. In the grand scheme of things, fingerprint bruises and a night spent on cold stones were nothing compared to what I did to him.
I’m trying to atone. I hope you can see that, my broody king, I thought, approaching the figure on the throne as he sat there with a stone-cold expression.
Except I no longer believed in his coldness, even if I didn’t understand him.
The man who had held me by the window hadn’t feel cold in the least as he’d pressed his body to mine. Now, I wanted to know what else was hidden within the heart of the king who appeared as lonely as the stars in the night sky.
1.Striga— a female demon born of a violent death who hunts those who have wronged her; appears as a skinny female with two rows of teeth, large claws, and leather-like hair.
2.Geas (s.)/geasa (pl.)— a form of magical compulsion, curse, or obligation. Those under a geas are required to follow certain conditions or orders, risking death for disobedience.
Chapter 19
Roksana
The modest surroundings chosen for my interrogation surprised me. Instead of a cold interior dripping with opulence, the room had a cosiness that felt comforting. The only sign a king used this room was a slightly larger chair sitting on a small dais, tastefully accented with gold leaf. Everything else was . . . homely. Wooden benches were covered in throws and furs, providing comfortable seats; tapestries softened the plain stone walls, depicting hunting scenes and court life; while a thick rug underfoot silenced the sound of footsteps.
I felt the tension melt from my shoulders, and I involuntarily smiled at Reynard. He watched our entrance with an intense focus, documents piled on his lap and the table beside him.
‘You wanted to see me, Viper,’ he said in a casual tone, gesturing for me to sit. ‘What’s so important that I had to dismiss the Privy Council early?’
‘You know my name, sire. I would be grateful if you used it,’ I answered dryly, mildly annoyed by his use of the strange moniker in front of Riordan. ‘Roksana or Mistress Regnav will do.’
His eyebrow lifted ever so slightly at my retort, and he leaned back, supporting his chin on his fist. Reynard’s lips lifted in a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
‘Not “Sana” anymore? Well, the name is a little gentle for such a sharp-tongued woman, I suppose.’
I grimaced at his teasing, but shrugged it off, trying to stay calm.
‘Sana is for friends, and I don’t think friendship is any way to describe our relationship,’ I answered.
A corner of the king’s mouth twisted into a lopsided smile.
‘Foolish me. I thought we’d reached an understanding. Right, Viper, it is then,’ he said, gesturing to Riordan, his gaze never leaving mine. The mage walked over and stood beside the king. ‘Riordan told me you chose this interrogation over my hospitality. Does that mean I can expect the truth?’
‘Have I lied to you evenoncesince you imprisoned me?’ I snapped, the tension between my shoulder blades returning. ‘I have enjoyed your hospitality, but not the delay or being locked in this admittedly very comfortable prison.’
‘I haven’t asked any questions worthy of your lies. As for the delay, Riordan only returned this morning, and Ciesko was busy in the city. Please forgive me for prioritising Dagome over my private business,’ Reynard answered, his jaw set in a hard line, as if he were scolding a spoiled brat demanding attention. I bit my lip, wishing the earth would swallow me whole.
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t know . . .’ I stuttered, taking a step back when he stood up and approached me, his towering presence forcing me to look up.
‘If you want me to interrogate you now, I’ll do it. But it’s a path of no return, and for some unknown reason, the thought of executing you has lost its appeal . . .’
‘Well, thank fuck for small mercies,’ I said before I could stop myself, but instead of anger, mirth lit the king’s features.
‘Fuck? What an interesting choice of words. Is that on your mind, Viper?’
