Page 70 of When the Wicked Sing
“One of them had widow toxin coating his blade. It almost killed me.”
Smacking her lips together, she placed the lipstick on the white mantel and finally met his eyes. “But it didn’t.” Spinning, she walked over to him and touched his shoulder. She tilted her head down to look at him from under heavy lashes. “You know I’d never let anything happen to you,” she said sweetly.
Dax’s jaw tightened. “How much does Cyrus know?”
“As much as I want him to know.” She stepped away from him to look out at the glittering sea from a row of windows. “You see, Daxon, I go to great lengths to ensure my trust is given to those who deserve it. And when I can sense that someone’s loyalties are not as strong as they should be, I’m required to test them.”
She turned. The sly glint in her eye made Dax shift in his seat and avert his gaze. He knew what she was getting at, and all he could think was how to prove he was still loyal to her. Orhad he already? The question hung heavy in the air, and Dax’s eyebrows lowered as what she said settled in.
He landed furious eyes on her. “You sent me to abduct Mariana as atest?”
Halia walked over to him with the grace of a panther stalking its prey. Each step of her gold and black stilettosclickedagainst the hardwood floor, reverberating in his eardrums. “I sent you toretrieveMariana. After my other precious siren escaped sounexpectedly, I took a closer look at all those who claimed to be loyal to me.”
She knew what had happened. She knew what Dax had done and chose to punish him by capturing Mari.
Dax held his ground. He knew his importance to her. Otherwise, she would’ve just had him killed.
“You completed the mission, and for that, I commend you. However.” Halia sat on her desk in front of him. When her dress parted, her exposed, long legs brushed his, and as she leaned in, her exotic floral perfume wafted toward him. “I’ve learned that a wolf can follow its handler’s orders just as well as it can bite them the moment they turn their back.” Halia licked her plump lips and fluttered her thick lashes like he’d seen her do countless times before. “Tell me, Daxon, are you a wolf? Are youmywolf?” she whispered seductively.
He knew it was all an act, and she expected him to play his part.
He pushed himself off the chair and stood tall above her. Leaning in close, Dax tilted her chin with his fingers, and watched her painted lips part. “Don’t keep me in the dark, Matriarch. Otherwise, this partnership ends.”
Dropping his hand from her chin, Dax marched toward the door, determined to leave.
Halia started cackling, making the hair on the back of his neck rise.
“You say that like you have the choice.”
Her words stopped him in his tracks. He stared at the door, wishing he could tell her to fuck off. But he couldn’t.
“Daxon,” Halia crooned. He reluctantly turned around, eyeing her where she lounged on the desk, her skirts still open, but at least she crossed her legs. “Don’t forget why you’re here. You’reminefor as long as you want to keep your little village safe and sound.” Her eyes glinted with the underlying meaning of her words:Obey or lose everything.
Chapter 38
WhenMariana’sthroatturnedraw, and the fury in her heart simmered down, she opened her eyes and gasped. The crystal chandelier above her rattled. Papers that had been on the desk were floating back to the ground. The wide-open drapes still billowed in a dying breeze.
“What the …” she murmured in confusion.
She stood on shaky legs and searched for an open door or any other source of the sudden gust of wind, but found none.
Weird.
Clearing her throat, she diverted her attention from the strange wind to thinking of Astra. How would she have found the amulet? Would she have left a clue? Something for Mariana to find? Did she even know Mariana would come after she’d escaped?
Scrubbing her face with her hands, she huffed and glanced around the disheveled space.
She shook her head, ignoring the familiar buzz fading under her skin. She was exhausted, but she had to start searching.
She flipped off the confusing painting of King Stavros, who looked at her mother like she was his whole world, then scanned the papers littering the ground.
When the foyer yielded nothing, she went upstairs, searching for any sign of her sister. Instead, she found traces of her mother’s past life, before the Banishment. It was like opening a door to a world she’d never imagined. It felt like a haunted tomb.
The second floor had four bedchambers; the first two were adequately furnished, and the third one was completely empty. Mariana paused at the fourth door at the end of the hall. It was her mother’s old bedchamber. She could feel it.
Every instinct yelled at her to turn around, that she had no right to enter without permission. But a small part of her nudged her forward, whispering that Cybele would’ve wanted her to go in. Taking a deep breath, she stepped silently onto the plush ivory carpet and entered the forbidden space.
Though the queen was far away within Salus, Mariana hesitated to touch anything, fearing she’d disturb the priceless relics. The armoire beckoned her forward. It was likely filled with colorful dresses sewn with the finest thread by the best seamstresses.
