Page 74 of The Coven of Ruin
A knock sounded on Trista’s door, muted by the thick wood. Quickly shrugging on her robe over her sleeping gown, she stepped to answer it. Another knock declared the impatience of the person on the other side. A heavy sigh escaped her as she knew who it would be even before she pulled the heavy door open.Ares.
Not bothering with pleasantries, she moved away from the door.
“I’ll make this quick,” he said as he closed the door behind him.
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed you staring at me all day.”
“I—” Heat rushed up her cheeks, and she tightened her grip on her robe’s collar.
“I’m aware you find me exceedingly handsome, but you don’t look at me like a lover would. You look at me as if you are trying to solve me. It is suspicious, and you’re much too open with your gaze.”
“But wearen’tlovers, and I don’t look at you like anything,” she gasped.
“Those are your only objections?” he questioned with only a small curl of his lip.
She protested further, but he continued, “It is an educated assumption that people think we are together, as you come to and from my tower at all hours. You sat with me at the tournament. You gave me your favor. We shared magic at the ceremony. And you watch me far more than you watch anyone else. No matter how unfortunate, your fate is intertwined with mine now. If people find out who I am, they’ll wonder if you knew all along and if you were helping me. You’d be deemed a traitor,” he explained. “And I’m sure you know what witches do to traitors.”
They burn them.
She bit her bottom lip, realizing just how right he was. Trista had a distinct feeling that Ares had wanted it to appear that way. Better to look like lovers than conspirators, and so he inserted himself in any situation that a lover would. Always steps ahead.
“That’s what you came to tell me?”
“Have you discovered anything interesting from watching me all these weeks? Did you catch me turning into a bloodthirsty beast and rampaging through Witch Country?” He leaned against the wall, settling in for her revelations.
She schooled her features and crossed her arms over her chest.Playing games, are we?
“Besides that you are boorish, neither trusting nor trustworthy, and have a habit of scowling so much that a frown line appears between your brows, ruining your otherwise godly features—no. Oh, and that you think you’re above all law and rule and can do whatever you want.” She gave him her best sickly-sweet smile.
“Careful, witch. You’re giving a lot of compliments in one evening.”
“I was not compli—”
Ares merely spoke over her, “In a couple of hours, when they start discussing things that have been going on surrounding this group, there will be a lot of misinformation. As well as things being said one way but meaning something else altogether. Some of those leaders are a part of that group, and some of their seconds and thirds are as well. Eventually, they’ll ask you, the Akeso, if you have ever run across this type of dark magic. They’ll ask you if you’ve seen it anywhere else or know anything about its origins. I want you to say you’ve felt it in the dagger I took from Illean during the tournament, and that’s it. You won’t mention my wound or anything from what Grae has you researching.”
Of course he would know about that. She attempted ignorance anyway. “What—”
“Please don’t think me so thick. I know it was Grae who gave you the dagger. And I know my brother well enough to know that he will try to figure this out despite what I want.” He cleared his throat. “I would do the same thing for them.”
“Fine,” she huffed as she blinked heavily. “I felt it in the dagger. And when they ask how I got my hands on said dagger?”
“Have you not been following? We are lovers. They’ll assume you’ve had time to get your hands on all manner of things in my chamber.”
“Could you please stop saying that?” she hissed.
He pushed himself off the wall. “And I do not believe I am above any law, by the way, but Illean…” he trailed off for a moment and then shook his head once. “I gave him a better death than he deserved, honestly.”
Then he was gone.
Chapter XXXII
Thehourstheyweregiven were not enough. Trista wasn’t even sure if she slept at all. The mattress was much too stiff, and she vacillated between being too cold or too hot. And her mind couldn’t seem to shut off. It had wandered from trying to get Demurielle out of marrying the prince to why it was so crucial for her to be the one who said there was dark magic in Illean’s dagger.
She found herself wanting to doze, even as Eral elbowed her in the ribs. Shooting him a glare, she sat upright. Staff had brought out a dark and bitter drink that was supposed to help with focus and alertness, but the couple sips of it she could manage had yet to do anything.
When the Witch King said Illean’s name in a list of three other mages unknown to her, Trista tuned back into the conversation. “Prince Nero, upon being told by his men about what had happened the night before, sought council immediately with me.” He motioned for Prince Nero to stand and speak. Before The Iron Coven Prince could, Illean’s father interrupted him.
