Page 130 of A Dance of Lies

She’s still here.

Copelan’s features slacken.

“Come now, Master Reveler. Your pity is misplaced.” Illian cocks his head to the side. “Did you know that our Vasalie here is a suspected criminal? Rather damning letters of hers were found just recently alongside a murdered courtier from my territory. Perhaps you will be less hasty to defend her now.”

I suck in a breath. He signaled for the body to be found—he finally invoked his true hold over me. Or is it merely a bluff, a way to shut him up?

Copelan’s eyes find mine.

I shake my throbbing head.Please, see the truth in my eyes.

Illian continues, “What a favor you’ve done, reporting her. During our investigation, I will allow her to finish her role here, albeit under watch. And, seeing as I am repaying the kindness for your Esmée, may I count on your discretion?”

Again, Copelan locks eyes with mine. A tear tracks down my cheek.

Please,I beg him silently.Do something.

But I know he won’t. And so I am not surprised when he tightens his lips and nods like the coward he is.

“Excellent. Before you go,” Illian says, “what do you know of these tunnels? Where do they lead?”

“I was never made aware of them, Sire.”

I can’t tell if Copelan is telling the truth, but it does not matter. “Search them,” Illian orders his guards, and my stomach drops. “Find everything there is to find, but be discreet.”

Guards rush past, torches blazing as they plunge into the tunnel. And like batting a fly in the air, King Illian waves Copelan away.

Don’t abandon me,I silently plead.

His brows notch together, a flash of pity within, then his shoulders stoop and he walks away.

Once again, I am alone with Illian and his guards. I wonder if he will finally have me killed or if he has something worse planned.

Fear runs cold through the marrow of my bones.

“Tell me where you were going,” he says, narrowing the distance between us, his voice softening into silk. “Tell me before they find out, and I might find it in my heart to extend you mercy once more.”

The guard holding my arm yanks away my gag.

I bark my answer. “Was it your mercy I just witnessed?” I run my tongue along my lips, tasting blood. They must have split when I hit the floor.

Illian follows the movement, gaze dropping to my mouth. The echo of footfalls reaches my ears as the guards swarm the tunnels, splitting off in different directions. I pray my friends will hear their approach.

My eyes burn like hot pokers as I stare at Illian. I want to claw at him. I want to curse his name. I open my mouth but stop myself. Should I try for mercy or invoke his wrath?Survive,a voice inside me says; it sounds like Emilia.Live to fight.

Illian studies me for a long moment, two fingers rubbing his chin. “It pains me, you know. All of this. Contrary to what you may believe, Vasalie, I do not enjoy seeing you suffer.”

I lose all sense and spit in his direction. Blood lands on his browntunic. His eyes dip down, assessing the damage, before returning to mine. I can tell he itches to reach for me, to jab his fingers into the soft flesh of my neck until the air is squeezed from my lungs.

But then I study him closer, and my breath recoils.

There is an ache in that gaze. A want. And all over again, I recall the girl. My dress. What he did to her while pretending she was me.

His fingers twitch at his sides.

Then he lets out a long sigh. “I thought we had an agreement. I thought we had made peace, after everything.” He pulls a kerchief from his pocket and dabs the blood on my lips with a tenderness that makes my skin crawl. “But know this,” he tells me. “Whoever you are helping, whoever you have manipulated onto your side—whether my brother or his minions on this souls-forsaken isle—I will find them. And if you do not play your role, their every plea for mercy will reach your beautiful ears until you beg me to cut them from navel to neck.”

With that, he breezes away, and the guards heave me toward the door.