Page 87 of A Touch of Poison
Maybe if I…
I opened the top and took a sip, keeping it upturned for a while after so it seemed like I drank more than I did. Still, it went down smooth and warm, sweet and lulling, like this was a wonderful idea. I held out the hip flask and purred, “Your turn.”
His canines flashed as he gave a short, huffing laugh. “How can I say no?” He accepted, taking a long draught while my head swam.
I couldn’t lie, but I could dance around the truth like fae did, and it would make him more forthcoming with the truth. I had this all under control.
He made a soft sound as he licked his lips and passed the flask back. “That’s good stuff.”
“Isn’t it?” I secured it back in place before we set off.
I kept to flirtatious small talk initially—no need to make him suspicious by leaping straight to the necklace.
“Look, over there…” He gestured towards a woman with hair the colour of starlight—a silvery blue. “That’s Bastian’s mother.”
I blinked at her, then looked away as she turned, not wanting to be caught staring.
“She was attacked by an unseelie and fell pregnant.”
That was how he’d been conceived.
“She gave him up?”
Caelus nodded. “So I understand it. As soon as he was born.”
That explained why he’d never mentioned her, only the fathers who’d raised him. If he’d come from that kind of assault, I couldn’t blame him for wanting to separate himself from that. I squeezed my glass, overwhelmed by the urge to find him and hold him.
Still, I was meant to be charming Caelus, not reminding him of another man, so I didn’t ask anything more and busied my fingers pushing my hair back over my shoulder.
He sipped his drink and watched the motion, gaze catching on my throat. He frowned. “Your necklace—it’s gone.”
Perfect.
I opened my mouth to say the clasp had broken, but… I couldn’t speak.
Arianmêl. No lies.
“I’m not wearing it tonight.” Obvious, but true, and a kind of explanation. “It’s a shame, since I know you like it so much.” I tilted my head, exposing my throat as Ella had shown me, and his attention skimmed down it, continuing to my chest.
Arianmêlplus a distraction—hopefully that would be enough.
“The other day,” I murmured, “you seemed like you were about to say something about that necklace, but we were interrupted. I’d love to know what it was.”
“Would you, now?” He touched his lower lip, attention dripping down my body.
“Caelus,” I said, drawing out his name in a way that had his gaze locking on my lips. “How did you see that necklace before it was given to me?”
“I collected it,” he murmured so softly I wasn’t sure he realised he was speaking out loud. I had to crane closer to catch each word. “I owed her a favour, so I picked it up when it was ready.”
My pulse leapt in my throat. “Her?” I softened my tone to match Caelus’s.
“Not anyone important.” He shook his head and edged closer, making me realise we’d stopped.
“Who, though?”
“Adra… His Majesty’s assistant. I lost a card game and owed her. That’s all. She isn’t…”
He went on as though reassuring me I had no reason to be jealous, but my thoughts were louder.
