Page 63 of Hidden

In that moment, she might have liked him if it hadn’t been for the pure, cold calculation in his eyes. He was stroking her vanity to see where it got him. Into a pit of venomous serpents, if I can arrange it.

“Then explain your vision to me, my lord,” Lila said as a cupbearer filled her goblet with wine. “I am eager to learn it from your own lips.”

From the corner of her eye, Lila caught Galeeta’s sudden alertness. She was listening to every word.

Farras lifted his goblet and waited for Lila to do the same. They touched the jeweled rims and sipped the straw-colored wine. Lila’s senses filled with the taste, tangy and mellow with dew-kissed dawns and the scent of rich earth. She set the heavy cup down, already half-drunk on visions of the harvest.

The lord gave the wine an appreciative nod before he set his goblet aside as well. “My concern is always with the safety and security of our people. There have been threats to the tradition and sanctity of the Crown, and my vision, as you say, is to ensure the sacred power of the Forest King is in the right hands. To this end, I travel to join Elroth. As you know, he is retreating to the royal lands in Gilden Wood. In due course, your family will join me.”

“And we are delighted to do so,” Galeeta broke in. “Our family interests have long been bound by love and war.”

“Indeed,” Farras replied, a barb beneath his civil tone. He turned to regard Galeeta without quite taking his eyes off Lila. “No doubt that is why you seated your lovely daughter at my side.”

Galeeta smiled, though it did not reach her eyes. “She was once your betrothed.”

He put his hand over Lila’s, casually possessive. “So I recall. I also recall that betrothal was called off by your husband.”

Lila’s skin grew suddenly clammy. She wanted to run, hard and desperately, into the night air. She tried to slip her hand from beneath Farras’s. Without a flicker of emotion, he tightened his grip.

Servants came, removing the first platters and replacing them with towers of bite sized pastries filled with a spiced mix of wild greens. Gold leaf decorated the shells.

“My lord requires your influence with the king,” Galeeta replied. “No doubt he would prove more willing once he is free.”

Lila jerked her hand away, unable to stand his touch a moment longer. Farras graced her with a sidelong look of amusement.

“Rest easy,” he murmured. “You shall have your chance to speak.”

“Indeed, I shall,” she said stiffly.

“Your father was working against the king,” Farras said, now serious. “He was arrested for a reason. He is, or was, in Lord Teegar’s employ.”

“No!” Lila protested, unable to stop herself. “He isn’t like that.”

The father she knew was allergic to anything so labor-intensive as treason. But with sudden clarity, she understood Farras had no intention of freeing him. He wasn’t useful enough to make the cost worthwhile. Farras seemed to read her thoughts, for he gave a slow nod.

“Lord Teegar is in our dungeons,” her mother said, breaking through the heavy silence. “My son captured him and one of his men.”

Farras looked from Galeeta to Ademar with the first real sign of interest. Lila exhaled. At last, her family had something Farras wanted—that wasn’t her.

“So I understand. I will take custody of Teegar,” Farras said, throwing Galeeta a look that said he wasn’t going to bargain. “Then I will take him to the king. The royal questioners will uncover the truth, and our loyalty will be proven beyond question.”

“That sounds deceptively simple,” Lila murmured to herself. Had Teegar actually committed any crimes, or was he just another game piece?

Despite her soft tone, Farras still heard her. One corner of his mouth turned up. “Why dwell on the unpleasant details?”

“Soundly reasoned, my lord,” she replied. “Deniability is useful.”

He chuckled. “You are more your mother’s daughter than you know.”

Lila forced a smile, even though cold prickles skittered down her spine.

“No, my lord,” she said quietly. “I am not my mother. I will not underestimate you.”

For the first time, genuine interest flickered in his eyes. “You are a surprising young lady.”

That smile did nothing to ease the cold lump in her stomach. Farras was as much a predator as any wolf. She bowed her head, pretending to be overawed by his approval.

“There is one thing I do not understand,” she said meekly.

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