Page 20 of Wingless Crow: Part 1

I didn’t need his pity.

Shoving away from the door, I straightened my spine, standing taller.

“Thank you, I had a very good sleep,” I said in a clipped voice.

A smile ghosted his lips. It melted quickly, like the first snow of the season after touching the ground.

What amused him? There was nothing funny or even friendly either in the words I said or in how I said them.

I shifted my gaze around, studying the room instead of its occupant who unnerved me. It was warm in here. The fire burned lively in the fireplace by the wall opposite to the desk. A chaise lounge, upholstered in royal blue velvet, stood in front of it with a fluffy blanket neatly folded on one end.

What was this room? It was spacious, but not large enough to be a royal library. Was it Voron’s personal reading place? It was cozy. I could easily imagine myself curling up with a book by the fire.

Imagining the morose High General relaxing anywhere wasn’t easy, though. Despite his casual pose, leaning with his hip against the desk, his body seemed rigid and his eyes remained guarded. He didn’t trust me. That made two of us. I had no trust in him, either.

I didn’t want to be here, but we needed to talk. Taking a deep breath in, I took a step in his direction. I might as well get straight to the point.

“What do I have to do to get my memories back?”

His dark eyebrows jerked up in surprise. “You came to negotiate, little bird?”

I winced at that nickname but didn’t protest. There was nothing I’d want him to call me instead, anyway. The only name I now had was the one he gave me. And “sparrow” was essentially the same thing as “little bird.”

“That can be interesting.” He pushed away from his desk. His pet bird flapped its wings, flying from his shoulder to a gilded tree branch mounted on the corner of his desk. “What are you willing to offer?”

He stalked my way, stepping softly on the thick gray rug covering the white marble floor. I resisted the strong urge to flinch or retreat, standing my ground.

“What do you want?”

The question was a mistake. His features relaxed into a self-assured expression. He clearly took it as an invitation to help himself to anything his heart desired.

What were the desires of Voron’s heart? It wasn’t easy to tell with him, but I feared the price might be far greater than what I was willing to pay.

Significantly taller than me, he looked down at me as he came closer. He didn’t say a word, just stared at me, with that elusive smile playing on his lips. His eyes peered into mine, reaching deeper. I felt naked in front of him, completely exposed, as he searched inside me for whatever else he could rip away from me.

Cold shivers of trepidation ran down my body. I gripped my arms with my hands. It was stupid to challenge this man. I was no match for him. He’d never let me gain from any deal we’d make. With him, I could only lose.

Breathing became a chore under his stare. I couldn’t draw enough air into my lungs, no matter how hard I inhaled.

All I could do was beg.

I swallowed hard and licked my dry lips.

“Please…” I croaked. “I have nothing left to give.”

“Oh yes you do. And were our circumstances different, I would’ve loved to help myself to the many treasures you possess, dear Sparrow.”

His voice softened, easing my distress. The powers of this man were even greater than I’d thought. He could calm me down just as easily as terrify.

“I will take nothing more from you than I already have.” He lifted his hand to my face as if to stroke it but stopped short of touching me, dropping his arm down again. “Instead, I’ll give you something for free—a piece of advice. Now that your mind is void of the useless memories, you can start filling it with things you really need.”

Useless.

How easily he dismissed my entire life experience. Bitterness burned in my throat.

“The last thing I need is your advice,” I snapped, turning my head away from him.

“Oh, but you do need it. You need to get to know this world in order to survive here.”

---