Page 59 of The Time Of Kings

“You are notjustanything,” he corrected, making me blush. “But as for what you know, nowthatI am most interested in… so this is the part where you start talking, little thief.”

I swallowed hard, and his eyes homed in on the action, flashing brighter for a half a second. As for me, this was a real oh shit moment, as I knew that my future relied on what I told him. However, the second it looked as though I might lie, he suddenly collared my throat. He didn’t hurt me, but it was tight enough for me to recognise it as a substantial warning. Because I knew enough of my husband’s world to understand why his kind did this.

It was so they could detect when a lie was being told.

“Now I ask you again, how do you know of my world?”

I swallowed hard, yet again, and this time it was one he felt for himself. I also knew that it was impossible for me to lie in this moment, which is why I didn’t even try. So, after taking a deep breath, I told him.

“I have seen your kind ever since I was a child.”

His eyes widened in surprise at that, as clearly, he hadn’t expected it.

“You do not lie.” It wasn’t a question but more of a statement, one I answered all the same.

“I have no reason to.”

“So, I was right, you have always known who I was.”

I nodded at this.

“And yet you said nothing… why?” he asked incredulously, and well, this was when things started to get trickier.

“I first wanted to know what type of man you were.”

He raised a sceptical brow at this. Which was why I thought to remind him,

“You did have me kidnapped, after all.”

He scanned the length of me and said,

“Yes, and for good reason, seeing as my Seeker told me who you were to me… but you knew that already, didn’t you?”

Again, I swallowed hard and told him,

“I knew who you were, yes… yet I was unsure how I was to fit into your world exactly.”

He frowned, as if detecting only half a lie. Or was it more of a half-truth. Either way, he didn’t look utterly convinced. So, I continued in hopes that he would believe me.

“I had dreams of you, so travelled here in hopes of finding you.”

“And what of the companions that accompanied you?”

I flinched at that, well, as much as I could with his hand still held at my neck.

“Friends of mine whose only crime was to help me,” I told him, making him tut down at me, his grin more of the sinister type.

“Oh, I think you will find their crimes amount to that of your own.”

I gasped before telling him, “So that’s how you still see me?!”

“No, but anyone who tries to keep you from me, yes, their crimes are great indeed.”

I gritted my teeth.

“Then I hope they are long gone and far from your reach,” I sneered, making him growl down at me. But our little showdown only lasted so long, as he was the first one to break the staring match.

“I must say, you certainly knew how to play the act,” he said, letting me go and walking away to put space between us. That hand that had once been shackling my throat was now fisted at his side in frustration.

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