Page 42 of Married By Treachery

Raquel stopped. There was no humor in Jake’s gaze now, nothing bating. His words were a bleeding wound—a wound carried by every person in that camp. Raquel’s gaze settled on Sienne, and Sienne did not look away. Raquel had wondered why Sienne had brought her own daughter to Little Mignon, but perhaps Sienne had not had a choice.

At last, Sienne looked away.

“So forgive me if I seemcallousandunfeelingconcerning yoursix,” Jake continued quietly, but no less firmly. “I would easily triple that number if it meant I could save my own.”

Raquel held his gaze. “But we are innocent.”

“So are mine.”

A beat. “Iam innocent.”

His lips twisted sardonically. “Are you now, my murderous, thieving…belovedbride?”

Raquel scowled. “I think I am done with your little games.”

He looked delighted by this profession, as if it were a challenge to be won, and he sat up straight. “I don’t think you are.”

“I promise you I—”

“Riddle me this, my bride,” Jake cut her off again, new fire in his eyes, as if her dismissal had simply thrown kindling on open flame. “If you can solve it, then you have won, and the game is over.”

Silence.

“You know what… I’ve had quiet enough of this—” Raquel started to push herself from the blanket.

“‘A mortal heart, the heir must claim,’”Jake said, stopping her.“‘A babe wrought by harvest’s light—’”

“Jake…” Sienne warned.

“‘—and virgin be by immortal’s sight,’”Jake continued, his eyes never leaving her face,“‘who holds the only road to our salvation.’”

Jake finished, and the camp was silent.

“That is your riddle, my beloved bride,” Jake added. “Should you answer correctly, you will have won.” He leaned forward and winked. “And you’ll probably also forfeit your reason for drinking, unless one prefers to celebrate, which I do.”

Raquel’s frown deepened, and she would have accused Jake of making up the verse, but based on the tension that had settled over their camp, she did not think he was misleading her. Also, she knew at least part of that was true for certain. It was how Harran’s elders had chosen brides: A babe wrought by harvest’s light, and virgin be by immortal’s sight. Everyone in Harran knew that part.

But the rest…

Jake watched her as if daring her to figure it out. Because this was their riddle. Theircurse. He had not given her an answer—not exactly. He had given her a question instead.

“A mortal heart…” she murmured, starting from the beginning, and his eyes gleamed, enthralled that she was playing along. “Well, that’s obvious.” She gestured at herself. So was the part about a virgin born at harvest, but she didn’t much feel like saying that aloud.

“But you’re not the heir,” Raquel said instead.

Jake’s eyes darkened. “Yet.”

More glances were exchanged.

Something else clicked into place, and she started thinking out loud. “That is why you need the coat. With it, you can pretend to be Edom, but you’re still not the heir unless you somehow manage to convince your father to transfer kingship…”

Jake’s answering smile was slow and dangerous, confirming that she was on the right track.

“Jake,” Sienne hissed.

“And what else?” Jake prodded, his eyes only on Raquel.

“Is your father old?” Raquel asked.

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