Page 98 of The Serpent's Bride
Nadi began to tremble almost instantly. She had failed. Whatever was going to happen next, it was clear—by staring at the poor girl in front of her—that Nadi hadfailed miserably.
“I’m so sorry,” she murmured to Monica.
“Take the knives from your bustier and place them on the table. Then, sit.” Raziel pressed the gun harder into the back of her head. “I hate using guns. But for you, unfortunately, I have to make an exception. I’m sure you understand.”
Swallowing the sudden rock in her throat, she took a step forward. She slid the knives from her bustier under each of her armpits, placing them on the table. Pulling out the chair that was in front of her and to the left of Monica, she sat down. She expected Raziel to restrain her. Or to just kill her, right then and there.
But he… didn’t.
Instead, the vampire walked around to the other side and took his seat. He placed the gun on the table in front of him, business side facing her, and picked up a bottle of red wine.
Pouring them both a glass, he set the bottle back down. “Let’s start at the beginning, fae. What’s your real name?”
Nadi stared at him in silence. What washappening?He was questioning her? Why hadn’t he just clubbed her over the back of the head and started torturing her? Why pour her a glass of wine and just…ask?
It seemed like her confusion was written all over her face.
“If you prefer we do this the more violent way, I can oblige.” He sneered. “Though we both know how much you enjoy it when I make it hurt.”
Her face went a little warm, and she looked away.
“Oh, now that is fascinating.” Raziel sat back, wine glass perched between his fingers. “Have I ever seen youblush?” He laughed. “I don’t believe I have.”
That made her want to punch him in his smug goddamn face.
“Name, please. Or else I will be happy enough to start breaking Miss Valan’s fingers one by one.”
She was ready to continue ignoring him until she replayed what he just said to her in her mind. “Wait. Her? Why?”
“Ah, there’s your voice.” He sipped his wine. “Yes.Her.” He gestured at the real Monica with his glass. “It’s clear you’re ready to die for whatever…crusade you believe you’re on. But I’m curious to see how far your fae morals go.”
“My first name won’t do you any good. You won’t know it.” Nadi met his gaze. She still hadn’t dropped her glamor and wore Monica’s form. She didn’t know why. It felt like a shield.
Because I don’t want him to see the real me and be disgusted.
Because I hear how he says the word fae.
“Would you rather I keep calling you ‘fae’ or ‘my little murderer’?” He huffed. “Surely you noticed I stopped referring to you by name a few days ago.”
She hadn’t. Fuck. Nadi swore and looked off toward the ocean again. She wouldn’t cry. She refused. But she wasfrustrated and angry—no, she wasfurious—with herself for being such a gods-damned fool. “How long?”
“The clues were there, but you played the part beautifully. Each mystery was small enough to ignore on its own, but together?” He reached out and picked up a bread roll, tearing off a piece and dipping it into a bowl of oil. “I truly began looking for answers after the Iltanis kidnapped you. You told my mother you killed three men. But to me, said you shot two. Something didn’t add up.Someonewas missing.”
Wincing, she sighed. “Fuck.John.”
“Precisely. And when you let him live a second time? When I saw him run from the docks? Oh, then it was so beautifully obvious. It was easy enough to pay him for the answers after that.” Raziel laughed, joy flickering in his ruby eyes. “Everyone is for sale. Especially when they have no home left to return to.” He put the piece of bread into his mouth.
“Fuck you.”
He swallowed and sat forward, grinning like the cat who ate the canary. And she was the canary. “Tell me—killing Luciento. Did you plan to do it? Did he know what you were? Did he look in your eyes and see a fellow fae betray him? Or did he go to his grave thinking you were just a poor, misguided human?”
When she shut her eyes, her face twisting in reflexive pain, he had his answer.
His laughter was like a knife in her side. “How wonderful! Heknew.I wonder if you even were familiar with each other. Wouldn’t that have been such a wonderful twist of fate.”
“Fuck.You.”
“You misunderstand, my little murderer! I’m impressed! You must despise me more than any other thing in Runne, living or dead, to gothis farfor revenge.”He gestured at the table before them. “Look at the steps you’ve taken. The dangers you’veexposed yourself to. I assume you’ve done all this in order to murder me.”
