Page 22 of The King's Queen

“And did you bring what I asked?”

She grits her teeth but smiles pleasantly.

“Yes, my Lord.” She places a fresh stack of paper and a well of ink in his hands before he dismisses her with a nod. I can hardly blink before she’s gone without a whisper to remember her by.

“Who was that?”

“A maid,” he deadpans, dumping the materials in my lap. “Start copying these facts from that book in your lap.” I glance down at the text, a withered biography of past kings and their most notable traditions. It looks just like any other textbook Miss Eida would make me read if she were still here.

“Why?”

“Just shut up and do it,” he snaps, reading again. “Unless you want nothing to show of your studies?”

I open then close my mouth, gaping like a fish as I struggle to think of an insult to return the sharp sting of his words, but I find nothing. So I do as he says. I copy endless dates of anarchies come and gone, queens that these men married, divorced, murdered, or were unfaithful to. A shiver works its way down my spine. Rowan is quiet, until he speaks up after some time.

“Who instituted the Raonkin Purge Party?”

“Duke Rajo Kyzen.” I answer with ease.

“What was his wife’s name?”

“Lindietta Marcella Kyzen.”

“Where is Varium?”

“South of Neva.”

“Who was your first love?”

I open my mouth to respond but hesitate right before I notice the sly smirk on Rowan’s face, then what I had almost said. Rising to my feet, I throw the book at his face, only for him to catch it flawlessly with one hand. That scoundrel. A furious heat crawls up the back of my neck and creeps into my cheeks.

“You-“

“Your reflexes are quick, but they need to be tuned. It isn’t all physical,” he explains, ducking as I throw the quill at him next. “You got comfortable in letting them take over subconsciously. That’s dangerous. Your reflexes might save you, but if you don’t school them, you could offer up the wrong information to the wrong person. Right now, it’s just something embarrassing, but next time, it could be something that endangers you and others. Like your being a pureblood?”

I feel my rage subside ever so slightly as cold realization dawns on me. Woden flashes in my mind again, those swirling silk skirts and charming grins that lulled me into false confidence. I sit back down.

“How do I do that?” Rowan rolls up the cuffs of his sleeves to his elbows, over dramatically flexing as he checks a pocket watch and looks out at the dying sun.

“Prove I can trust you, and I’ll show you how.”

“You said you’d train me!” I protest.

“And this is part of it,” he snaps, his chair scraping against the floor as he rises to lean across the table. “A truth for a truth, that is the game we will play, Vera. I am not going to put people in danger to satiate you without earning something in return. So prove it. Prove I can trust you.”

Alarms blare in my mind, warning sirens that scream ‘this man is dangerous, stay far away,’ though some traitorous filth whispers, ‘he can set you free.’ And if I don’t take this chance now, who knows when the next one will arise?

“I don’t like how much I have to gamble with you.” I huff, and he laughs breathlessly, rocking back to stand straight up.

“It’s not a gamble if it’s guaranteed to succeed.”

“Is it though?”

“Is anything?”

“Look who is speaking in riddles now.” I gather my books in my hands to stand and face him. He may have backed me into a corner, but I will face him with dignity regardless. “Come back tomorrow night, and you will have your proof.”

“I will look forward to it.” Rowan sketches a bow as he gathers his materials. “Keep studying, my faithful pupil. Also, I know your answer would have been that captain. Don’t think I can’t see the eye sex you two have in the halls.” I fight the urge to flip an obscene gesture at his back as he walks away. His shoulders shake, as if he knows and is laughing. It does make me wonder, just how dangerous is this fox that I’ve led straight into the coop?

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