Chapter 11 #2
A heartbeat passes where Lucas’ shoulders tense. Then finally, they sag with a sharp exhale. He slumps back, head lolling to look at me. I offer him a soft smile. “Trust me. I’ve got this.”
He searches me one last time before rubbing his forehead. “Yeah, okay. But if this blows up in your face, I call dibs on a thorough ‘I told you so,’ got it?”
My smile brightens, amusement humming in my chest and lifting some of the tension. “Deal. I mean,” I turn my gaze on Valen, “you’re not going to fuck me over, right?”
Valen’s eyes are darting between Lucas and me, his expression a careful porcelain mask. His eyes narrow a fraction before he smirks. “Of course not.”
I scoff. “You hesitated!”
His head tilts, a playful smile flashing.
“Just calculating, my dear. But yes. I will keep your confidence. I told you before, I was never against you.” His smile changes and a flicker of heat flares in me again.
“Can I call you Tori once more? I did generously save your thieving magician friend, after all.”
His playfulness is addictive. I shouldn’t play with him, but I can’t stop myself. I return his smile. “I don’t know. Do you think you’ve earned it?”
Something in his gaze shifts and my body turns languid in response. “Perhaps you can tell me why you’re looking for the amulet first, and then we can address…” his eyes roam me, “earning things.”
A giggle bubbles up and I cover it with a cough when Lucas tenses. I smooth my hair back and twist the long length around my wrist. Half-truths will get us what we want and, hopefully, appease Valen.
“It’s called the Amulet of Acerabus. I have a collector looking for it and I happened to remember…” I allow lust to pour into my gaze, my eyes dipping to Valen’s mouth where his fingers rub absently. “A similar amulet falling on my head while in a compromising position.”
Valen’s reaction is immediate. His lips curl against his fingers.
His tongue slides over his bottom lip, his gaze going distant as he relives the memory.
“Hm.” His attention briefly flicks to Lucas, but I lounge back in the chair and cross my legs.
It works. Valen’s focus snaps back to me and where my ripped shirt tugs open.
“I remember that… ill-timed toppling. Though I don’t recall the specific amulet that cut you.
” His fingers drum a single ripple on his knee.
“And why didn’t you simply contact me to buy it? ”
“Well, I wanted to.” My eyes flash to Lucas in mock annoyance and Lucas rolls his eyes. “It would’ve been much easier, but perhaps we can start over. What do you say, Valen? Can we make a deal?”
I try to make my eyes large and pleading, a feat made difficult with Lucas’ disapproval radiating from him in annoying, acrid waves.
Valen watches us carefully. I pray to every nonexistent arachnid god in the Weave that he doesn’t catch onto the lie.
My body goes hot, sweat beading, but I force myself to remain relaxed and my hands steady.
Another drum of his fingers later and Valen answers, “Perhaps. I’m not sure if we still have the amulet, though. I’ll have to take a look while you’re in your rooms.”
I stiffen. “Rooms?”
“Of course.” Valen’s smile sharpens. “I need time to go into the library, and there’s no way either of you are following me in or roaming freely. Not after that little stunt you pulled at the park. I’ll take you to your rooms and ward them while I search.”
Lucas voice snaps through the office. “Prisoners, then.”
“If that’s what you’d like to call it.”
My mind races. I sit up and lean forward. “Valen, I can help you. It’s not like I haven’t been in there before.”
“Hm.” Those icy eyes slide over me once. “No.”
My heart plummets. Valen stands swiftly, abandoning his glass on the ink blotter. Lucas and I share one long, lingering look in which a thousand unspoken words are hissed angrily at each other through a series of facial expressions. His lips tighten slightly. No fucking way are we doing this.
My brow arches. It’s fine. I’ve got this.
His jaw flickers. I don’t believe that. You’re not telling me something. I’m unhappy and I am going to explode hot rage all over this stupid blueblood weaver’s house.
My eyes flick over him. Keep it the fuck together.
His fingers spasm, teeth grinding with a click. THE WALLS WILL BE RED WITH HIS BLOOD. HIS INSIDES WILL BE HIS OUTSIDES AND I’LL RIP OUT THAT ASSHOLE’S SOUL—
My eyes flare. Holy fuck, Lucas! Pull yourself together. My fingers curl into a fist. I will hogtie you and throw your ass over my shoulder if I have to. My lips purse before I smooth it all out, my hands relaxing. We are doing this. You will trust me. End of discussion.
“Shall we then?”
Valen’s smooth, cool voice forces a mask I haven’t used in a long time over my face.
It’s rusty, and I’ve grown out of it, but my Astrum Order face shutters in place.
It’s all pleasant, non-threatening smile and delicate, graceful movement as I glide to standing like I’m wearing an elegant evening gown. “Of course.”
I practically float to Valen’s side, shooting Lucas one last warning glare before sliding my hand into the crook of his arm. “Come, Lucas.”
I pray he falls into the role we’re playing. We’ve worked so well together for so long that it should be as simple as breathing. There should be no doubt in my mind that he knows it’s not real and that he will follow along.
And yet.
Lucas pauses, his eyes focusing on where my hand rests on Valen’s arm. I wonder if he noticed how easily I slipped to Valen’s side, if he connected that this move was practically bred into us. Countless arm slips. Countless promenades together.
The doubt niggles at me and I’m unsure what it is that I doubt: the lie I’m telling Valen… or the lie I’m telling Lucas.
It should be easy. But it’s not. My heart flutters, my gaze flicking and locking with Valen’s. The way his mouth softens slightly makes it all too real.
Valen takes a step and I follow without hesitation. I glance back at Lucas one last time before dragging my gaze away.