Chapter 34 #2
“Azurill, I’m fine,” I assured him softly. “I woke up before he could accomplish his goal.”
“He tried to kill you?” he asked, his voice a low growl that had me pressing my thighs together. The look on his face so reminiscent of the one he’d worn when he’d killed those responsible for my family’s deaths.
“Yes,” I confirmed with a nod. “But I fought him off.” Azurill shook his head, his hand coming up to cup my cheek before sliding into my hair.
His eyes were intense, like he was on the verge of lashing out and was trying to use the image of me before him, fine and well, to calm down.
I was clearly not the only one to think so either.
“Your Majesty,” Balthazar interjected, his voice purposely calm. “Lady Jacinth managed the assassin well, but we can have her checked out by the healers just in case. We should deal with the assassin and figure out how he got in.”
Azurill nodded, but I spoke up then, “He tried running away when I called for Alfrikr. He went towards the tapestry.”
I pointed them to the wall, and Balthazar nodded, walking over with a curious look on his face. He pulled it back, but it seemed like an ordinary wall.
“Wait, let me try.” Ruri stepped forward, pulling a potion from his pocket. He threw it at the wall, and the seam in the corner where the walls met lit up with a glowing blue light. Not all the way up to the ceiling, but up to the height of a normal door.
Azurill stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. “What is that?”
“A potion that reveals hidden things,” Ruri smiled in satisfaction. “I had a feeling we might need it at some point, so I’ve been carrying it since the competition began.” Azurill nodded to Balthazar, who ran his hand up the glowing seam, finding a latch that opened a hidden door.
“Where in the Otherworld did this come from?” The king growled, “These rooms are supposed to be free of any hidden passageways or doors.”
“Unless they used magic to make one,” Balthazar countered, raising his brows. Azurill looked to him before turning back to where Alfrikr now had the assassin in onyx chains.
He walked over, grabbing the assassin by the chin and forcing him to meet his eyes. The assassin glared at him, his jaw moving back and forth like he was grinding his teeth.
“If you value your life, you’ll tell me everything I want to know,” Azurill said, his voice deadly calm in a way that sent shivers racing down my back. I would hate to be on the other side of that. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
The assassin, proving he wasn’t very smart, or didn’t value his life at all, merely laughed. “My life is forfeit either way. Why would I tell you anything?”
Azurill smiled, but it wasn’t a smile I’d seen from him before. It was almost frightening to witness. “Because I could let you die quickly, or I could draw it out. I could keep you alive for years, if I wished.”
“Or we could use a truth potion on him?” Ruri suggested, looking slightly conflicted, exposing the uncertain youth he really was behind his title.
“I thought they weren’t reliable?” I asked, making everyone look over at me. I almost shrank under all their gazes, but I firmed my spine. “Since everyone perceives things differently, wouldn’t the truth potion just pull out their truth, and not necessarily the actual truth?”
“That’s true,” Ruri admitted grudgingly. “But because we’re asking after orders he was given, it should be fairly straightforward. And then you can play with him after, brother.” He told Azurill with a catlike smirk.
The assassin’s eyes went wide with fright, looking between everyone present, but shrinking under the king’s gaze. “No! Please, I’ll tell you!”
“Will you now?” Azurill purred, a smirk rising and making the assassin’s panic rise in tandem at how delighted he appeared to have someone to torture.
“Yes! I swear to Soteria I’ll tell you everything, just don’t drag it out,” he begged, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead. “She promised this would be quick and easy, and I’d be set for life after.”
“Who?” Azurill demanded, his teal eyes lit with a fire that promised retribution.
“Lady Zumra,” he said heavily, his eyes closing in defeat.
“She said she was unfairly eliminated and it was Lady Jacinth’s fault.
She thought that if she took her out, then you’d need to bring another competitor back in to have the numbers work out for the final trial. She said there was precedent for it.”
“The last time a lady was killed in the Diamond Queen Competition, they did have to bring back an already eliminated competitor to fill the ranks properly,” Balthazar added, nodding slightly as understanding crossed his face.
“Guards,” Azurill called sternly, “arrest Lady Zumra Giada of Emerald Court, by order of the High King.” The guards nodded, and Balthazar told several to go, while the others remained here.
“Ruri, go get Emrys.” Azurill turned to his brother. “We’ll need him to do damage control with Lord Khader and Lady Umina. They won’t be happy to have their daughter arrested. We’ll need to explain everything to them.”
Ruri nodded, taking off to find the only man who might be able to manage this mess. Balthazar and Alfrikr grabbed the assassin, taking him away to extract any more information they needed. But Azurill stayed, making me raise a brow at him.
“I’m not leaving you here alone after that, Mini-Dite.” He smiled slightly, though the stress was clear on his face.
“And what are you going to do?” I asked him, amused. “Sleep at the end of my bed like a watch-dog?”
He flushed, looking slightly embarrassed, before glancing around the room. Spotting the chaise lounge, he shrugged and waved an arm towards it. “That’ll work well enough.”
I couldn’t help but sigh, shaking my head at him. “The bed is big enough for two if you truly insist on this.”
“That would be most improper, my lady.” Azurill teased, but his tongue played across his teeth, making him look like a predator about to lunge for their prey.
“Would it?” I asked innocently. “I would hate to impinge on your virtue, so if you’re not up to the task, Veri, just say so.”
His low growl filled the room, and chills broke out across my skin, a shiver of anticipation wracking through me.
Just waiting for the predator to make his move.