Chapter Ten #2
“Brazen of you to waltz into Maripol without a weapon,” I ventured.
“Seemed pointless when I am one.”
I scoffed. He might have been right, but I wouldn’t let him know that. Rule number one when dealing with handsome men: never let them believe you find them attractive.
“Your confidence far exceeds your demonstrated performance.” I smiled sweetly. “I could kill you right here.” My affinity lanced into the hand at my waist—a blade of burning ice I made sure would sting, but not quite draw blood.
Shadows snaked around my throat, warm and velvety, subtly tightening. He leaned forward again, not even remotely affected by my threat. “Then do it.” He pulled me closer, pressing my ice blade further into himself.
I released my hold on my affinity. I didn’t want to get blood on Delah’s dress.
“Have you investigated my claims that your king provides his citizens with poison?” The low rumble of his tone in my ear stirred my core, despite the treasonous words he spoke.
The neckline of my halter inched downward as my chest brushed against his own.
“And why would that be true when my primary directives are to destroy Glint traffickers and find the source of its supply? What a waste of an elite soldier like myself if it hinged on a lie.” I dragged my fingers along his neck and down his chest. Gods, he was huge.
A muscle feathered in his jaw and his breathing tensed.
Good. I affected him as much as he affected me.
“Illusionists pretending to be leaders know how to create immaculate distractions. Wouldn’t you agree?” His eyes glinted.
“Is that not what you are doing in this very moment?” I held his gaze, biting my lower lip. He swallowed, tracking the movement.
The general moved me around other couples, ignoring my barb.
“Perhaps you should ask yourself what might be in it for him. Or why he seems to collect orphans.” My eyes narrowed.
He knew who I was and probably knew my background.
Now that I’d seen his face, I would be able to track him better and learn more about where he came from and what he was after.
“Seeking the low hanging fruit, are we? Hoping for a reaction? You have the confidence of a much taller man.” He quirked a brow before a laugh burst out of him.
The genuineness of his amusement transformed his face.
I almost got a glimpse of the man beneath the bravado.
To be fair, he was absurdly tall, but I’d hoped to knock him down a peg.
His thumb traced circles at my hip, my body all too aware of his hands on me. He was relentless.
I pressed myself against him, restraining the urge to shut my eyes and just feel. “I didn’t come out to discuss potential duplicity. Tell me, General, how does the Crimson Wolf divert our Berine shipments?”
One of his hands snaked from my waist around to my lower back, the other crept behind my head, tilting it upward. His fingers slid along my scalp, tugging at my hair. He leaned down, aligning his face toward my own. I held my breath, nearly forgetting my question.
I waited to see if those lips felt as warm and soft as they appeared. Would he crush me with them? I wouldn’t mind if he did. My entire body hovered in reckless anticipation.
He tantalizingly grazed my mouth, teasing me with cruel lips. “The Crimson Wolf is a myth.” He straightened up, releasing me from his thrall.
The loss of his touch almost made me whimper. Almost. Ruin, the spy, observed his every minute movement.
He hadn’t been truthful.
I licked my lips, disappointed in more ways than one. I knew the Crimson Wolf was part of his rebellion. If he didn’t want to acknowledge him, I’d try a different route. “Then why are you interfering with our Berine? You’re harming innocent citizens of Haluma, General.”
His gaze lingered on my lips. “Keep digging, Ruin of the Scourge. I have no doubt they trained you well. I’m just not sure they’re pointing you in the right direction. And you can call me Judd.” He had the audacity to wink at me.
I pushed him away at that. I’d had enough of his insinuations against the Good King. I cringed inwardly. I had just flirted with the general. The rebel general.
Resolve for my loyalty to King Nolan surged within me. Judd was right. I had been trained thoroughly in espionage. And I would use that skill to uncover what the rebellion was up to.
Somehow, I had blocked out the crowd around us. All my awareness had focused on him. The spell between us broke. The floating orbs pulsed brighter, and the mass of people flooded my senses.
A tray of waters lay nearby. I grabbed one and downed its contents in an effort to clear my head. I gripped the empty glass as my eyes locked with Judd, momentarily arrested. An indolent smirk spread across his bold features.
Something about him nagged at me. Besides Nolan, there was only one person in all the realms I knew of who had shadows. But he said his name was Judd. A hope I hadn’t foreseen fell dashed before I could acknowledge it. I shouldn’t have been disappointed.
I couldn’t break my stare.
He leaned closer, his breath ghosting my cheeks.
“Go ahead and look your fill, but trust me, anything more will only end in heartbreak.” Shadows pulsed around his shoulders.
I peered closer, searching beyond his arrogant warning.
His eyes glowed as his pupils widened. He scanned my face with a mixture of desire and… anger?
His muscular arms dropped to his side as he studied me like a rare gemstone. He took a step closer, and though it was wrong, I welcomed it.
A sharp laugh from nearby punctured the moment, deflating it.
I sat the glass down. The movement caught Judd’s attention and he stared at the glass, his body stilling.
I vaguely noted alarm filling his features.
I wasn’t going to get much more out of him.
I increasingly felt the waters of our conversation rising, becoming more dangerous as we continued.
Perhaps I should shut this down before I allowed something traitorous to happen.
His allure would sweep me out like a riptide. I had to end this.
I searched for Delah.
Where was the woman in the lime-green dress?
Finally, I spotted her. Her mysterious companion stood an inch from her face. One hand rested on her backside and the other gently stroked her arm. I watched as she blinked coyly. He leaned forward and they began kissing—no, devouring each other.
I walked over, swerving through the crowds. “I’m heading out, Delah.”
She shifted toward me, breaking her lip-locked connection, a dazed look on her face. “Already?”
“You aren’t leaving now, are you?” Delah’s partner asked her, his face showing a hint of amusement. He stood as tall and muscular as Judd, though blond where Judd was dark and stormy.
Judd appeared at my side. “You good, Finn?” His blonde friend nodded as he subtly pulled Delah closer to himself.
A wave of dizziness swept over me as I shifted on my feet. “I’m sorry, Delah. I’ll meet you at home. You have fun.” I paused, forcing a smile, “But not too much.”
“I should come with you—” she started.
“No.” I cut her off, taking hold of her hand.
“Your friend Jazmina is around here somewhere and you two can look out for each other. I’ll be happy knowing you’re having a good time.
” I discreetly pointed out the security I had scoped out when we first entered the festival.
“You know I’ll just hover anyway.” She squeezed my hand before letting it go.
Delah lingered a moment, while her companion, Finn, stood awkwardly behind her.
“I’ll be a couple of hours at most.”
I nodded, then turned and exited, leaving Delah, and the general, behind.
My vision blurred as I walked back toward the Rivellan Wood, the chaos of the festival receding behind me.
My senses distorted. Stumbling, I leaned against a building.
A tremor wracked through my body. Something was very wrong.
I stared down at my hands, and there it was.
Golden shimmer dusted my fingertips. My stomach dropped.
Dizziness crested. Shadows and light curled in threatening shapes around me. Crouching, I shoved my finger down my throat. My movements were sloppy. It was too late to throw it up anyway. Golden poison coursed through my system. I would have to let it run its course.
Fear crawled up my throat. I slumped, helpless to the intoxication of Glint. I could feel my magic separating from my blood, like I was being unmade with acid and fire.
My skin prickled as my body registered the presence of someone. I tried to speak, but my lips wouldn’t move. Warm arms scooped me up, cradling me. My mind screamed. My body was no longer my own. A whimper escaped me.
“Shh. It’s okay. You’re safe now. The water cup. When you sat it down, I saw traces of Glint on the rim.” Damn. Perhaps King Nolan’s weird obsession with the soldier’s water supplies was warranted. “I’ll take you home.”
Wind rustled across my face as I faintly registered our movement. My magic leaked out of me. Was I hallucinating? His lush smell surrounded me. It blunted the sharpness of my alarm. I dully wondered if he would try to kill me. Why would he help the king’s spy?
I blacked out.
A door creaked. Familiar smells greeted me. My head lolled. Gentle hands laid me on something soft.
“You must drink this. It will help flush it from your system.” Gods, that voice could tame a wolvin. Something cold and hard met my lips. A strong hand splayed at the base of my skull, tilting my head back.
“Try to swallow. Please.” I wished I could open my eyes. I sputtered as liquid filled my mouth. I involuntarily swallowed. A trickle of it ran down my chin. A warm thumb wiped away the remnants. It lingered on my bottom lip. This must be a dream.
Silence blanketed the room. My tremors lessened. Lethargy and fatigue overwhelmed me. On the brink of unconsciousness, a whisper penetrated the fog. “I’ll be in touch, Ruin of the Scourge.”