Page 225 of Sword & Shadow
Deckard shot a furious glare at her. “He will not touch her,” he growled fiercely.
“I appreciate your jealousy,” Renaul said in amusement, “but it will do you no good. Rouland will be here in the morning. He will kill the four of you gentlemen, and then he’ll likely torture the Calders for their knowledge and kill them after. And as soon as he has all the necessary implements, he’ll Bond with Evylin. From there, the Bond will do the work, or so I’m told.”
Evylin struggled to breathe, her head reeling. She stared down at her plate, which sat still untouched. Bile rose as she watched the juices and sauces bleed together in the center. Deckard’s fingers were painfully tight around hers, but she could hardly feel the pressure. Under no circumstances would she allow herself to be Bonded to Blount. She couldn’t bear to fathom the thought of such an end.
Renaul set her empty wine glass down, and a servant sprang forward to refill it. “I must say, you’re all far too upset by this. You should be pleased that he’s allowing her to live.”
“Some lives are worse than death,” Thom said with anger. “None of us would subject Evylin to such a cruel fate.”
“Pity that you feel that way,” Renaul said with a bored inflection. “Well, is that it then? Do you have no more questions for me?”
None of them spoke. Evylin’s fear continued to rise, choking her. Left with no other choices lest she be shackled to the whim of a sadistic tyrant, she would have to kill herself. But how? She had no weapons, no means of inflicting bodily harm. If Blount wanted to Bond with her, he wouldn’t allow Renaul’s men or Highlady Freye to kill her, no matter what she did to provoke them. If she tried to escape or fight, they’d just injure her enough to force her into submission. As Auden had said, Blount would do whatever it took....
No, if she wanted death, there was only one recourse.
Staring down at their joined hands on the table, Evylin drew her thumb along Deckard’s. If she wanted to be protected from such a cruel fate, she’d have to convincehimto do it.
In the prolonged silence, Ethenn cleared his throat. “I have a question,” he said.
Renaul gave him a cheery smile. “That’s the spirit. Ask away, handsome.”
“Where are the Relics?”
They all perked up at that.
“Mm, you are a clever one, aren’t you?” Renaul tapped a finger to her chin, considering Ethenn. “I did promise you honesty. They are safely locked away in my vault.”
“And where is your vault located?” Ethenn asked.
Her smile grew. “In my bedroom.”
The five Ephrians shared thoughtful looks.
“Don’t bother planning a heist, dears,” Renaul said jovially. “Rouland gave me this vault as a gift. It’s magical in design, and only he or I can open it.”
“Seeing as how he’s intending to throw you over for Eve,” Rafferty mused, “what d’ya say to switching sides?”
Hope didn’t have a second to grow in any of them as Renaul laughed instantly at the suggestion. “I think not. You cannot offer me what Rouland has. And what would the purpose of all this have been if I simply let you go?”
“An entertaining diversion?” Rafferty suggested.
Renaul sipped her wine dismissively.
“What about the Calders?” Thom asked. “Where are you keeping them?”
“In my dungeon,” she said.
“And where is that?”
“In what used to be my family’s catacombs.” Renaul sat forward, eyes twinkling. “You can’t rescue them either.”
Thom turned away, not deigning to reply.
“Any further questions?” Renaul asked.
At their prolonged silence, she shrugged. “Very well. I’ll admit I’m disappointed. I thought we might have more fun, but alas...” She surveyed them coldly. “Now, if you’re done with our conversation, I’d advise you to finish your plates. The hour grows late, and you’ll want to be at your best in the morning.”
Renaul’s hospitality withered as her entertainment waned. Uncertainly, the men returned to their meals while Highlady Freye continued to eat with indifference. Evylin couldn’t bring herself to move. Not while panic pooled in her gut.
