Page 88 of A Dance of Lies

All of this, I had known, deep down. I had seen the lust in his eyes. But I hadn’t known how far he’d taken it.

How many look-alikes has he requested? How many nights has he pretended it was me?

And by the Fates, why not just summonme? Why take pains to have someone dress like me when I am at his beck and call? My head whirls, the ground beneath me pulsing. Every inch of me trembles.

I shake myself. I have a purpose, and I’m wasting precious minutes. Hugging the wall, I skirt toward my destination: King Anton’s wing. It isn’t much farther. If I could find the blue light, that strange room—

A hand snatches my arm.

I shriek, but another covers my mouth. I’m yanked backward and pressed against a solid form, arms pulled tight against me—

“These halls are not soundproof,” my captor says into my ear, “so do try not to scream.” I attempt to wriggle free, but he tightens his hold. The heavy scent of bergamot fills my nose. “If you promise to be calm, I will release you.”

I nod, stifling a whimper, and something clicks onto my wrists. I’m released with a shove. I spin on unsteady feet.

The King of the East stares back at me, jaw working. I almost don’t recognize him in the dark. Like me, he’s clothed in black, a hood dipping over his forehead, but his sharp green eyes spear through the shadows. “Of anyone I expected to find in my tunnels, my brother’s pet is the last.”

A mix of fear and fury clogs my breath. “I’m no one’s pet,” I hiss, writhing to get my arms free, but he’s fettered them behind me with irons. Irons, just like in my cell—

“And yet he holds your reins.” Anton drags me by my upper arm so fast I can barely keep up, then pushes me into a small alcove, far from any mosaics or windows. Here, it’s even darker, and all I see are the whites of his eyes. “What is he paying you? What reward is worth two people’s lives?” He practically spits the words.

I press back against the wall. He’s blocking me in the crevice; I can’t escape.

He could have me killed. He could end it here and now. No one would know.

“Tell me,” Anton pushes. “Is his bed worth it? Do you really believe the promises he pants to you in the night?” He tightens his grip on my arm. “I suspected, but I didn’t want to believe it. My suspicions were confirmed the moment I saw his face during thatdanceof yours. Really, you and your Master Reveler should know Illian doesn’t share his harlots.”

His words leech the color from my skin. “I amnothis harlot!”

Anton’s hand snakes forward, covering my mouth again. “Whatdid I tell you about shouting?” His scent fills my nose, thick like incense. I breathe hot air against the palm of his hand, a half second from sinking my teeth into his flesh, king or not. I came to clear Laurent’s name and ask for his help, but here he is, accusing me ofthis.

“Lust is, quite frankly, the most visible quality on a man, Miss Moran. Right next to obsession,” he says, and hot tears scald the backs of my eyes. I try to speak, but his palm clamps against my mouth. When he releases it enough for me to talk, he doesn’t back away, doesn’t even give me room to breathe.

“So you condemn me because ofhislust?” I manage, an erratic beat pounding through my veins. So typical of a man to think such a thing.

I hate him. Ihatehim.

“It adds to the evidence stacked against you,” he returns. “Let’s recount, shall we? First, you pull a rather dangerous stunt to nab my attention that first night. I welcome you to my banquet, offer you a night of rest, merriment, and—better—a safe place to talk. My friends welcome you; we treat you like one of our own. And when my closest friend collapses, you happen to be right beside him. Do you expect me to believe it was a coincidence? Then—”

“I know, but I came here to—”

“—then,you sidle up to my Head of Staff, learn his secrets, and betray him before the whole of the Gathering. Do you realize who you put at risk? The cellar maiden he helped works forme.What a coincidence,” he spits, “that she’s someone my brother begrudges. I approved the forging of her documents to keep her safe. Did you really think any happenings in this palace get past me?”

He must not know about Annais; Laurent must have kept my secret, even from his king. I open my mouth, but Anton barges on. “While I entrusted the secret of my passageways to Mr. Achea to use at his discretion, I am hard-pressed to believe he had a good reason to allow you inside. Does my brother know?” A breathy laugh. “Of course he knows.” I try to squeeze a word in, but still hebarrels on. “And to think I liked you. I even second-guessed myself. Tell me, does my brother wait for you in his bed as we speak?”

All rational thought flies from my mind. “If that is what you think,” I croak, “go and look. See for yourself what he’s doingright now.”

He brushes me off. “Catching you here is all the proof I need.”

I glower at him, the threat of tears glazing my eyes. “Coward.”

He scrutinizes me, a second ticking by before making up his mind. Capturing my arm again, he ferries me along with him, and when we reach the mosaic, I turn my head. I can’t look.

But I watch Anton as he peers inside.

For a moment, he stares blankly, and I fear Illian and the girl have left. But then his features slacken, his face turning ashen even in the low light. He swallows visibly, and his eyes slide back to mine.

“I have never gone to his bed,” I breathe. “Nothing would ever convince me to.”