Page 125 of Unmasked

My lips twisted. “With your hypnosis magic tricks?”

He laughed. “I think we both know it has benefits when aimed at the right people. It’s not like I’m… I don’t know… making him confess all his secrets to you or the public.”

My brow drew in.

“You could get him to do that?”

“I could make him do anything. Too bad he’s off limits to me. The Council won’t have it. I have offered my services should they change their minds.”

“…But you could do that? You could get him to confess everything he knows?”

“Unavowed, I could make him hold a press conference and not only have him admit the truth to the world, but I could make him crown you king and then kiss your feet.”

My mind raced. “I wouldn’t be opposed.”

“That makes both of us. I’ve talked to him a few times. Massive ego but dark potential. Too bad they said no.”

I paused. “I’m not surprised, given his handler.”

“You know who his handler is?”

“I found out recently. My own handler confirmed.”

A sound left him. “You know who yours is? How?”

“Elec, you act like you don’t know your own.”

A long pause. “I don’t. I was never told who it was. Who’s yours? Who’s King Lawrence’s?”

“Even I know who yours is.” I laughed. “You mean I know something you don’t? Interesting.”

“Not funny. Who is it?” He let out a small growl. “It’s not Bram Whitlock. Tell me it’s not my cousin. God, if it’s Bram⁠—"

“Would that be so bad?”

“Ugh, no. Dammit. It is, isn’t it?”

“Who better than blood? Especially blood you don’t get along with.”

“Do you want to trade?”

Laughing, my head shook. “No. I’ll stick with Mr. Prescott.”

“Prescott.” Elec whispered his name. “Why is that name familiar?”

“I have no idea, but he’s relatively new. He’s been my handler about… five years now? He wasn’t very active at first, but recently he’s come around.” I paused wondering how much I could tell Elec. I shouldn’t… yet… I felt I could tell him anything. He wasn’t hard to talk to. I noticed that the last few times we talked. If the circumstances were different, we might even be friends.

“Elec… he told me something I wonder is true. Something that could change things entirely if it were exposed.”

“Is that right? What did he say?”

Looking down, I took in my signet ring, tracing my finger over the top. “Do you know the story of how my family became The Black Line?”

“I know a story. I’m not sure how much of it is true.”

“What is the version you heard?”

A few seconds passed. “David Evans, The Duke of Ironhold. Supposedly, he was at the palace, the old one, when a letter was intercepted. It basically showed that King Vaughn was colluding with enemy forces, committing treason. The damning part of it was that it bore King Vaughn’s personal seal. That would be from the one and only signet ring he wore.”