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“You have it. The sword. I knew you would find it.”
He tugged impatiently, pulling me out of the water, his eyes never leaving the blade.
“You wanted it all along. Why?” My teeth chattered as I stood dripping onto the stones. I pulled at my silver braid, hanging heavy and wet over my shoulder, trying to sluice some of the water out, holding the sheathed sword in my other hand.
The cut on my wrist was bleeding again. I watched as drop after drop slid down my hand and onto the blade.
For the first time, Vesper raised his eyes from the sword to my face. His expression was unreadable. “You of all people know what a hard world this is for those with fae blood. Why, your own family tried to keep what you were concealed. They poisoned you. Didn’t care if you died, as long as the truth of what you were remained hidden and secret.”
I blinked my eyes at him slowly. “Don’t talk as if you know who I really am, Vesper. You seem to know a little about concealment yourself.”
He gave a half-hearted smile. “I’ve had to become adept at it. To survive.”
“Is that why you lied to me all this time? Tricked me into thinking you liked me? Tricked me into thinking that you actually... cared?” My voice caught in my throat and I cursed myself for showing a sign of emotion. He didn’t deserve to see it. He deserved nothing from me now.
The smile dropped away. “But I do care. That wasn’t a trick. It was an accident.” He sighed and ran a hand over his face. “I wish it was otherwise.”
He studied me admiringly and I felt myself recoiling from his gaze. “I mean, look at you. You’re beautiful, Morgan. Growing more so each day. And you’re the king’s sister.” His expression turned wry. “Not that that would have worked to my advantage.”
“You did something to me,” I shot back. “What was it? The lute? The pancakes?”
Vesper snorted. “Magical food? I’m not so skilled.” He shrugged modestly. “My skills lie with music and blades.”
It should have come as no surprise to hear him say so. Yet now I heard the deeper meaning.
“You mean you bewitch people with your music,” I accused. “You forced me to feel something for you.”
A hint of anger blazed in his amber eyes. “Nothing that wasn’t ready to be felt.”
I shook my head, feeling enraged. “You kindled it. You exaggerated it. Didn’t you?”
He shrugged coolly as if he didn’t care what I thought. “If that’s what you want to believe. The music...is a skill. Only those who are receptive become attuned to it.”
I looked at him with disgust. “And how many other women have been attuned to it? How many others have you tricked and seduced?” I felt cold with anger. “You knew exactly who I was all along, didn’t you?”
Vesper’s chin jutted out. “An assassin’s apprentice? Wandering through Cerunnos?” He laughed and shook his head. “Not that you aren’t skilled with a bow and a blade. But Draven? Please. He’s not the sort of man to take an apprentice. No, he was with you for his own reasons. Nothing more.”
I studied him darkly. “Two of a kind then, I suppose.”
Vesper crossed his arms. “I suppose you could say that. Though I doubt Draven’s motivations were as pure as mine.”
It was my turn to laugh then. “You believe your motives are pure? I look forward to hearing them.”
“I’ve never claimed to be pure of heart. I’ve done wrong in my time. I don’t deny it.” He smirked. “Perhaps it's what drew you to me.”
“Don’t say that as if it’s a virtue to simply admit it,” I snapped. “Your music drew me to you. What other wrong have you done besides tricking women into your bed? Do you mean leading the merchants into this place and then abandoning them to their deaths? That kind of wrong? I believe it’s simply called murder in most places.”
Vesper looked pained. “You’ll never understand what it is to suffer, Morgan. To have so little and to want so much. Laverna–now at least she knows a little about suffering.”
I stared at his handsome face, stunned into silence. He believed I had never suffered? Only now did I realize how blind I had truly been. How little he really knew me.
“How have you suffered?” I asked simply.
“I grew up dirt poor. The riches in this place. They could make someone wealthy for an entire lifetime.” His face became hard. “And your family? You’re not the only one they’ve made suffer.”
“What do you mean by that?” I demanded. “You’ve never met them...” I stopped. “Arthur sent you.”
He nodded. “He’d heard of Laverna and I. We’ve gained something of a reputation as delvers. We’re willing to go where few will step. And my sister? She happens to live with our aunt and uncle in Camelot. What do you think your brother did when he found out about that happy coincidence?”
