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“A little air?”
“The restroom?”
“Of course.” He rang a small bell and a housemaid appeared from a side door. “Please show Mr. Anzio to the washrooms.”
“Of course, milord.”
I hurried along behind the maid and plucked my shirt from my damp chest. Cool sweat trickled down my back. Was it the wine? Had he poisoned me? I’d been a fool to drink it. I’d known not to. But it had been in my hand and his questions had encircled me so much that I hadn’t realized the glass was upon my lips until it was too late.
The maid glanced at me. “This way, sir.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, fine. Just need some air, I think.”
“I knew a girl once. Could faint just like that.” She clicked her fingers.
I laughed a little shrilly. “I’m not about to faint, miss.”
“No? You look it, milord.”
“I am fine.” I tugged at my collar. “It’s warm this evening, no?”
“No.”
I spotted the door to the guest washrooms ahead and raced in front of the maid.
“Oh, you know your way around, then,” she said.
I pushed through the door. “Thank you. I can find my way back,” I said, and slumped over the basin. A wall of mirrors painted a stark picture of a trembling, pale man. Did I truly look so ghastly? This would not do. I filled the basin from the faucet and splashed cold water on my face, shocking my body back into reality. Was I sick, or was this part of Adair’s silly game? He’d tried to confused me, and slithered out of every pertinent question. The game was ridiculous. It was time to throw off the nonsense and outright ask what he was.
But what if I was wrong? What if I accused a lord of being a mythical creature? I truly would be mad.
“I’m not wrong.”
I’d seen the inner movements of Devere’s arm, the cogs and gears at work inside of him. Proof that magic existed. And he’d told me Rochefort was a lie, a pantomime. I had to ask Rochefort if he was fae but do so in a way that wouldn’t enrage him, or I’d risk losing Devere.
“God…”
One wrong move could ruineverything. Devere might forget me again, and I wasn’t sure I could withstand losing him another time.
I needed leverage, needed something Adair couldn’t resist. He lived for the game, the fantasy. He made the people of Minerva dance for him. What did a man—a fae—like him want? What did heneed?He sought to hurt Devere, because Devere had defied him. He’d tried to seduce me, and was probably still trying, but had switched tactics to picking apart my layers.
He wanted the things he was denied.
He wanted what he could not have.
That was his motive behind manipulating people. Control.
My heart had ceased racing and the fever cooled. Color had returned to my face too. This would all be fine. I just had to go back to that table and bargain for Devere’s freedom.
Bargain. Yes, Adair couldn’t resist a deal. Tit for tat. If he had Russo free Devere, I’d grant him a favor. It would likely be sexual, but there was little hardship in it, now that I knew the terms. Thirty minutes of sex for Devere’s freedom—that had to be worth it. I could do this. I could make a deal to free Devere.
Perhaps even free the town? No, there was no use in getting ahead of myself. I’d feel Adair out first, see exactly what he wanted.
I stepped back from the basin and looked around the luxurious washroom, with its highly elaborate peacock wallpaper and shiny gold furnishings. It did seem familiar, and the maid had implied I’d been here before, but I didn’t remember ever visiting this part of the house.
