Ivana gulped down a breath as she tried to speak. “You … you mean to lift the spell so I can leave.”
“No,” Nikolai said with a smirk. He picked up the cane and rolled the stem between his fingers. “I have no intention of lifting the spell.”
Leo watched the hope in her eyes fade. “What spell?”
“I cannot leave the village,” she explained. “I cannot travel more than a few miles, ten at most. Nikolai compelled me to stay.”
“Why?”
Ivana shrugged. “He will not tell me.”
Nikolai placed the cane across his legs, one hand gripping it tight. “I will tell you whatever you want to know. All you need do is ask.”
Rather than look appeased by the offer, Ivana’s face turned pale, ashen. “You mean to kill us both,” she gasped as her eyes grew round and wide. “You would not divulge information and then let us live.”
“You were never slow-witted, Ivana. I mean to leave nothing here that would cause me any problems in the future,” Nikolai said coldly.
Leo contemplated punching him until his knuckles bled, until Nikolai’s face was unrecognisable. But he sensed he would have to be far more subtle, far shrewder in his approach if they were to survive.
“If we are to die,” he said turning to Ivana, “ask him anything you want to know.”
Leo hated seeing terror taint her pretty blue eyes. He wanted to tell her not to worry, but Nikolai would hear his words and he did not wish to give him access to his thoughts.
“He lies.” Ivana protested. “He will not tell me anything.”
Nikolai smirked. “I will answer any question put to me. Call it a token of my gratitude for acting as the guardian of this abode.”
Ivana raised her chin. “Why … why did you marry me when you had no intention of living with me?”
“It is simple. I needed money to further my cause at home, and your parents were wealthy, easy to compel. Indeed, they proved to be rather generous in the end. I will not deny that when I saw you in Vienna, I wanted to have you.” He waved his hand at her, the frilly cuffs of his shirt flapping at the end of his coat sleeves. “But you know my heart is empty when it comes to things other than war, other than taking back what I believe is rightfully mine.”
The man talked in riddles.
“Then it is as I suspected,” she said, bitterness dripping from every word. “You used me for your own gain. Out of greed and spite, you turned me into the monster you see before you.”
“We are not monsters,” he replied indignantly. “We are strong, powerful creatures who cannot be easily manipulated by others. My affliction has helped me gain back my lands.”
“You manipulated me.”
“Yes. But only because I needed to keep you here.”
Ivana shot out of the chair. “Why?”
Nikolai tutted. “For this reason.” He waved his hand over her again. “You are too impetuous, too needy. You think with your heart and not your head. Because I do not need such a distraction.”
Leo sat in silence and watched the exchange. Nikolai was not being entirely honest with them. During their conversation, while Nikolai focused on answering Ivana’s questions, Leo attempted to pick up threads of his thoughts. Nikolai had come back for something, something of great value. It had nothing to do with Ivana. It was an object, an item of extreme importance.
Nikolai glanced at him suspiciously, and so Leo sought to ask a question of his own to distract him further. “Is it your intention to remain at the castle?”
Nikolai examined his fingernails. “I’m afraid it will be uninhabita
ble after the fire.”
“Fire! What fire?” Ivana flopped down in the chair, her frantic gaze locking with his. Despite her husband sitting a few feet away, Leo took her hand and caressed it with his thumb.
Nikolai's flippant comment had revealed another clue: the item he wanted could be found within the stone walls.
Sylvester’s discreet cough drew their attention. He hovered behind them waiting for a sign or gesture to allow him to step forward. Nikolai waved for him to come closer. Noticing the vials of burgundy liquid lying on the silver tray he gave a disdainful snort.