“What was your alpha’s name? And why didn’t he mark you for himself?”
I’d expected questions like this. He would want details.
“His name was Czar. And he only stole me because he wanted to. He’d already taken another before me, so I was nothing more than just a servant to him,” I answered.
“Why did he want two omegas?”
The edge scratched against my naked flesh, ever a reminder that I could do nothing to stop him if he decided that he didn’t believe my story. I didn’t back down. I didn’t let the threat of the knife distract me for even a second.
“It makes something of a statement to have two omegas obedient by your side, doesn’t it,” I replied, adding in a snarl for dramatic effect.
“What happened to Czar?” he asked.
I grinned menacingly, mimicking a sense of pride in order to make the next part believable.
“I killed him. I was hiding in the castle when your people captured me,” I responded accusingly.
“How did you kill him?” he pressed.
“We’d breached the walls of Ravenrath, and he’d forced me to come along to fight beside him. It’s something he’d made me do before. I refused once and he hit me enough times to make sure I never did it again. I was sick of it and this time, I saw an opportunity and I took it. He didn’t expect me to turn around and slit his throat with the very sword he’d given me to protect his own back,” I spat.
“If you were free of him, why didn’t you run?”
“The battlefield was dangerous that night. It reeked of blood and death. With the castle abandoned, I’d thought to hide there until I could get out safely. You found me before I could do that,” I answered, allowing a grimace of regret to paint over my features.
My performance had been impeccable.
For a long while, he just continued to study me, and I was left wondering if he was going to kill me, just leave me here to die, or allow me to live to see another day. I could read nothing into those beguiling irises and the longer he stared at me, the more I had to remind myself not to tremble under his ire. I stayed strong and refused to give in, and when he finally turned away and pulled the dagger away from my throat, I had to swallow a sigh of relief for fear it would give me away.
The Acolyte stepped forward next. The Recruiter just watched, not saying anything at all.
The three of them felt powerful, but there was no question that both men answered to the Prophet. He was the one in charge here. The Acolyte cleared his throat.
“I have been informed that you asked to be set free into the wilds in exchange for your assistance,” he began.
“Yes. I just want to be released from captivity. First Czar and now Magnar, there is nothing more important to me than my freedom. I want out,” I whispered vehemently.
“I think I’m going to have you be the one to slip the poison into his cup,” he murmured, and I lifted my chin at the challenge.
“Will it make him suffer?” I asked.
He chuckled and cocked his head. He knew I meant the king. We both did.
“Would you back out if he did?” the Acolyte asked.
“Not even in the slightest. If it did, I might be even more willing to offer my services,” I smirked, and he tittered with amusement.
“That’s the kind of passion I like to hear,” he answered. Even though his face was hidden behind the mask, I could tell he was smiling by the way the corners of his eyes crinkled harshly.
“I am satisfied with her answers. The Recruiter and I will take our leave. Do what you will to make sure that she’s telling the truth, Acolyte,” the Prophet declared.
My panicked heartbeat quickened just a tiny
bit.
“What will you have me do?” I asked the three of them. The Acolyte was still just staring at me and it was making me incredibly uneasy. He didn’t notice the way my muscles were tensing. For a long moment, my mark seared red-hot and I had to grit my teeth in order to bear it.
“When the time comes, we will tell you,” the Prophet answered for the others. He didn’t say anything more as he turned and left the room, effectively ending the conversation before I was ready for him to.