I focused on the new guy. He was only a bit taller than me, and had little hands. He was also super thin, like he needed a couple sandwiches. His eyes were deeply set in his face and his mouth was scowling.
“Ms. Salix, I have a few questions for you.”
He drew a long knife out of his jacket and placed it on the table between us.
I raised my eyebrows at him. “Is this where you threaten violence, so I comply with your demands? You don’t need to. I’m sitting here, aren’t I? Ask me what you want to know, and I’ll tell you if I can.”
He shook his head. “You misunderstand me. I want to know about this knife. My men took it from your friend, the fae. This is an unusual weapon, a priceless one.”
I eyed the knife. It was long, with a carved bone handle. Pretty, but it didn’t look special. “I’ve never seen that knife before, so I don’t know. Fin hadn’t allowed me into his armory... yet.”
“Fin, that was your friend’s name?”
I shrugged. “The only name he ever gave me.”
“Why do you think he left you here?”
The old ‘get under my skin and break the trust of the team’ method.
I shrugged. “Maybe he had another engagement. Or maybe he just got bored. The party was pretty lame.”
My interrogator didn’t even blink, his face remained perfectly neutral. “Tell me what you know about fae.”
“Probably the same as you, Gregg. I’m human. The only thing I know is they are stronger and faster. Also, they can be assholes.”
“Nothing else? Are you sure?”
I waved at the knife between us. “You seem to know more than I do. Fin wasn’t exactly the sharing type. To him, I’m nothing more than an employee. You’re wasting your time on the hired help.”
His brow furrowed as he stared at me. I met his eyes head on. Greggy boy didn’t intimidate me one bit.
“And you don’t believe me when I say that he left you here? Where is he then?” Gregg asked.
I’d thought Fin had been captured as well. Not at the same time I had been, but quickly after. My revelation stayed in my head; I didn’t give Gregg anything.
“If he’s not here, then you better get ready because he’ll come back for me.”
“Didn’t you just say you’re the hired help? Why would he trouble himself with rescuing you?”
The man had been listening.
I batted my lashes at him. ?
??I’m kinda cute and a wildcat in the sack?”
“Humorous, but doesn’t answer my question.”
Really? I thought that was enough for most men.
I crossed my arms under my breasts. “I answered. It wasn’t the one you wanted.”
“Ms. Salix, you are going to force me to use more persuasive methods of questioning.”
I gave him my patented unhinged smile. The effect was greater for my ripped dress and messed up hair. “Oh, Gregg, are you coming on to me?”
A vibration went through the air. I felt it and braced for whatever magic he threw my way. Within a second, the air in the room seemed to disappear. I couldn’t draw a full breath. I tried to suck in oxygen, but my lungs were locked. Nothing came in or out.
Then, as quickly as he’d enchanted me, he stopped. He looked smug, which made my new friend Gregg a sadist. He enjoyed inflicting pain.