Page 69

“It hurts and for some reason I like it,” he slurred.

Either that wine was hitting him hard or there was something else in it.

“I thought so,” Piper crooned, then she grabbed his shoulders and pushed him back on the bed. “I heard you have the All Seeing Stone. Is that true, Lord?”

Layala almost groaned. She truly just came out with it? Maker above, it’s not like he was simply going to hand it over.

But to her surprise, he nodded, tongue practically wagging as she climbed on him. “Yes. What do you want with the stone?”

“Where is it?”

His eyebrow ticked up and that seemed to sober him some. He snatched Piper around the throat, and she immediately grabbed his wrist with both hands. “Why are you asking me about the stone?”

Shit, Layala rubbed her face and found herself moving across the floor toward the pair. The wine wasn’t hitting as hard as they thought.

“Don’t hurt her. It was my idea.”

“What was?” he snapped.

“To come in here and ask for the stone. I need it. It’s important.”

His glassy eyes narrowed but he only tightened his fingers more around Piper. Her wheezing sent a shot of panic through Layala.

“So you’re not my gift.”

“No.”

He dropped his hand and Piper gasped for air and wrapped her hands around the front of her throat. He shoved her to the side and got up.

“Just for the fact that you had the guts and ability to slip by my guards and get in here, I’ll hear you out. But if I think you’re lying, I won’t tell you where it is and trust me, you’ll never find it.” He looked Layala up and down. “And I have a soft spot for beautiful half-naked females, high elves or not.”

How did he know?

He stepped around Layala, swaying a little as he walked to the room where they’d left Thane. She could hardly believe he hadn’t stepped in already. Layala curled her fingers, nails biting into her palms. Had Thane found a place to hide? What would Thane do when they met? Threaten him with death? Something about Brunard told her, he’d rather die than give anything to Thane.

She waited for a shout, for Thane to start barking orders, or a fist to crack flesh and bone but the shirtless Brunard simply sauntered over to the loveseat and picked up a glass of wine. “Why are you two still standing there? Come. Sit.” He waved a lazy hand at the sofa across from him and leaned back, legs spread wide as if he had not a care in the world. At least he wore pants.

Layala glanced at Piper.Where did Thane go?There were no shelves or doors or shadows to hide in or behind. Her gaze drifted toward the balcony. Was he giving them a chance to talk to Brunard? He must believe it was a possibility to get the stone’s location without torture and mayhem.

Layala gracefully lowered onto the soft navy-blue sofa and rested her hands on top of her bare thighs. She kept her spine rigid, not comfortable enough to lean back and relax. What story was she going to come up with to convince him to give her the stone?

Piper held the same posture beside her. On guard, waiting for Brunard to do something rash. The worn, silver book with pages falling out caught her attention. Under it was a drawing and from its peeking corner in black ink, she made out the outline of what might be a scepter of some kind. An ornate piece a king might hold.

Brunard leaned forward, gripped a white napkin from beside the book and wiggled it at Layala. “You’re bleeding a little. Ever since your fallen prince escaped, I’ve wondered if he might come back to kill me. You’ll understand if I’m cautious.”

“Our fallen prince?”

“Oh, I know neither of you is a woodland elf. There are subtle differences in your features.”

“Oh, of course,” Layala said, and grasped the napkin, trying but failing to keep her hand from trembling a little. The rush of adrenaline, the urge to fight still surged through her veins. She forced herself not to look at the balcony again. Thane had to be out there, and if he heard that Brunard made her bleed? Maker above, she was shocked he hadn’t blasted in here yet. With a deep breath, she pressed the crisp napkin to her throat. “But he’s dead or hadn’t you heard?”

With a smile, he leaned back in a casual manner. He took a sip of wine and then swirled the white liquid around. “I did hear that.”

But he clearly didn’t believe it. “So, the stone. Do you in fact have it?” Layala asked.

He tapped a nail against his glass. “There is something so familiar about you. I can’t put my finger on it. I thought for sure when I kissed you the memory would return.”

So he had been playing them? “I assure you we’ve never met. I’d remember,” she said coolly and smiled. She’d remember the face of the elf who tortured her lover, no doubt about it. When she tore apart Newarden in her rampage, she never saw Brunard. She didn’t even know what he looked like until now.