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“Move, and I will make sure you die this very night,” she threatened, keeping her flame lit and the dagger at his neck.

His eyes flittered to the door, expecting to be saved at any moment. “You are a Witch?”

She rolled her eyes.Obviously.She let the formality with which she’d been acting fall away.

“It is unfortunate for Lady Cecily Dyèrie that she happened across me on her travels to the palace. It was not hard to take over the minds of their entire travelling party with my magic.” She turned the fireball in her palm, showing him the depth of her control. “My poor Duke Vermont is nothing but a soldier I entranced to think he is my uncle. The man will be confused when I release him from my spell.”

“Who are you really, then?” He squinted his eyes into a glare, and she could see the hate in them, the spite.

“Where is the witchling?” she asked instead. When he opened his mouth to speak, she knew the words would be a lie. She pressed her blade in harder until a drop of blood welled on the tip. “I know you had her at some point. Where is she?”

He smirked cruelly. “You will not reach her.”

Valerie’s cold stare barely flickered during their entire conversation, but she did raise the blade of her dagger. She tapped the point against his cheek.

“You speak of the Dragon.” His smug face fell. “Currently, I have him chasing his own tail. He will be quite upset when he discovers what has happened, I am sure of it.”

“How did you escape detection?”

“Easy. There is a spell that locks my witchcraft from being detected by Witches and Dragons. It makes me appear human to all senses. I was lucky I used it. I took Cecily’s blood to mask my own.” Valerie tickled the point of her blade over his face, bringing her flame closer to threaten him with it. “Now, tell me where the witchling has been taken.”

He pursed his lips in silence.

“I have many options here. I could scar that handsome face of yours.” She brought the flame closer until he winced from its heat and turned his face away. “I could pluck an eye.” She tapped the dagger right below an orb.

Then, she lowered it down their bodies as she lifted herself. She tapped it dangerously low on his body. “I could make you a eunuch. Would be a shame if you could not sire heirs.”

She brought that blade back up to press it against his bare chest, causing blood to well where his heart was. “Or I could just kill you. I have you bound, at my mercy, and your Dragon is not around to save you.”

“She is in the dungeons,” he bit with gritted teeth.

“Do not lie to me. I have searched this palace. I have been to the dungeons. If you lie to me and force me to return to your chambers, I will make sure you regret it.”

“How do I know you do not plan to kill me either way?”

“Please do not make me hurt you. I actually do not want to.” She sighed, leaning back to give him space. “I have no desire to kill you, King Bradwick. That is why I have not attacked you until now. I was hoping to find her quietly and leave before anyone noticed. As you can see, I have been most unsuccessful and have needed to resort to more drastic measures.”

Some of his anger dissipated, but he still didn’t look trustful. “You will release me if I tell you?”

“No.” She gave him a deadened laugh. “Someone else can free you. I do not trust you will not send guards to apprehend me before I get the chance to leave. You are a good king, and I can see you are not a terrible man. Tell me where the child is so I can take her. That is all I seek. No death. No blood. No pain. I promise you this.”

He seemed to think for long moments, eyeing the fireball floating above her hand. She waved it, showing him her magic in hopes of convincing him he couldn’t fight her. Then she brought it closer when he stared for too long.

“In Geryon’s room, on the second floor to the right, there is a secret door. It is to the left of his bed. The Witch child is behind it.”

Her eyes widened slightly, showing her surprise.Of course! It makes sense he would be the one keeping her.

Her heart shrivelled inside her chest.I could hate him for this.

“Thank you.”

Valerie backed away from the bed before extinguishing her fire. She quickly pulled a vial from the sleeve of her dress. Bradwick stood from the bed, but before he could do anything, she thumbed off the cork lid and threw the powdered contents in his face.

Within a few seconds, he hit the ground like a limp sack of potatoes, fast asleep. She sprinted around his room, finding material to tie his legs together with. She hog-tied him by wrapping his ankles in the sleeve of another tunic, forcing his feet and wrists to touch behind his back and tying them together as well.

He will not be able to escape that, even if he wakes from my sleeping powder.

Valerie sprinted down the hallway on the second level of the palace.I do not have much time.It was lucky she’d been to Geryon’s apartment before and remembered its location.