Page 71 of Charmless

“W-what?” I faltered. “What did you say?”

The room lit up with a flare of lightning, casting an eerie glow over Mal. It was as though I was staring at a stranger, the truth evident in the hard lines of his face, a truth I should have seen if I had not been so blinded by love and loyalty.

“Youknew,” I accused. “You have known all along what that orb really is.”

Mal compressed his lips together and I expected him to deny it. I prayed that he would, but all he said was, “Yes.”

No apologies, no excuses, justyes.

With that one simple word, Mal broke my heart. I reeled, feeling as though the storm battering at the cottage was causing the walls to collapse around me.

“Horatio was right,” I choked. “You have been lying to me all this time.”

“I didn’t lie to you precisely, just obfuscated at bit.”

“I am your closest friend. You are not supposed to obfuscate with me!” Seized by a pain and rage, the like of which I had never known, I slapped Mal across the face as hard as I could. He staggered back, as stunned by the violence of my action as I was. I clutched my stinging palm.

Mal rubbed his cheek, the red imprint of my hand staining his cheek. “I guess I deserved that.”

“Youguess?”I snarled.

“You should have just socked me in the nose. Did you forget how I showed you to throw a punch?” he asked, trying to coax a smile from me.

When I glowered at him, he sighed and abandoned the effort.

“I am truly sorry, Ella,” he said, reaching out to me, but I shrank away from him.

“Don’t! Don’t you dare touch me or I swear I will rip off your arm and pound you over the head with it.”

Mal had the good sense to retreat.

“I never wanted to deceive you,” he began.

“Then stop doing it. You tell me the truth right now, Malcolm Hawkridge. How dangerous is that orb? Exactly what does it do?”

“Just what I told you. The orb was designed to find that which is lost.”

I swore and doubled up my fist. I would have hit him again, but Mal grabbed my hand to stop me.

“I allowed you to believe that the orb would lead us to some fabulous cache of riches. The treasure is not a pot of gold or a chest of jewels.” Mal paused for effect, before announcing dramatically. “It is a man. The orb is the key to locating Queen Anthea’s true heir, our long-lost prince.”

“No!” I cried in outraged disbelief. “You let me risk my life to help you steal that orb, all to pursue some ridiculous old myth?”

“It is not ridiculous. Many people believe in the legend, including me.”

“Frap, Hawkridge! How old are you? Two? Do you still believe if you catch a mermaid, she will grant you a wish?”

“No, she’d more likely try to drown you. I discovered that the hard way one time when I— but never mind about that. The benevolent mermaid storywasa myth, but the tales of the missing heir are true.”

“So, youarepart of this league of the Missing Heir, just one more thing that you lied to me about. I suppose you were also behind the break-in at the Aura Chamber.”

“No, I swear I didn’t lie about that. I had nothing to do with that nor did any of my men.”

“As if I will ever believe another word that you say.” I sank down upon the rickety chair, feeling sick. Mal’s ability to influence those rough-looking men in the crowd suddenly making so much more sense. Horatio’s suspicions about Mal were all correct.

“Yourmen,” I said hollowly. “You are the leader of this league.”

“As was my grandfather before me.” Mal flexed his shoulders, the gesture a mingling of pride and defiance. “From the notes in Grandfather’s diary, I think your father was also part of the league.”