Page 145 of Lady of the Drowned Empire

He looked surprised. I tucked that away as a win. I’d guessed correctly.

“What makes you say that, Lady Asherah?”

I ignored his attempt at insulting me, and lifted my chin, as I gathered all my thoughts.

“One, that your uncle is leading the Emperor’s task force to hunt akadim. You’re not at the Academy in classes. And you’re clearly not on the hunt. So, I’m guessing, you’re not even supposed to be here. Second, I was locked in prison by your uncle. And I escaped.” I stared him down, pretending I wasn’t terrified. “You found me. Something tells me that protocol demands I be kept in your dungeons, but I’m not. I woke up without even a guard in place and my weapons still on my body. And I’m in your bedroom.”

He shrugged. “Dungeons? Guard? Come on now. You’re engaged to Lord Viktor. You’re not a prisoner here.”

“The cuts on my wrists and these ropes say otherwise,” I gritted through my teeth.

He shrugged again, stepping closer. “Well, like you said—you escaped. Thought you might be a flight risk. Couldn’t take any chances.”

“So why not remove my weapons?”

He frowned, his lips pouting. “Are you able to reach them?” he asked, his voice mockingly sweet, like I was a child, Like it was the dumbest question ever asked.

I glared. “Then tell me, why your room if not a dungeon? As you said, I’m to be engaged to Lord Viktor.”

He frowned. “He’s not here.”

I stored that information away, too. “Is this how you treat your future cousin-in-law?”

He laughed. “Come now, Lady Asherah. Or shall I call you Lady Lyriana? Soturion?" He shrugged. "We both know you have zero desire to marry him.”

“I wasn’t aware Ka Kormac cared what others wanted or desired.”

Brockton smirked.

“Even so,” I said, “won’t he be mad that you have me tied up like this?”

His eyes narrowed, and he turned away from me and began pacing up and down the room. He stopped suddenly in the center of the room and walked toward me. His roughened hands gripped my chin, forcing my face up to his.

“You think your mind games are going to work on me? Huh?” He spit in my face, and I resisted the urge to gag as his spit slid down my cheek. “I found you on my land. In my country. Surrounded by nine dead nahashim. I didn’t come to your fucking country and pass out, now did I? Nor did I bring any monsters with me.”

No. But your uncle brought fucking akadim. I tried to twist out of his hold, but he only held me tighter, his nails pinching the corners of my mouth.

“You did that,” he snarled. “You came here. You escaped the Shadow Stronghold—I assumed to get away from my cousin or uncle. I assumed to go after your sisters like the idiot you are. But, no, I find you here, and with nine fucking snakes. I want to know why.”

“I’m trying to find my sisters,” I shouted.

“And what makes you think they’re here?” he asked, his neck flaring with color.

I watched him carefully. He seemed to be genuinely asking his question. Like he wondered what I knew that he didn’t. Like he’d been left out of some crucial detail others had been privy to. Or like he was about to be in trouble—I was positive he wasn’t supposed to be here now.

“What makes you think they’re not here?” I asked, wondering just how much he knew, if he knew anything at all. I had no idea who’d taken my sisters and written me that letter. It could have been Imperator Kormac. But then why make the exchange in Glemaria? I’d think Rhyan’s father sent the note—except for the fact that he had the key.

“I’d know,” Brockton spat. “Why come here for them?”

“Because I don’t know where they are,” I said desperately. “I’m just searching. I just want to find them.”

“Alone?” he asked.

I tugged on my binds. “Obviously.”

His fingers dug into my chin. “Where’s your forsworn bastard?”

I bit the inside of my cheek. “I have no idea where Soturion Hart is.”