Page 64 of Liar Witch

Niklaus

Goddess, it takes everything in me not to look up. To not see my mate in the flesh. To know she’s looking at me—judging me—when I can’t even glance at her is making my heart beat erratically in my chest.

Is she still wounded? The last time I saw her, she’d been beaten within an inch of her life. My nails dig into my palms as I restrain the urge to check on her.

Disobedience here, in front of the whole court, will cost us everything.

The silvery fur of her cat isn’t off limits, though. I stare at the tabby as it presses itself against my leg.

Her familiar? It looks sweet, and it’s clearly affectionate. I wish I could stroke it, but before I can be tempted any further, it slinks away into the crowd, giving up on me.

Nilsa’s gift sits on the floor by my knees, and I can’t help but stare at the soft layers of dark tissue. It’s small, unremarkable, and a thousand times better than the gleaming gold chest that Adella brought, which is sitting, admired by the guests, in the corner.

That’s not a gift for me. Not really. Adella knows I don’t care about pearls. It’s just money at the end of the day. A display of wealth intended to impress others, given without thought nor care as to my preference.

This tiny box…

Oh, little mate, what have you gotten me?

“Well, Niklaus, will you not show us what the witch has gifted you?” My mother’s words aren’t a suggestion, no matter how light the tone she’s using is.

No, she wants me to humiliate my mate by showing off her ‘inferior’ gift.

I want to refuse.

Fucking mate challenge.

If I didn’t know for a fact that there are ten guards tasked with keeping me in this hall, I’d grab her and make a run for it.

Like I’ve tried to do too many times since that night.

My finger slips the knot on the ribbon free, then with careful motions, I unwrap my present.

I don’t bother to hide my smile when I see the contents of the box. I know exactly why she chose it.

It reminds her of our beach.

“How quaint.”

Not for the first time I wish I could disembowel my mother.

She’s taking advantage of my enforced silence and she knows it.

“Come, Witch, we’ll begin the feast now that you’re here. You simply must meet Adella.”

I grind my teeth together as my mother leads my reluctant mate to the other side of her throne. Adella has been given the seat on the right, closest to me. No surprise there.

They don’t make it three steps.

“Mother, can we not have Nilsa sit with us?”

Alexandra? What is she up to?

The Seven’s table is legendary for being the best place at any feast. Not the highest honour, like the Empress’s table, but always the life of any party. My sisters are a rowdy bunch and Nilsa’s more likely to feel at home among them than the politicians at my mother’s table. But still… what’s my sister’s angle?

My head starts to hurt. Fuck. I hate sirenae politics.

“Of course, I’m sure she’ll be more comfortable away from the high table.” The Empress doesn’t even trouble to keep the relief out of her voice.