Chapter 7: Everly

Chapter

Seven

EVERLY

I wake with a start, my heart pounding as I take in my unfamiliar surroundings. The room is lavishly decorated, with murals of nature adorning the walls and ceiling. It might be a charming scene if not for the rope digging into my wrists, binding me to the elaborate headboard.

My heart races even harder as I eye the bedchamber door, wondering how much effort it would take to ram it down. Well, that is, if I manage to free myself from these ropes. I tug against them, but they don't budge.

I need to escape, to return to Cenric, to make sure he's all right. To kiss him.

Well, probably not kiss him.

The door creaks open, and I tense as the man with the gold eyes steps into the room carrying parchment and charcoal.

Hades!

Must he be everywhere ?

"I should have known you were behind this," I say, my lips twisting with bitterness.

The man sits down in a chair near my bed and folds his arms across his chest as he studies me. I hold perfectly still, refusing to squirm or plead for mercy.

Instead of speaking, he continues to stare, his eyes scorching me.

What? Is there something on my face? Or does he like the view of me tied to the bed? Some people are into that sort of thing. Maybe he's one of them.

"Did you not expect me to show up?" I ask after a while. "Is that why you had me kidnapped again ?"

"No."

I scoff and bite back the powerful urge to tell this man how I really feel about being tied to this bed.

Finally, he glances away, staring down at the parchment in his lap. Then, he picks up the charcoal and draws unfamiliar ancient symbols—the kind I have never been taught.

"So, are you going to sit there and draw all day, or do you have something to say?" I ask, not bothering to hide my mounting frustration. "Because if this is your idea of hospitality, it's a bit lacking."

Something glints in the man's eyes as he looks up for a beat. "You've got quite the sharp tongue for someone in your position."

"I'm sure you didn't go through all the trouble of kidnapping me just to admire my finer qualities."

Stop it, Everly.

He can kill you .

He pauses his sketching, the charcoal hovering above the parchment. "No, I didn't. I want you to get close to Cenric. Spy on him, seduce him, I don't care. Just get close to him and report to me. Every detail, every whisper, every secret—I want to know it all."

"You want me to spy on Cenric?" I ask, not bothering to hide my incredulity. The very idea is absurd, dangerous even.

I ball my hand into a fist and let out a frustrated breath. If I say no, this man will kill me, but if I say yes, I will have to betray Cenric.

My chest tightens, and I find myself wishing desperately for something I've never had: magic. The kind of magic that could whisk me away from this place.

The man continues his sketching, as if he's oblivious to my inner turmoil, or if he's aware, he simply doesn't care.

If I don't agree to this man's demands, I could end up just like that woman. Then, I would never be able to help my family.

The gods help me!

I don't want to spy on Cenric.

Damn this man. Every single part of me wants to deny him, but I can't. "I will do as you asked."

"Of course you will." His attention returns to me as he speaks. "Because you're smart, Everly. You value life."

I clench my jaw, fighting back the urge to tell him exactly what I value: my family, my home, the life I had before I stumbled into this mess.

The door creaks open, and a woman steps into the room. My breath catches when I recognize her from the ale house last night.

She's tall, and her hair cascades down her back in pale waves, so light it almost appears white.

Her cold blue eyes sweep over me, lingering on the ropes binding me to the bed. "Brother, I see our guest is awake."

My eyes widen. Brother? I glance between them, noting the similarities I missed before. They have the same high cheekbones, the same coldness.

She approaches the bed, and I fight the need to shrink away. "So, this is the little spy? She doesn't look like much, does she?"

"Appearances can be deceiving, Alvina," the man says as he sets his sketching aside.

Her smile widens, revealing perfect white teeth. "Indeed, they can."

He stands and slips his fingers into his weapon belt. "How well do you know Cenric, Everly?"

I swallow hard. "Not well."

It's not exactly a lie, but not the full truth, either.

The woman scoffs. "He talked to you last night more than I have seen him talk to any other woman in months."

I shrug. I don't have an answer for them. At least, not one I intend to reveal.

"Hawke," Alvina says as she turns to her brother. "We cannot trust her."

Hawke? So that's his name?

It's not fitting. He should be called Skunk or Possum.

Hawke scowls at me. "We can, because Everly is smart. She knows if she tells him anything, I will order one of my men in Astarobane to kill her family." His words lash out like a whip as he adds, "I'll start with Kassandra."

I gasp. How does he know about Kassandra?

"How do you…" I cannot bring myself to finish the words.

He stares at me, like I'm an ant he plans to crush beneath his boot. "I know everything, Everly."

If that's true, does he know he's also a pompous bastard?

My throat constricts as Hawke's words sink in. "I'll start with Kassandra."

My sister filters through my thoughts—her warm smile, the mischievous light in her eyes when she teases me.

I exhale, trying to steady myself, but all I see is my family. They deserve my devotion. And they deserve my loyalty.

I meet Hawke's cold eyes. There's no compassion there, no hint of mercy. Just a ruthless determination that slips beneath my skin, freezing my blood.

"I'll do it," I say, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. "I'll spy on Cenric. Just...please, don't hurt my family."

The plea in my voice disgusts me, but I can't help it. I'd rather die than see harm come to those I love.

Hawke nods.

My stomach tightens as I think of being forced to spy on Cenric. It makes me want to scream, lash out, do anything but lie here helplessly.

But I can't.

For my family's sake, I have to play Hawke's game.