But it wasn’t just my life that was at stake here.
“Galenor Dalenth,” I pushed his name out of my mouth while my heart squeezed with urgency. “I can help get him out.”
It was as if I uttered a magic enchantment. The men instantly settled, frozen in place, as if their brains were trying to understand the name I had just released. They all stood silent, watching me with sudden interest and awe.
“He is alive?” the second male, the prettiest one, Valeyan, finally asked.
I nodded, not prepared to offer more information until I was sure I could trust them.
“Where is he?” The male spoke again, displaying his position within the group. He must have been their leader.
“Can you help get him out of here?” I pressed my lips together and locked eyes with him, letting him know that it was not a request. It was a life-or-death situation.
“Galenor has been my friend for many years,” the male uttered, his regard swimming with memories. His blue eyes shone brighter, with newly found hope. Revealing the truth in his words. “I would do anything for him.”
The others breathed in unison, keeping their movements natural while their full attention remained pinned on me. To an outsider, it looked like we were having a conversation about food or whatever insignificant thing, the males continuing to drink, eat and act like nothing had changed. But none of them spoke, none of them made a noise. Expecting more information, begging for it.
“Not here,” I took the carafe and moved towards the male, filling it very slowly as I leaned more into him. “Go to the toilet at the end of the hall. I’ll meet you there.”
He grabbed the wine and drank eagerly, making a show of finishing the glass in a few gulps. “Let us praise the humans for their wine!” he lifted his empty glass and started cheering, gaining the same gesture from his comrades as they started talking loudly once more.
The distraction allowed me to slide out of the room while the eyes of the rest of the servers remained pinned on the Wind delegation, all of them asking for more wine.
Once I reached the bathroom at the end of the hall, I locked the door from within and waited, praying to all the gods that I had made the right decision. That the male coming to meet me would not just slice my throat as an act of defiance for keeping his friend a prisoner.
Not a minute later, a knock on the bathroom door announced the male’s arrival and before I moved to open, his threatening whisper followed.
“Open the fucking door before I’m hung for treason.” He sounded rasp and annoyed, tension lining his vocal cords. Mechanically, I twisted the lock, allowing the door to open with a click. As soon as the male stepped inside, he pushed the door closed and performed the same motion, sealing us in the dirty bathroom.
“My name is Ellyana Harrow,” I heard myself speak. Once again, before my brain had a chance to press its seal of approval.
“Valeyan Brebod,” the male replied with a curt dip of his chin. “Where is Galenor?”
I understood his urgency. Michael had said they were always under escort, so he didn’t have much time. If I wanted his help, this was my only chance.
I kept the information brief, not feeling the need to give him more explanation about his earl. Gods willing, my future mate, if we were somehow getting out of this together. I fully planned on renewing my bond to him for the following two months.
But those dreams were for the living, something I had to ensure continued happening to both of us.
“At the moment, he’s in an interrogation room, but he’ll be back with me at midnight. And I have to kill him.”
Valeyan’s eyes bulged out and his fists clamped together, while a vein started pumping angrily from his temple all the way down to the side of his neck.
With a hiss, he replied. “Then why call me here at all?” I recognised that look, filled with hatred and need for revenge. He really cared about Galenor’s fate.
“Because I’m assigned to do it. If I don’t, they will arrange a public execution. I expect you know what that entails.”
Valeyan ground his teeth in anger, his lips pressed together so tightly they almost vanished from his face.
“Again, why call me here?” he pressed.
“Because you are my only hope to save him.” The male’s eyes sparkled with newly found hope and I heard his chest heave with relief.
“What do you need?”
“I need to make it look like he’s really dead, we'll be locked in a room filled with cameras. Whatever solution you have, I will take.”
“Are you his lover?” the male asked.
