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. Sheknows 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.
Chapter
Eight
