His expression darkened, going from contrite to indignant. “Liar? Hardly. I told youonelie over a breakfast table, months ago, before I even knew your name. Apart from that, I’ve been entirely truthful. I’ve been nothing short of authentic with you from the moment we met.”
“Authentic?” Stark fury colonized my insides. “Go to hell. You used me.”
That seemed to anger him, because a snarl scrunched the bridge of his nose. But his approach didn’t slow, even when I flung out a finger to stop it.
He simply walked into my hand, letting my finger stab into the thick muscle over his heart. He stared down at me, his eyes a glittering accusation.
“I have not,” he said, the words chiseled from ice, “nor will I ever,useyou.”
“You pretended to be someone you’re not.” I shaped the accusation into a fiery whip. “Thenmarriedme, for Zephyrine’s sake.”
“Oh, is that a punishable offense, now? Because I seem to remember you doing exactly the same to me. I also seem to remember forgiving you for it. Without a moment’s hesitation.”
I opened my mouth, stumbled over a protest, then tried again. “That was different. I had a reason.”
“And you think I didn’t?”
“I don’t know! What could you possibly have to gain from impersonating a prince? When you’re nothing but a thief? A brigand?”
“I’m not abrigand.” His eyes flashed. “Why are you always using that word?”
“Because that’s what you call people who steal things!”
“I stole nothing,” he said, low and lethal.
“Except Kyven’s entire identity,” I sniped back.
His nostrils flared. “I may have played a role. But I’m no thief. I’m an actor, like I told you. And before that, a shepherd’s son. One nobody wanted.Alsolike I told you.”
“But you’re from Windfell,” I hissed.
“Yes.”
“Not Hightower.”
“No.”
I stabbed his chest again, doing my best to make it hurt. “Then every moment we’ve spent together has been a lie.”
His jaw hardened. “No. You know me, lioness. Inside and out. I’ve shown you every scar. I’ve told you all about my past,my parents, how I left home when I was young. About the play I saw in Gray’s Reach when I was nineteen. Which not even Lunk has heard about. He’s known me for nearly a year, ever since I left my theatre troupe and came to conquer the nightmares, but I’ve never once shared with him what I have with you. You might not have known me for long, but youdoknow me better than anyone on this earth.”
I bit my lip, my eyes stinging. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Make us sound close. Make us sound intimate.”
A sharp light blazed in his eyes. “Weareintimate. You’re my wife, for Hyperion’s sake. What’s more, you understand me.”
“I don’t understand shit.” I pushed at him again, but it was like shoving against a steel wall. “I don’t even know why you’re here. Why you bothered to pretend.”
He hauled in a breath—once, twice, like he was shoring himself up. “Officially? Because we wanted into this house, and I knew I could pass as Kyven with ease.”
“Oh, right. Of course. Because you wanted to rob us, too. You and Vick, the oh-so-noble heroes.”
His eyes narrowed. “Wehelppeople, lioness, like it or not. We got Althea out, didn’t we? And her family. Lunk and I would’ve gotten Miss Quist out, too, if she’d actually wanted to go.”
I gaped. “You told Miss Quist about this?”
