Ch 9: Strike a deal
Aribella POV
Rhory’s voice startles me from behind. The sound of the fountain must have drowned out his footsteps. God, I was sitting here carelessly eating a cream puff, and a grown man snuck up behind me.
I suppose my survival skills weren’t wonderful before considering I died at the hands of another man, and here I am, living in another life where I am supposed to die… AGAIN.
Get your shit together.
“I could ask you the same thing given you wouldn’t bother giving me the time of day.”
His arms crossed over his chest, “You’re a guest in my castle, and you want to play games. You have my attention, Ms. Voss.”
“Would you like to escort me to your office so we can speak privately?”
“Mr. Itsuki?” Rhory called out, and like a damn ninja, Kaelar appeared. His steps were so light, I didn’t hear him approach. “Please guard the door and ensure no one comes out here.”
Kaelar nods, disappearing once more.
“You have my attention, Ms. Voss,” Rhory moves closer, and I pay attention to his every move. “Emrys mentioned your conversation was one of life and death, so please; Enlighten me.”
“This matter shouldn’t be discussed in such a public place.”
“I assure you that Mr. Itsuki would have informed me of any other bodies before leaving to guard the doors. It’s just you and I,” Rhory stares down at me, and the moonlight catches the golden flecks in his hazel eyes.
“Would you believe me if I told you that someone wants to kill you?”
“Certainly,” he chuckles. “I’m sure many want to kill me. I am to be the future king. You’re not even beginning to pique my interest in this conversation.”
Come on, Ari. You’ve got to do better than this.
“The same person that wants to kill you also plans to kill me.”
“Your death is not of my concern.”
“That’s quite rude, Mr. Whitehall. I am a citizen of Sacaris.”
I push myself up from the fountain, nearly falling face-first onto the ground when my heel catches in between one of the stones beneath my feet.
Rhory grabs onto my arms to steady me, and I let out a low growl. I’m supposed to look strong, like I’ve got my shit together, and here I am about to face-plant before the Grand Duke.
After kicking off my heels, I stared up at him, “Your brother plans to kill us both. Mael wants the throne and will do anything to achieve his goal.”
Rhory lets out a deep, throaty laugh, “My brother doesn’t have the gall to murder anyone.”
“I can assure you that he does.”
“And what makes you think that I would believe that my brother would kill both you and me?” Rhory steps closer, and his body heat seeps beneath my skin. “What is your source, Aribella Voss?”
“I refuse to indulge your question until you guarantee my safety beneath your protection.”
Rhory’s eyebrows shoot up, “You think I’m going to take you at your word with nothing more to go on?” he blinks rapidly. “Do you take me for a fool?”
“What purpose would I have to come all this way to speak with you if I was not desperate?”
“You are trying to convince me that my own brother is trying to kill me,” Rhory puts distance between us. “But that still doesn’t explain why I should protect you of all people?”
“I have information that is vital to your safety.”
“Are you suggesting that I’m incapable of protecting myself?”
“Hardly, but Mael will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He plans to take me as his wife to overthrow you. When that doesn’t work, he will use any means necessary to kill you, and when he’s gotten what he wants, I am next,” I grit my teeth. “I’m not interested in dying, and I’m sure you’re not either.”
“Did my brother put you up to this?”
“He has no idea that I know of his intentions.”
“You’re not very convincing, Ms. Voss,” Rhory shakes his head. “The only thing you’ve done thus far is give me a reason to doubt my brother’s intentions.”
“I don’t want to die, sir,” I snap, my frustration growing with every word out of his mouth.
“Does anyone want to die?”
“You are an insufferable man,” I growl.
“And yet you stand before me asking for my protection,” Rhory chuckles. “It seems that you have failed your little mission.”
Think… You have to do something.
“Would you make a deal with me?” I take a deep breath, trying to level my racing heart. I steel my spine, staring Rhory directly in the eye.
“I’m listening.”
“I’ll give you an exact date, with details that have yet to happen where your life will be put in danger,” I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’ll even tell you the words that will be spoken in the exact moment. If I am correct, you have to come to me at the ranch. You’ll offer your protection in the form of however you see best fit, but you will agree to those terms IF I am correct. Is that a deal?”
Rhory studies my face for a moment, “Let me get this straight. If you correctly predict a future event, down to the exact words that are spoken in that very moment, I have to give you my protection?”
“Yes. That is the deal.”
Rhory purses his lips for a moment, before shaking his head. “You are one interesting person,” he outstretches his hand. “I’ll make that deal. The likelihood of it happening is zero, so I’m confident you won’t be seeing me again. Now spill.”
I shook his hand, my sweat-slicked palm lingering against his, and called out to Kaelar, “Mr. Itsuki?”
He appears a moment later, staring at the two of us, “This handshake is to seal a deal. You are the witness.”
Kaelar stares at Rhory expressionless, as if they’re sharing a secret conversation. “You have my word that Mr. Itsuki bears witness to our deal. Now spill your precious information.”
“You’ll be going on a little hunting trip soon, correct?”
Rhory’s eyes flashed wide, and my lips twitched with the urge to smirk. No one is supposed to know of the hunting trip, which is precisely why I chose it as my in.
“That’s… correct.”
“Your right hand, Emrys will be accompanying you on this trip, as well as Mael, and a few other family members, yes?”
He nods.
“Once you are in the woods, you’ll make it about five klicks to the north before you run into trouble,” I school my expression, hoping to act as unbothered as possible despite the rapid thudding of my heart. “You’ll encounter a beast that you yourself will successfully kill. Mael will distract you by claiming to have heard something just to the West, which you will agree to investigate, telling Mael and the others to stay behind. Emrys will join you, but you’ll only make it a hundred feet before Mael screams out to you, 'Brother, to your right', but Emrys has already heard the sound of a trigger being pulled. He’s going to push you to the ground, but the bullet will tear through his shoulder.”
I stepped closer to Rhory, “That bullet was meant to go between your eyes.” I took a risk, poking the spot between his brows.
“That’s….” Rhory stammers, his face twisting with a mixture of shock and fear. “It is impossible for you to predict that information.”
“You have already made a deal with me,” I shrug, turning back towards the fountain to down my champagne. “If I were you, I’d bring bandages for Emrys.” I grab my heels, walking towards the doors that Kaelar is guarding. “Oh, and make sure your pen is filled with ink. When you come to find me, we’ll be working out a contract under my terms.”
I smile and nod at Kaelar, who politely opens the door for me without a word, and as I reenter the party, I spare a glance through the glass, seeing Rhory staring blankly at the doors, his face as pale as a ghost.
The moment the doors close behind me, I release a shuddering breath. The woman who just propositioned Rhory was a fake. I’m nothing more than a weak woman parading around like I’ve got a damn clue about what it takes to find inner strength.
I spotted Reo leaning against the wall talking to the other guard member, and walked over, “Would you mind escorting me back to my room?”
“Of course,” he pushed off the wall, scooping the heels from my hand, and offering his arm. “Is everything okay, Ms. Voss?”
“I’m just not feeling the best. Would you give Mr. Whitehall my regards for the evening?”
He nods, and we walk in a comfortable silence through the castle before reaching the guest sleeping quarters. Reo opens the door, “Do you need me to request anything be delivered to your room?”
“No,” I smile politely. “I appreciate you bringing me here.”
His eyes crinkle at the corners, “Feel better, Ms. Voss.”
The moment the door clicked shut, I was overwhelmed with a mixture of emotion and exhaustion. My dress falls in a crumpled heap on the floor, and I don’t bother dressing in a nightgown, collapsing onto the bed and allowing the events of the evening to consume me.