“Why do you care?” he asked, then took a bite of stew.
Setting her spoon aside, suddenly too nervous to eat, she shook her head. “It’s just weird that this enormous place doesn’t echo with the laughter of souls.”
“Little poetic for the daughter of Caron. Shouldn’t you be more concerned with where the men are?” He gave a low chuckle and his voice was so full and throaty that it instantly made her heart rate spike with both desire and hate.
“And just what does that mean?”
“Oh come on, Carrot, everyone knows who your father is.”
“Was,” she snapped, shoving her bowl away. “He’s not like that anymore and I certainly have never been.”
Swishing the red wine in his goblet for a moment, he took a sip before answering. “You expect me to believe that?”
“I don’t really care what you believe. What’s the plan, Rumpel? You have a game in mind. I know you do, so just stop with this nonsense and tell me now.”
“Fine.” He took his white napkin, dabbed at his lip, and then set it aside. Clapping his hands, the trays of food immediately vanished as if taken away by invisible hands.
If he was showing off, he needn’t bother. It wasn’t like she planned to escape. For the sake of her father, she’d keep to whatever deal he had in mind. She lifted a brow and tapped her fingers on the table. “Drawing things out doesn’t up the tension, it only makes me more annoyed.”
He chuckled. “I like you, girl, and that’s not something I say to most.”
“Great. Glad we got that out of the way.”
“You’re here to play a game; you’re right. Very astute guess.”
She dipped her head but waited for him to continue.
“For the next three months you’ll run a gauntlet. It’s not bad or hard—only one scenario per month.”
“And what will I be doing the rest of the time?”
He shrugged. “Whatever you want; my castle is open to you. Look around, discover, play…” He jerked his hand around. “Doesn’t much matter to me.”
“And what’s the purpose of this gauntlet then? Why can’t I just do it all at once and get it over with?”
His smile was wicked and as much as she did not like the man, to deny that he wielded his looks like a blade would be an utter lie. She felt his gaze to the depths of her soul.
“Because it takes time to set up, Carrot.”
She really hated that he continued to call her that. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t heard it before, but the man was trying to get her off balance. He was playing a game of cat and mouse with her. It helped that her mother had been a trained psychologist on Earth—it had been something of a hobby for Shayera to learn about tells and giveaways and it seemed that in Kingdom, emotions ran much the same way as they did on Earth. To Rumpel she might appear as a silly little girl, but Shayera wasn’t useless. She had a brain and it’d gotten her out of trouble more times than she could count.
“That’s it?”
Spreading his arms wide, he shrugged. “That’s it.”
“So it doesn’t matter if I pass or fail? You’re just going to let me go after that?” She scoffed. “You honestly expect me to believe that, really? I’m not stupid. You’re not called the devil for no reason.”
He laughed and it was a sound that was rich and full of humor, and she hated that her lips twitched in response. Schooling her features, she hid her reaction behind her hand and gave a little cough instead.
Amber eyes twinkled. The man was plenty smart himself and knew exactly the type of effect he had on her. She wouldn’t deny it, but nor would she give him more fodder by copping to it either.
“Well, lass, you’ll want to pass.” He took a slow sip of his red.
“And if I don’t? If I fail miserably? Am I to be cast into the fiery pit you keep hidden beneath my feet?”
He snorted. “Can you smell the sulfur?”
Golden amber eyes twinkled and she realized he was enjoying her sass. It was odd to her because she was trying her hardest to get under his skin, but he didn’t seem inclined to allow it.
Sighing, she shrugged. “I’m tired. Just point me to where you plan to chain me up and I’ll be off.”
“Well, I had a chamber prepared for you, but if you’d prefer the dungeon I’ve got chains and shackles and even a few spiked whips”—he popped the p—“if that’s more to your liking. I think I should like to see more of your,” he said, his hot gaze roving deliberately across her covered breasts, “form.”
Swallowing hard, Shayera shook her head. She was no fool to believe her body was not desirable. It was why she’d sought the help of the local witch after all. Her body was too desirable, and she’d hoped that Rumpel, being what he was, wouldn’t be affected by her birthright. Even he seemed pulled in by her dark allure, though.