Rafelius's eyes narrowed into slits. Elain could tell she was getting under his skin. But she was irritated too.
"I think, deep down, you already knew there might be no relic in your house, and yet you still accepted the bargain." His voice was as cold as the icy wind brushing against her face. "You knew the real danger here was never the King. It was me."
She gritted her teeth, because he was right.
Deep down, she had feared what he might do to her and her family if she refused him far more than any royal investigation. But that did little to soothe the sting of being deceived.
