“You have no idea what I’m thinking.” Poppy’s grip on the dagger was a white-knuckled one. “And all of this was…what? A trick? You were sent here to get close to me?”
Kieran’s brows lifted. “Sent—”
I shut Kieran up with a look.
“You were sent by the Dark One,” Poppy stated.
She didn’t… Fuck. She had yet to realize that I was the so-called Dark One—or was, at the very least, refusing to acknowledge what was clearly in front of her. I couldn’t blame her for that, but I would do what I did best. I would exploit it. There was a good chance I could talk to her…sensibly if she didn’t let herself believe that the Dark One and I were one and the same.
“I came to Masadonia with one goal in mind,” I said. “And that was you.”
“How?” Poppy lifted her chin, swallowing. “Why?”
“You’d be surprised how many of those close to you support Atlantia, who want to see the kingdom restored,” I told her. “Many who paved the way for me.”
“Commander Jansen?” Poppy guessed.
“She is smart,” I said, smiling just a little because, godsdamn, she was fucking amazing. Even right now, faced with my betrayal. She held on to calm. She was figuring shit out. I was in awe of her. “Like I told you all.”
Poppy blinked rapidly. “Did you even work in the capital?” Her gaze flipped to Kieran. “The night at the…” She couldn’t finish, but I knew she was thinking about the Red Pearl. “You knew who I was from the beginning.”
“I was watching you as long as you were watching me,” I said quietly. “Even longer.”
A tremor, stronger than the ones before, ran through her. “You…you were planning this for a while.”
“For a very long time,” I confirmed.
“Hannes.” Her voice was thick, hoarse. “He didn’t die of a heart ailment, did he?”
“I do believe his heart did give out on him,” I said. “The poison he drank in his ale that night at the Red Pearl surely had something to do with it.”
“Did a certain woman there help him with his drink?” she demanded. “The same one that sent me upstairs?”
What woman was she speaking of? The one at the Red Pearl that she thought was a Seer?
“I feel like I’m missing vital pieces here,” Delano murmured under his breath.
“I’ll fill you in later,” Kieran commented.
Poppy’s trembling increased as she whispered, “Vikter?”
I shook my head. I was responsible, but I hadn’t ordered his death.
“Don’t lie to me!” Poppy screamed. “Did you know there’d be an attack on the Rite? Is that why you disappeared? Why you weren’t there when Vikter was killed?”
I could see the calm beginning to thin. I needed to get her out of here before it disappeared because if I knew anything about Poppy, she was like me when cornered. Dangerous. And too many were getting too close to her. Idiot Jericho. Rolf, who usually knew better. A half-Atlantian with a sword drawn. Delano.
“What I know is that you’re upset. I don’t blame you, but I’ve also seen what happens when you get really angry.” I lifted my hands, keeping them where she could see them. “There is a lot I need to tell—”
I saw it coming a second before she moved.
Poppy did what I feared. Cornered, she lashed out, and with that damn dagger, too. Her arm cocked back, and she hurled the blade right at my damn chest.
“Fuck,” I spat, spinning to the side as I reached out, catching the dagger before it found a new victim.
Naill whistled softly.
I spun back to her. Godsdamn, she was vicious.
And she was also clever.
Poppy had to know I would catch it, which meant…
Godsdamn it.
She dipped, snatching up Phillips’ fallen sword. I halted for half a second. That was all she needed. She twisted, swinging out with the sword. Not at me. At Jericho.
The wolven jumped back, but it caught him off guard, still obviously underestimating her. She sliced him right across the stomach.
I almost laughed, except she’d spilled blood, and shit was about to get out of hand.
“Bitch,” Jericho snarled, smacking his remaining hand on his wound.
Poppy turned as several charged her. I shot forward, catching one of the half-Atlantians in the chest, shoving him back as Kieran snapped forward. A sword sliced through the air as Kieran caught Poppy around the waist, pulling her away from Rolf and another. I caught the wolven by the hem of his shirt, hauling him back.
“No,” I growled, thrusting him into the half-Atlantian. I turned only to see Kieran go down on his back.
Poppy kicked her head back into his face, causing him to yelp. His hold on her loosened.
Poppy tore free, scrambling for the sword. She got there before Delano. He wisely backed off as she rose. I saw her spin, her wild eyes connecting with mine.
She locked up.
I seized the moment. “That was very naughty.” I grabbed the sword, wrenching it from her grip. I needed to keep her attention—her anger—focused on me. If she went after another of them, I would have to kill every fucker in this barn. “You are so incredibly violent.” I dipped my chin and whispered what I knew would ensure she paid no mind to anyone else. “It still turns me on.”
She screamed, jabbing her elbow right into my chin.
“Dammit,” I said, laughing as pain—which I deserved—went down my spine. “Doesn’t change what I just said.”
Poppy whirled to the door.
Elijah blocked the entrance, tsking under his breath as he shook his head.
Stepping back, she turned to her left, where Kieran stood. He blinked slowly. She twisted and took off.
I caught her before she made it two steps, spinning her around. Her legs tangled with mine, tripping us. We went down, her first. I twisted with a second to spare, hitting the floor hard on my back.
“You’re welcome,” I grunted.
Shrieking like a cave cat, she brought the heel of her foot down on my shin. Pain radiated up my leg, forcing the air out of my lungs as she twisted, straining against my arms until I was afraid she would hurt herself. I let go just enough. She turned in my hold, straddling me—
I grinned at her. “I’m liking where this is headed.”
Poppy punched me in the cheek fucking hard, knocking my head back against the straw. She cocked that arm back again.
I caught her wrist, yanking her down so she couldn’t get the leverage needed for that other hand. “You hit like you’re angry with me.”
She shifted, thrusting her knee between my legs, and while I’d let her get a couple of good hits in, that was a hell no.
I blocked her with my thigh. “That would’ve done some damage.”
“Good,” she spat, her braid hanging over her shoulder and that strand of hair in her face. I’d move it out of the way for her, but she’d likely take that moment to claw my eyes out, or worse, go after someone else.
“Now, now.” I kept my voice low, knowing that only Kieran was possibly close enough to hear. “You’d be disappointed later if I couldn’t use it.”
Her lips parted as she stared down at me, disbelief filling her eyes. “I would rather cut it from your body.”