The Gender War (The Gender Game #4)(26)

“I understand,” Viggo said, hauling me up by my elbow and thrusting me over toward Kellen.

Kellen was the very model of efficiency as he patted me down. It wasn’t my first pat-down, so I did what I had always done—stared at the wall just over Kellen’s shoulder. After he had checked me, he handed me back to Viggo, and then proceeded to pat down the others.

I held my breath when Kellen got to my brother. I wasn’t sure how Tim would react to the pat-down—it was clear he wasn’t happy. His arms were crossed over his chest, and he stared down at the floor, his eyes sullen. When Kellen moved away from him, I exhaled silently in relief.

After we were declared free of weapons, Kellen led us down a narrow gray hallway with only three doors that I could count. Two guards were standing just outside the second door, as innocuous as the others. They pushed it open as we approached, letting us into a small room with four chairs set out in a semi-circle, facing a large mirror. Looking closer at it, I realized that it was the same kind of glass they had used in the facility Viggo and I had discovered in The Green: mirror on one side, window on the other.

“They are to be cuffed through the chairs,” Kellen said, and Viggo pulled a key out of his pocket, making a big show of unlocking one of my cuffs before sitting me down and running the cuff through the bars of the chair. I hissed in pain when he inadvertently hit my hand, and couldn’t help but wince when he didn’t even act apologetic—even though I knew that would blow our cover.

Once we had all been cuffed in a similar fashion, with Kellen surveying us impassively, the man pulled the door shut behind him.

Though I had been sleepy before, adrenaline now pulsed through my veins, making the moments tick by like hours. We were only left sitting in tense silence for a few minutes, however. Then a light came on behind the mirror, turning it brightly translucent. Behind the glass, two guards flanked a middle-aged man with broad shoulders, sandy brown hair that ran precisely to his jaw, and a goatee framing his mouth.

I had only seen King Maxen once in person, and even through the glass, he commanded attention.

“Mr. Croft,” came his smooth, rich voice, somewhat dampened by the crackle of the speakers that transmitted it from room to room. “Imagine my surprise to hear that not only are you alive, but you have brought me what I asked for and more.”

“Your Majesty,” Viggo said, offering a shallow bow. “I’m pleased you agreed to meet with me so quickly. I have a lot to tell you… and I understand it may not be very believable. Please, I beg you, try to keep an open mind.”

The king’s eyebrow twitched slightly. “Go on.”

Viggo straightened, and a pulse of nervousness shot through me.

It was the moment of truth.

“First and foremost,” Viggo said, his voice clear, “Violet Bates may not be the villain you thought her to be. I’ve uncovered a plot, one that leads directly to Queen Elena of Matrus. She’s conspiring to have you assassinated, sir.”

I waited with bated breath for the reply. King Maxen’s face was impassive for just a moment. Then he gave Viggo a curious look. “This can’t be over that silly bombing thing in their little temple. I’ve already assured Elena that I had nothing to do—”

“She staged it,” I cut in, unable to bear the tension. “She’s trying to set herself up as the victim of a Patrian attack so she can justify going to war with you.”

The king’s face had turned red the moment I interrupted him, deepening to a shade of purple as I continued to speak. “Mr. Croft,” he hissed. “Please tell that woman that it is improper for her to address the king directly.”

I laughed then, shaking my head at him, anger rising inside of me. “Are you joking? Your life may be in danger. I’m trying to warn you!”

“I will not tolerate being spoken to like that,” the king spat. “Open your mouth again, and I will have Mr. Croft execute you.”

I clamped my teeth together and smiled at the king, secure in the knowledge that Viggo would never, ever obey that order.

“Sir,” Viggo said after pausing to stare between me and the king. “As much as you may be resistant to the idea, I’ve seen it with my own eyes. It’s true. Queen Elena has been working toward this for years.”

The king’s ire faded and was replaced by amusement. “My son… It’s clear you have been spending far too much time with women. What you’re saying doesn’t make any sense. Women lack the foresight to plan such things. It’s not their fault; it’s merely a fact of their biology. Besides, those Matrians couldn’t stand against our far superior forces. See reason, and hand over the prisoners for interrogation by my investigators.”

I found myself blinking in shock, trying to find a starting place to explain to the king exactly how wrong he was. There wasn’t enough time to even begin the list. I went another route instead. “Listen to us, King Maxen. It’s not your militia they’re after—it’s you.”

The king shook his head, raising his fingers to his temples as if he had a headache. “For the last time, women should be seen and not heard. Do shut up, or else I will have Mr. Croft put a bullet in your skull.”

At that moment, the jarringly clear sound of automatic gunfire came ricocheting from outside the hall, making me duck in spite of the fact that none of it could come through the walls. I whipped my head around, automatically checking to make sure everyone was all right, even while my stiff, swollen fingers began fiddling with my cuff. “They’re here!”