You Are Mine (Mine #1)(53)

“Are those your thoughts or did your Father put you up to this?”

Not moving my hand from my mouth, I shake my head.

His voice grows quieter. “No to which one, Serena? You have to tell me.”

I put my hand on my skirt and clench it. I don't dare take my eyes from him. “Not my Father.”

“I need to be sure. Would you be willing to let me cast a truth spell on you?”

I bite my lower lip. He's asking and not just doing, that has to be better, right? Still, I don't want a spell cast on me.

“I won't do it without your permission, so if you want continue this discussion we can after you answer a few questions under the spell. Any time you want to stop, we will, nothing further. You don't want to do it, fine, but I can't tell you more until I know for sure.”

If I don't continue it now, I'll never do it. How much do I trust him? Not at all. Or perhaps some. He's more trustworthy than Father. And I do want to know more about the council. The tarnished. The multi-wives law. The sacrifices. Why do they do those? The fate of me and my sisters. Is having the chance to know a little more about them worth allowing a spell?

“If I let you cast the spell on me, will you answer my questions?”

“I'll answer what I can. There are some things I can't say. Like the engagement ceremony.”

I nod. That I understand. “Cast it. Before I change my mind.”

“Let's do it then.” He lifts his hands and I can't hide a flinch. “It won't hurt.”

A white light shines from his hands and encompasses me. I feel only the air around me though, nothing more.

“Have you ever had a truth spell cast on you before?”

“No. Father never did.” He mistakenly assumed I'd never dare lie to him.

“Tell a lie then, any lie, so you know what it will be like.”

Lie on purpose, what does one say to that? I go with something easy. “I've only brothers.”

The light surrounding me pulses and becomes dark.

“To get it back you need only tell a truth. Remember, if at any time you'd like to stop, just let me know and we will.”

“All right.”

The light goes back to white. Chancellor Zade moves closer to me on the bench. “Are you asking questions about the council on behalf of your Father?”

“No.”

“Why are you asking about it?”

“I'm curious about what's happening. I want to know more.” The light remains white.

“Are you in any way trying to get me off of the council?”

“No.”

“Are you associated with anyone trying to end my life?”

I tilt my head to the side. Though I know of the intruder searching for him, I wasn't expecting the question. “I'm not.”

He nods like he anticipated my answer, but a few of the lines ease from his face. “What do you know of my family?”

“Your family? Why is that relevant?”

“You can answer the question and we'll talk about the council, or we can be done.”

I didn't know his family was such a taboo subject. “I know very little about your family and just what you've told me. You respect your mother.”

He gives a small smile. “What are your intentions toward me?”

My intentions toward him? “I have none.”

The light turns ashy. He lifts his brows. I look at the fountain. Why doesn't the spell like that answer? Why don't I? “I don't know what my intentions are.” The light pales a bit, though still off. “You're different than other warlocks, but I don't know if I can trust it. If you're true to your word, I wish you nothing ill.”

The light flashes back to white. “And if I don't stay true to my word?” He holds up a hand. “Never mind, don't answer that. I'll stay true to my word. I didn't cast this spell to invade your privacy.”

He waves his hand and the spell lifts from me. “Your Father wants me out of the council and I have to protect myself against that. Thank you for being willing. What do you want to know?”

It almost seems silly now, wondering about the council. But one thing did make me wonder. “Why did you ask me if I was associated with those trying to end your life?”

“There have been more death threats against me than the attempt you know about. A few, not enough to get concerned over, but I want to make sure before I tell you too much.”

“A few?” As in more than one? My mouth goes dry.

“Nothing to get concerned over.”

It sounds like something worrisome. “Do you know where the threats are coming from?”

He shakes his head. “A few guesses, but no evidence of anything. In fact, I would feel better if you learned to use a gun.”

“A gun? Me? I'm not sure I'm supposed to touch one.” No one in Chardonia uses one, man or woman.

“I checked the laws, there's nothing that says you can't. The idea might sound foreign, but it'd help me out if you had some sort of protection if they come to the house again. It's warded, but sometimes that's not enough.”

This is something he seriously thinks I should do. Remembering how scared I was when I heard him coming, thinking he was an intruder and not knowing what to do, helps me understand where he's coming from. But one of those guns in my hands? “I don't know.”