Page 14 of Crown of Death

“Who are you, and who are you working for?” he says, his voice calm andeven.

“We’re no one!” Eli demands again. He’s growing more frantic by themoment.

I look at my captor. He’s in his mid-to upper-twenties, I’d guess. His complexion is a little darker. Black hair sits atop his head, messy, but purposeful. Dark, dark brown, nearly black eyes have taken over the glowing red. He’s cut, in incredible shape beneath those jeans and that black t-shirt.

“I know I’ve seen you before,” he says again, his voice even but dangerous. “Tell me yourname.”

“My name is Logan Pierce,” I blurt, my voice trembling. “I’ve lived in this area my entire life. And I can say without a doubt that we have never, ever metbefore.”

His jaw clenches and his eyes grow harder as he presses his lips together. He straightens and stalks over to the chair where Eli is chained, his wrists fastened to the arms of the chair, his ankles shackled, aswell.

“You’re certainly more capable than you smell,” he says, placing his hands on the arms of Eli’s chair, leaning down and studying him. “What are you? A hunter? Were you following us? Looking to take usout?”

“I have no weapons on me,” Eli says, his voice evening out just alittle.

“Oh, but that’s a lie,” the woman says, stepping forward. In her hand, she holds a pointed bit of wood, maybe ten inches long. “I pulled this from the waist of yourpants.”

My eyes widen, and flick back toEli.

The look on his face tells me she isn’tlying.

“Eli?” I breathe, immediately realizing my fatal mistake in giving away at least his first name. “Do you…do you know what’s happening? Why would you be carrying astake?”

He won’t look at me. He only stares the mandown.

The man hisses. His eyes drift down, studying Eli. And he goes still as his eyes fix on Eli’shand.

And the ring that rests on his middlefinger.

“Conrath,” the man growls as he grabs Eli’s hand and yanks it toward him, the chains clanking. “You littleliar.”

He looks over at me and studies my face again. Deeply.Searching.

My eyes. My nose. My mouth. Myjaw.

He’s taking in every single detail of me, memorizing myfeatures.

And slowly, slowly, a wicked smile grows on hislips.

“No,” Eli says. “No! She has nothing to do with anything. She’s nothing more than my friend. She has nothing to do with theHouses.”

“Oh, you are such a liar,” the man says. He releases Eli’s hand and stands straight. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a cellphone.

“She’s no one,” Eli growls, growing angrier and more desperate by themoment.

“A guardian from the House of Conrath and a face that looks so achingly familiar?” the man says as he dials a phone number and then holds it up to his ear. “I don’t think so. You know what I think? That Court will be very, very interested to get a phone call from the House ofValdez.”

He goes quiet and listens for a moment. He turns his back to us and slowly walks toward the other side of the space as he talksquietly.

“What’s going on, Eli?” I breathe through my quivering lips. I’m shivering violently. “What is he talking about? Why the hell are you carrying a stake? Who is he calling? What does Conrathmean?”

At the word Conrath, Eli noticeably flinches. His jawtightens.

But he doesn’t look at me. His eyes remain fixed on the man in the corner, quietly talking into thephone.

“He is wearing the Conrath crest,” he quietly says. “I’m telling you, she looks just likeher.”

He’s quiet,listening.