A Man Has Horns // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 69 - A Mind is a Lonely Room

"Sh-sh-shhh," I whispered, trying to sound like his mother.

I could barely manage a half-breath, given how hard he had pressed me against the wall.

"Do you know who you're dealing with, Lilith Natrix Voidroe?" His face twisted into that unsettling, empty smile that made my skin crawl.

What was with people getting angry and using patronymics.

"I think I'm starting to get to know them," I answered cautiously, watching him as his hand pressed the wand deeper between the fourth and fifth ribs of my left side.

"You haven't the faintest clue," he spat, pushing the wand just a little more.

This was bad—obviously so. I might have discovered something about him, but it didn't change the fact that I was in the greatest danger I had been in for a long time.

What had made Molly relent? What had made her loosen the jumprope around my neck that day?

"We could play a game," I suggested, needing to see that flicker in his eyes.

As if summoned, that flicker appeared, and the room fell a bit quieter. His grip was still firm, but less crushing. I could breathe a little easier, savoring the small relief as the wand's pressure eased.

"What game could you suggest that would be interesting enough?" he tilted his head, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Two truths and a lie," I breathed, swallowing the air filled my lungs before continuing. "You can't use Legilimency. I'll know."

"How do you know what I have seen?" he grinned, pulling his wand away another millimeter, which allowed me another shallow breath.

"I know," I tried to sound confident, though I could only hope it was convincing enough.

That tell-tale flicker of intrigue crossed his grey eyes. I pressed on.

"If you lose, you let me go and never reveal what you've learned from me. You must ensure the same for your sister or anyone else you have involved," I said, my heart pounding in my ears. "You can never use it on me or my friends again."

"A lot of requests," he replied, listening intently, his grin growing more feline, as if he were a cat toying with a mouse stuck in a glue trap. "And if I win?"

"What do you want?" I asked, genuinely terrified of his answer.

"I want you to show me that special magic of yours. Then I want you betrothed to me."

I blinked.

No.

The air.

Fuck.

"You...?" I stared at him in disbelief.

He was joking. It had to be a sick joke.

"You can't tell anyone, naturally. Not Sallow," he pouted exaggeratedly. "Not about the truth of the matter."

"What would ever be your goal with—"

"Now," he interrupted, biting his lip to stifle a laugh, flashing a grin that would have been handsome if not for those cold eyes, "I can't go around telling you all my secrets, can I?"

My blood ran cold.

He had mimicked his voice style, that teasing, flirtatious lilt that had made me chase after him throughout fifth year, that had made me hope to bump into him around every corner of the castle.

"Then do we have a deal?" he asked, extending his hand.

What was the alternative? What other option did I have besides being left behind in an ancient passage, only to be discovered dead and cold? He might not know everything, but he knew too much.