He gritted his teeth and tried to keep his face passive, tired of this game. He did not have the patience for the back-and-forth of interrogation. Not when it came to Aurora. If she was back in the city, free from her captors, why had she not returned home? Was she still in some kind of trouble? Had the rebellion found a way to retrieve her from the kidnappers? Were they using her for their own ends now? Or had she joined them willingly? Did she not know she could walk right back in and he would welcome her gladly? Maybe his brother’s treatment of the rebellion and his father’s hasty move to turn over the flags had left her insecure. If he could find a way to get her word, perhaps she would just come home. He would give her back her maid friend if that was all it took. She was nothing, just a means to an end.

If Aurora came home, they would stand a better chance at holding off the Stormlord with their abilities combined. That was what mattered now. She could have the throne. He found he was caring less and less for the idea of it by the day.

Cassius decided to cut through the subterfuge and straight to the point. “You know where she is, don’t you?”

“Where who is?” the girl asked.

“My future wife,” Cassius said.

“She will never be your wife.” The answer did not come from the brazen rebel, but from Aurora’s maid friend. The girl had nearly plastered herself to the wall where she sat on the bed, but she had roused herself enough for that impassioned interjection.

“You heard her,” the other girl said. “I don’t know any wife-to-be of yours.”

“I do not care to quibble about the specifics. All I care about is whether she is safe and where she is. I need to speak to her.”

The rebel’s head tilted to the side, revealing the way her hair was cut shorter than his own on one side. “She is safe. I do not know where she is. But she knows where we are. That is enough.”

“And if I want to get a message to her?”

The rebel smiled. “You could let us go. We will be your messengers.”

“Not a chance.”

“Then I guess your message will remain unsent.”

Cassius stalked toward the door and said, “Or perhaps I will tire of bargaining and decide to send a different type of message.” He directed a hard look at the maid, who sat quiet again on the bed. Then he stormed out, determined to find another way to reach Aurora Pavan.