Selene's eyes pointedly flicked down to Matias's arm around Aleksasha's waist and then back up at Matias's face. She made an imploring gesture. "Please, your grace, ask your questions so that we may resume the evening's festivities." She leaned back in her seat, lowering her arm lazily as she watched them.
Selene's manner grated against Aleksasha and she stiffened. Matias gently squeezed her hip and she glanced up at him for a moment and relaxed.
Matias looked at Selene his eyes cold and unreadable as was the tight line of his mouth. He waited a moment and spoke calmly, like the topic was something less grim than a murder. "Did you visit the stables earlier this evening?"
Selene rolled her eyes at the question but answered with a sigh. "Of course, it was stuffy and I like animals."
A silence grew in the space between questions held a weight that pressed down on her shoulders. The idle movement of Matias's thumb against her hip reminded Aleksasha of her promise to not interfere with Matias's method of investigation. We'd agreed that I would be here while he questioned her. I need to be patient.
Matias's eyes flicked down for a moment before he continued. "Did you speak to the stable staff?"
Selene sighed, and shrugged. "I did. Two young boys… Theo and Madan, I think? They were quite enthusiastic about the horses. They were excited to talk to me about them." She glanced down at her fingernails, picking at something beneath them. "They were eager to show me the silver black stallion. They hoped you would stud him with the Sorrel mare but I thought he'd be a better match with the Smoky Black."
Aleksasha pursed her lips in disapproval. The silver black was Matias's horse while the Sorrel was her own. The Smoky black was the horse that Selene rode to the estate on. She's insulting me.
"Pity that horse breeding was not in your curriculum at Esmea. Nor was Athus court etiquette," Matias commented coldly. Aleksasha felt a soft sense of relief that it seemed like Matias was defending her.
Selene sat up with a rustle of skirts, leaning forward as the bodice of her gown gaped, giving Matias a clear view of Selene's breasts. "And what does any of this matter? I am a guest of the duchy of Volkov, am I not? Am I not allowed talk speak freely with anyone I wish within its walls?"
Matias's eyes remained on Selene's face. "It matters, because those two young men are dead." He replied in a firm tone of voice. "You were the last one seen with them. Think deeply and clearly, Selene. What happened before you left them?"
Selene's annoyed expression didn't falter. She crossed her arms with a huff like an admonished child. Her dark eyes gleamed. "How tragic." Her tone dripped with insincerity. "All this fuss over low born servants of the Volkov estate." She rolled her eyes.
Aleksasha's jaw tightened, she flinched forward but Matias nudged her hip backward with his hand. His own posture was guarded and steady. "All lives are precious regardless of the circumstances of their birth, they are our people." He paused for a moment before he continued. "You are a guest in this household, and your life is also of value. You should take care to value it more than you do now."
Selene frowned, her eyes flicking down to the ground.
Matias spoke clearly. "What happened, Selene? Be truthful, all the kindness in the world won't spare you from justice's blade."
Selene looked up again and took a deep breath. "They showed me around the stables and I left them at the path leading through the woods. They were kind enough to escort me. I wanted to show my gratitude to such diligent attention and graced them with my handkerchief. Then I found more interesting company among the soldiers in the garden." She quirked a brow. "Does that satisfy you, Matias? Or are you are demanding as always."
Aleksasha felt her blood rise and her face warm at the implication of Selene's words. Another jab.
"What did the handkerchief look like?" He gestured for Selene to tell him more.
Selene sighed with another roll of her eyes. "It matches the fabric of this lovely gown. It's meant to be decorative more than functional."
Matias pursed his lips together and nodded. "You may go, Selene. That'll be enough."
Aleksasha looked from Matias to Selene, her eyes wide and disbelieving. Matias pulled her gently against his side to keep her from moving forward. "You're…"
"Careful, your grace," Selene raised her hand cutting Aleksasha off. She hopped to her feet, bowing low with another tease of flesh. "Accusations like that without evidence can backfire. As much as you might love to rip my hair out, Duchess Volkova, perhaps consider that you are simply… feeling insecure and are projecting those feelings onto me."
"What are you implying?" Aleksasha snapped.
Selene rose her head and fluttered her eyelashes at Aleksasha, taking a step closer. "You looked quite comfortable with Lord Adrian earlier to allow yourself to be sequestered alone with him. He seems quite taken with you. It would be such a scandal if anyone thought you were reciprocating or," she gasped, "you've had this relationship while the Duke was away."
Aleksasha glared at Selene. "Watch your words, Lady Selene."
Selene turned away to leave, gracefully flicking her hair over her shoulder as she coyly smiled, looking back at Aleksasha. "Only appearances matter, your grace. And yours looks questionable."
"That's enough. Leave us, Selene," Matias cut in with a low growl. "If you have nothing useful to say, you're wasting our time."
Selene's smile faltered, demurely lowering her eyes. "As you wish, your grace." Her eyes moved to Aleksasha again. "Tread carefully, the court of public opinion can be unforgiving. Good night, your grace." She curtsied a final time and slipped through the study door, it clicked shut behind her as she left the couple alone.
Aleksasha's hands clenched at her sides as she turned to Matias. "Do you see her fangs now? No matter how tame a viper, it is still dangerous."
Matias slid his hands up her sides, trailing his fingers up against her arms. "That wasn't enough to damn her, Alek."
She frowned. "But…"
"Think it through with that wonderful mind of yours. Follow the trail of logic of what we know. Is that enough evidence to send anyone to the gallows, let alone her?" Matias replied softly. "I know she's upsetting you but is that enough to execute her? And have you become the type of duchess that kills any who say foolish things about you?"
She leaned forward, facing him as she rested her head against her chest. "No," she replied softly, her hands trembling as they grabbed his coat. "You're right… I'm not that sort of woman. I hate that she's here. I hate that she keeps implying she's your lover. I hate that our boys died and I don't have anything more to go on than a bloody handkerchief and Selene's presence."
"Alek," Matias rubbed her back, his calloused fingers brushed against her smooth skin. "It's okay to grieve. We're investigating this. I haven't forgotten anything I've promised you."
Aleksasha looked up at him, her eyes on the brink of tears. He brushed her cheek, and gently wiped away the first sign of tears. "Please tell me why she is here. What hold does she has on you to walk so cautiously around her? Do you not love me enough to tell me the truth?"
He met her gaze and lowered his face towards hers, his thumb gently lifting her chin up. His breath brushed against her face, smelling of sweet wine. "I love you more than my own life. I wish I had the power to shatter time to steal back all the years that were stolen from us. That I could've been here as you struggled and grieved your father." He watched her eyes and sweetly kissed her lips. "Grieve, scream, cry, hit me if you wish. I am here for you, Alek. No one can take that from you."
"I want to trust you." She stared at him dreamily, lingering near his lips. "I dreamed of the day you'd be in my arms again." There was a warmth in his eyes that she remembered fondly all these years. "Then why do you avoid the question?" She replied softly.
A loud knock at the door made Aleksasha flinch. Matias frowned and turned his head toward the knock and then looked down at Aleksasha. "Damn the timing of all this," he muttered. "What is it?" He called.
"Your grace, we've found something. Please come right away," Turold called through the door, not opening it to give them their privacy.
"I'll be right out." Matias called.
Aleksasha frowned at him. "Once again you -"
Matias swept her up into his arms, fiercely and passionately kissing her lips with a fervent need that left her breathless. She melted against him, intoxicated by the lingering taste of sweet wine on his lips. He held her like he never wanted to let go. Like for this one moment he wanted to show her all the things anbout them he couldn't capture with words. For that one perfect moment of desire, she believed him.
He broke away with a coy smile. "I must go. This investigation is important to you and to me. Do you wish to come see this awful thing they found? Or will you stay?"