She felt Kagura move and grabbed onto her wrist, shaking her head. There was something in the way he was standing that had alarm bells ringing in her ears.
He chuckled again. "You're more than welcome to let her out to play. I think it would be fun."
She felt Kagura tense, youki spiking at the taunt. "Did he even exist?" Kagome asked, finally getting to her feet. "The one you looked like before?"
"A simple peasant who managed to charm a fair number of people out of their money," he said, slowly walking around the barrier. "He screamed innocence, so I thought it'd be the best way to approach you."
His gloating made no sense, but she kept her eyes on him, not giving an inch. "What do you even want with me, anyway? I'm nobody. I've never even been to the castle. If you're looking to conquer the royals, this isn't the way to do it."
He regarded her for a moment, low, manic laughter escaping his lips. "They never bothered to tell you. To keep you in the dark, I suppose."
"He's bluffing," Kagura hissed, fan snapping open. "He's trying to lure you out and—" Tentacles slithered out of his back, disintegrating when they reached the barrier, but he narrowed his eyes nonetheless.
"Those we are not involved should keep their mouths shut," he advised.
Kagome shuddered from the impact, then glared at him. "She's as involved as I am! You keep manipulating us into rescuing you!"
"How else was I supposed to gain your trust?" he countered. "You kept yourself at a distance. I needed to feel your power."
"What does my power have to do with you?" She tried to keep her temper under control, but he was talking in circles, and she'd had enough.