Page 48 of Under the Lion Star

“I hadn’t really thought about that,” he hesitated, taking a deep breath and spearing his fingers through his hair again. “I mean I hadn’t thought about consummation. I’d be lying if I said I’d never thought about fucking you.”

“Gods,” I fanned my face with both hands. “Well, like I said, friends can fuck.”

“Right,” he rubbed the back of his neck. “But that isn’t what I needed to tell you.”

“Well, can you just say it then so I can stop making an ass of myself?”

“Sorry,” Leor grumbled, rubbing his hand over his jaw. “Marrying me might be putting you in danger.”

“Danger?” I narrowed my eyes.

“Yeah,” he sighed, his shoulders slumping. Leor looked out at the mountains before returning his eyes to me with a grim expression. “Someone has been trying to kill me.”

Chapter 14

Leor

I studied the mouse as it ate the sampling of food I had scraped from my plate, wondering if I could stomach having to watch as it died a painful death meant for me. A rodent, sure, but it was innocent nonetheless, and if I was being entirely honest, kind of cute.

As it finished, the tiny creature rubbed its paws over its snout and whiskers. When it realized the offering was gone, its large eyes looked around the table, honing in on the rest of my dinner sitting in front of me.

While I didn’t want the mouse to suffer, allowing it to eat directly off my plate was more than I was willing to allow. I cut another piece of chicken and offered it to the furry animal, along with a few cuts of carrot and potato.

Fifteen minutes passed without any ill falling the creature, who at this point had eaten roughly a fifth of my meal. But he had earned it, allowing me the comfort of eating without fear. It was a welcome reprieve.

Atlas took his seat across from me, pulling mine and the mouse’s attention.

“New friend?” Atlas asked, pointing his fork at the mouse before taking a bite of food.

“Something like that,” I smirked.

He gave the mouse a few bits from his own plate before gently scooping him up and putting the mouse in the crate where we’d created a makeshift mouse home for the dozen or so rodents he’d managed to capture over the weeks.

“It has to be one of the advisory council,” Atlas said as he sat across from me. “No one else would have access to your food, bedchamber, and the means to find so many different poisons.”

“How do you know the poisons are different?”

“Each mouse dies differently,” Atlas frowned as if it were obvious.

“Why would they want me dead, though? What’s the motive?”

“Power in some form,” Atlas shrugged one shoulder. “Wealth. The only two things that matter to elves in authority.”

“I’d have to dismiss all of them since we don’t have an inkling of who the culprit is. Then I’d have to find replacements and hope none of them are power-hungry murderers,” I sighed. “I don’t know, Atlas, it’s a lot of work for something we’re not even sure about.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” my eyes narrowed at his uncharacteristic agreement. “Dying is a lot less work. You just keel over and leave the cleanup to your family.”

“Fuck,” I groaned. “You’re always so dramatic.”

“I’ll see if I can get a read of the room today,” Atlas offered. “When you announce your betrothal, maybe I can see if anyone reacts in a way that might suggest they want you dead. I’m sure the culprit doesn’t want you married. A wife and potential heir would only complicate their plans.”

“Maybe,” I frowned. “Do you think I’m putting Z in danger?”

“Possibly,” Atlas pinched his mouth into a thin line. “But any woman you married would be in danger. At least Alda is tough, and I’ll help you look after her.”

I nodded, appreciative that I had such a good friend.

“She’s not naive,” Atlas continued. “She’ll be a good addition around here.”

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