Page 104 of The Mad King and the False Queen

“The feeling is mutual.”

“If I wasn’t mad before, you will drive me insane,” said Claude.

She rose to her tiptoes. “Gladly.”

For a brief moment, they remained inches from one another. His muscles flexed against her, and she could hear her heart thundering inside her. His eyes glistened in the moonlight, filled with layers of emotions she couldn’t interpret. She felt every inch of his naked chest through her thin nightgown, and there was no doubt he could feel her too. The silk didn’t sufficiently cover her curves as she was pressed against him.

His fingers found the base of her hair, sending a shiver through her body.

Then he released her, turning his back as he walked away. “You’re free to go.”

Dagmara caught her balance, and her heart dropped when his body disconnected from hers. Too many feelings collided inside her that she couldn’t interpret. Watching him walk away, she found indignation simmering in her stomach.

She frowned. “How kind of you to continuously summon me and dismiss me like a pet.”

He froze, then turned over his shoulder. “I meant you’re free to return to Azurem.”

“No,” Dagmara stated. “I will not continue this back and forth with you. We made a deal in the greenhouse, and we are seeing this through.”

“That was before you accused me of murdering your family.”

“The assassins were Ilusaurian, and they crossed into Azurem with false aliases that you personally signed,” Dagmara said, unafraid that she was spilling secrets. If she got his confession, she wouldn’t have to wait until she had access to his royal quarters for proof.

A muscle ticked in Claude’s jaw.

“You have nothing to say?” Dagmara scoffed. “Let me know when you’re ready to be honest.” She whirled and headed for the door.

“The poison that was used at the lunch was Azuremi,” Claude called out. “Smierc. Have you heard of it?”

Dagmara froze with her hand on the doorknob. That was impossible.

Smierc was what she had used to kill Jacek the day before the coronation. In fact, she used it often to take out her victims. Why was an Ilusaurian servant using it in the Ilusaurian wine? With the trade routes closed between Azurem and Ilusauri, there would be no way Azuremi poison could have made it to Ilusauri. Claude had to be lying.

“Nothing to say?” Claude imitated her.

No, she had nothing to say. She couldn’t defend herself without revealing she was an assassin.

Instead, she escaped, leaving the king behind…abandoning her chances to examine his desk filled with proof of his involvement in the Azuremi royal murders.

CHAPTER 37

Magdalena

It was almost daybreak.

Ravi and Magda made their way back to his house, for it was the closest shelter that they could find. They were both covered in wine and blood-stains, and Magda didn’t want to bring Odie back to the Inn where he had been taken. Secretly, Magda didn’t want to be alone.

The stars overhead twinkled like sparkling candlelight, and even the busy music district had died down for the night. The air around them was eerily quiet.

Ravi and Magda entered his first-floor kitchen, followed by Odie. It was dark inside. Ravi lit a candle in the corner of the room before removing his jacket and hanging it up on the wall.

“I’ll get Odie some water,” he said, reaching up to a pitcher and bowl on the shelves above.

Magda leaned down, holding Odie against her chest. But this time she didn’t cry. All she was filled with was an innate sense of gratefulness to have her dog returned to her.

“Good boy,” she said, as she stroked his fur. Odie jumped up, running his slobbery tongue all over Magda’s face.

“Odie,” Ravi called, followed by the sound of clanking bowls on the floor.

---