Page 49 of Kingdom of Crowns and Daggers

Queen Mother is still the top suspect for wanting Joha dead, but she wouldn’t get her hands dirty by hiring an assassin. The fact that he was then killed by someone who didn’t raise the alarm causes more questions. It can’t have been a guard, as the whole palace would be talking about it if that were the case. My head is spinning with possibilities, but one thing keeps swirling in my mind—Crux was here last night. There’s only one person in the kingdom who’s better at knife throwing than I am and that’s him. However, if it was him, then why didn’t he say anything when he came to my suite? He hates the king, so I don’t understand why he would save him.

“Where’s the body? I might be able to identify who it was,” I force out, breaking the thoughtful silence between us.

“Already disposed of. I couldn’t allow a body to lie around and have it linked back to Joha in any way.”

Damn. That’s going to make things more difficult, although I understand why Orion did what he did. There are several groups of assassins in the city, and if I recognised him, then I would know who their master was. Once I knew that, it would only take a small amount of digging to find out who ordered the hit. Pursing my lips, I nod slowly as I think through my options.

“I’ll take a look around and see what I can find out.”

I expect him to snap at me about keeping my cover, but he surprises me by reaching out and brushing his fingers over one of the pointed shoulders of my dress.

“You might want to take off that ridiculous dress while you’re at it. You are not exactly inconspicuous.” He’s looking at me like . . . I’m not sure how to describe it, but as though he doesn’t quite hate me anymore. It’s an expression I’m not used to seeing on his face, and it takes the sting from his words.

Snorting, I roll back my shoulders to show off the full effect of my outfit. “I rock this dress and you know it. I saw your expression when you first saw me in it.”

Any softness that graced his face quickly vanishes, and he shakes his head with his signature frown firmly back in place. “You’re so vain.” Walking over to the door, he pauses and looks over his shoulder at me.

For a moment, I think he’s going to say something encouraging about us working together, and I wait expectantly.

“Don’t mess things up.”

With those final words, he turns and leaves, shutting the door behind him and leaving me with the task of finding my way back to the ballroom.

“Bastard,” I mutter under my breath, but my lips quirk up at one corner. I’ll get him to like me before the end of this job, whether he wants to or not. Now I have the mammoth task of figuring out what the hell Crux might have been doing lurking in the shadows of the palace.

Chapter

Twenty-Seven

ALYX

Do I use this as a reason to ditch the gathering? Absolutely.

Do I make excuses? No.

I am to be queen, so I can do whatever I want, and if they have a problem with it, then I’ll just play dumb and pretend I got lost. Luckily, Orion gave me a perfect exit. My maids are nowhere to be seen, and no other partygoers are hiding down this hallway. Picking up my skirts, I turn and hurry farther down the corridor, knowing there must be a door somewhere.

It doesn’t take me long to find it, and I burst out into the cool afternoon air just as some guards pass. They frown and slow to look at me, so I drop my skirts and give them my sharpest cutting look until they hurry on. Shaking my head, I walk quickly down the stone steps before someone realises I’m gone. I have an idea where Joha might be, but I need to speak to him right now.

I need to know if I’m right or not.

Luckily, I have already mapped out the palace, and I find the meeting chambers, or Windfall Hall as they call it. Ignoring the guards, I hasten up the steps to the closed wooden doors, but I come to a stop when they press their arms across it.

“Princess, they are in a meeting. Please return to your rooms, and we will let the king know?—”

“Move. Now,” I order.

They share a look, but then they shake their heads. “It is improper?—”

I move closer, pressing the soft soles of my slippers to his boots, narrowing my eyes. “I am to be queen. Do you really wish to annoy me?” He blanches at the implication. “Didn’t think so. Now, I need to see the king, so either move or I will move you.”

“Princess, please,” the other implores, clearly realising they are backed into a corner. They will probably get in trouble for this, but I cannot find it in me to feel sorry for what I am about to do.

Knowing this won’t work, I step back with a new plan in mind. “You’re right. I apologize—oh my gosh! What is that? Is it an assassin?” I point to the side with a fake gasp.

They snap to attention, pulling their swords from their sides as they turn and hurry to face the threat.

Morons.

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