Page 13 of Kingdom of Crowns and Daggers

For a moment, his eyes drop to my necklace, the one I stole from him. “I cost you your hunt, so I will pay the sum you were owed if you listen to my proposal. If you wish to say no after, I will go. I give you my word.” He covers his chest as if that actually works.

“Your word means nothing to me.”

“His word is everything,” the bulky man roars, and when he opens his mouth to say something else, he swallows, and Joha glares.

“Just listen, that is all.” He holds out a pouch. “And this is yours. I’m sure it will cover your sum from tonight and more.”

Leaning back into the wall, I cross my arms. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re very annoying?”

“No,” he admits brazenly, and strangely, I believe him. “Not to my face at least.”

“Fine.” I hold my hand out. “I will listen, and then you will leave or I’ll wear that pretty face as a mask.”

He grins. “You think I am pretty?”

“Money, now,” I snarl. The fool hands it over. A worse man would run with it now, a better man would be grateful, but I linger between. “You have one minute.”

“I want to offer you a contract. I have enemies?—”

“Shocking,” I interrupt with a smirk.

“There have been multiple attempts on my life. More than that, someone is actively working to bring me down. I need someone from outside—someone who can come in and find who it is.”

“And kill them?” I query.

“If it comes to it. If not, I will ruin them,” he replies. “I need someone I can trust, someone capable who cannot be paid, like a soldier.”

“What do I get in return for sorting through your noble house’s shit?”

“Who said it was a noble house?” He grins. “To do this job, you will need to go undercover and pretend to be my queen. My future bride. A lady.”

“The queen?” I chuckle. “Good joke.” I start to push away when he parts his cloak, showing me the royal purple robes underneath. I look at the burly man, who shows me his armour.

Only two people wear that.

I have heard enough tales of the young puppet king and his dog. I should have known, but in my defence, I never expected to find them here.

He is even more foolish than I thought.

“You’re the king?” I hiss, swinging around. “You’re a fool for coming down here.”

“You’ve called me that before. I am starting to think it is a compliment. I had no choice. You’re clearly capable, but you are beautiful enough to fulfil the role. No one would suspect a lady is an assassin in their midst. I will pay you whatever you wish, more than you would earn in three lifetimes. You may have anything you ask for if you find my enemies and help me stop them.”

“And pretend to be your new queen?” I snort, looking him up and down.

It’s crazy but tempting. The money I could earn would set us up for life. I could give back to the Lowers and help those who are struggling, not to mention sticking it to some nobles would be nice, but still. “No thanks, go back to your palace, my king,” I mock.

“Anything you want,” he says urgently. “Name it.”

“I don’t think she would be capable, Your Majesty.” The big man snorts.

I know he’s winding me up, but it’s starting to work. Grinding my teeth, I look between them, scarcely believing I am asking this. “When do I need to decide?”

“Before daybreak, come to the western gate of the palace. We will be waiting, and we can discuss everything then,” Joha replies. “This is Orion, my bodyguard. You can trust him.”

“I trust no one, and neither should you,” I tell him, eyeing them both. Surely this isn’t real, and if it is, how foolish would I have to be to walk into Moonshadow Palace, a place known for its backstabbing and murder?

The rich are worse than the poor—I know since I serve most of them. However, gaining access to the palace, people, and the records there might get me something I have always wanted—the truth about what happened.

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