Page 54 of Kingdom of Crowns and Daggers

Why did I go to her private chambers late in the night in the first place? I could have waited until morning when I saw her next. There is no justifiable reason for seeking her out at this unsociable hour.

A sickening thought comes to mind. Do I just want to see her again? Her dress had been ridiculously over the top, but it suited her personality, not to mention the way it hugged her body . . . .

The stirrings of something I refuse to acknowledge start up again, and desire shoots through my nervous system. Taking a deep breath, I shake my head and focus on the task at hand. Yes, I do want to see her again, but for information. That is all.

I have searched all around the palace grounds and am unable to find her, which brings me to the conclusion that she is not on the palace grounds.

She is an assassin, which only worries me more.

My thoughts turn inward as I become frustrated with myself. What good am I to Joha if I cannot keep track of an assassin who may or may not be a threat to his life?

Sheltered in the shadows of one of the palace buildings, I lean against the wall and drop my head, rubbing my temples in an attempt to ease the tension there. It’s useless. I have had a constant headache since she arrived.

A flicker of movement catches my eye. It is barely anything, more like a blur of shadows, and most would not have even seen it. In other circumstances, I might brush it off as my exhausted mind, but I know it is her.

With as much stealth as I can manage, I push away from the building and follow the shadow across the grounds. I don’t know why I’m so certain that this is her and not another assassin, but I can feel it in my gut.

It doesn’t take me long to figure out that she is heading back to the queen’s palace. She must be done sneaking around for the night. I hold back as she slips into her rooms and attempt to calmly formulate what I want to say to her. For some reason, when I am around her, I cannot seem to make sense of my words and end up replying in anger instead. It makes me seem like a jerk.

Not that I care what she thinks.

After five minutes or so, I sneak into the queen’s palace and move through the corridors to her rooms. It is far too easy to get into. I will have to have a conversation with the guards in the morning.

In the privacy of her rooms, where no one else is around to overhear, I stride straight over to her bedroom, a dim light shining under the door. I slam the doors open and barge in, only to come to a sudden halt.

She’s standing in just a thin vest, her underwear visible for me to see. Where she hid her dark clothing from earlier, I have no idea. I am sure she is an expert at hiding things. All my thoughts become foggy as my eyes trail down the length of her body.

I need to focus . . . focus . . .

“Just come in, why don’t you?” She rolls her eyes, stripping off her vest so she’s only in her chest wrappings and underwear. “You finally decided to step out of the darkness and confront me then?”

Her words snap me from the delirious spell her body put me under. It is only now that I realise what I am feeling is arousal. No, this is not happening. I know it is just a physical response, my body reacting as it is supposed to, and I have no control over it. However, I do not want to feel anything for someone like her, not even physical attraction.

She is toying with me, casually wandering around in her underwear, and clearly trying to get a reaction out of me. I want to look away, to give her privacy, but from the smirk on her lips, I know that is exactly what she expects me to do.

Taking a deep breath, I continue to look at her, and her last comment finally registers with me. She knew I was following her all along. Damn, she’s good. Embarrassment, frustration, and anger all flare within me. Balling my hands into fists at my sides to keep myself from shaking her, I glare.

“Where did you go?” I ask, trying to keep my mind on the reason I am here.

“Why? Did you miss me?” She flutters her lashes, her voice seductive as she teases me.

I grit my teeth against a sudden urge to silence that sassy mouth. “Answer the damn question.”

“So grumpy,” she chides as she pulls on a dressing gown, tying it closed. I’m suddenly able to think clearer now that she’s covered, even if the image of her nearly naked body will be ingrained in my mind forever.

“I was looking for information,” she answers, perching on the edge of her dressing table, her eyes locked on me as she removes the braids from her hair.

This is fucking painful. She is determined to make this difficult.

“And?” I grind out. “What did you discover?”

She raises a brow, and I can see how much she’s enjoying this. “Why would I tell you that? All you need to know is that I’m dealing with it.”

That does nothing to reassure me. In fact, it does the exact opposite. I have a pretty good idea what she means by “dealing with it,” and it makes my teeth clamp together tightly. “You can’t just go around killing people when you feel like it.”

The look she gives me is pointed, and she slowly gestures to herself. “You know what I do, right?”

I realised as soon as the words came out of my mouth that she was going to turn them back on me, making me feel like an idiot. I meant it though. Working for the Crown, she cannot just murder whoever she likes. This should be done properly.

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