Page 56 of Kingdom of Crowns and Daggers

A sudden sound from outside the room causes us to jump apart in shock. We gawk at each other, our faces flushed. Her lips are raw, and her hair is a mess from my hands. I know I do not look any better. Luckily, she has more sense than I do. Her lashes flutter, shuttering the fire in her gaze, as she takes a deep breath and whips her gaping dressing gown back into place, tying it before brushing her hair back. I take the moment to slow my rapid breathing. There is nothing I can do about my pounding heart, but I do my best to act unaffected as I put some distance between us, walking to the other side of the room, needing space from the addictive assassin.

The door slides open swiftly, drawing our gazes, and we find Joha framed in the threshold. I do not know what he is doing here in the early hours of the morning, but I would be a hypocrite if I said anything—not that he can know that. What the fuck do I think I am doing? Messing around with the assassin will only end in disaster.

I have to get myself together.

Joha seems confused to find me here, slowly looking between us with a raised brow.

I am so fucked.

Chapter

Thirty

JOHA

The tension in the room is electric, and as I look between my best friend and fake fiancée, I know I just interrupted something. The question is, what?

If it were anyone else, I would say I intruded on a personal moment, especially since the two of them cannot seem to look at each other. However, this is Orion and Alyx. They despise each other and can barely tolerate being in the same room. The idea of them having a secret rendezvous is laughable.

Why would my guard be in her rooms at this time of the night though? Finding anyone in a person’s private chambers at night is going to raise some eyebrows. Their rumpled appearances do not help convince me otherwise either.

“Did I interrupt something?” My lips curl into a teasing smile, like I do not have a care in the world, but jealousy twists my insides. I was not going to ask them about my suspicions, yet I cannot seem to stop myself, even if I am making it seem like a joke.

Orion jerks like I hit him, a scowl morphing his features. “Absolutely not.” He sounds offended that I would even suggest he would have an affair with the assassin, as though I were personally attacking his character.

“No,” Alyx replies at the same time with a shrug of her shoulders, her voice smoother. “You are always welcome in my rooms, Your Majesty.” Her lips mimic my playful smile, but there is something dark in her eyes that has my eyebrow rising.

Orion stiffens, as though he’s outraged by the implication of her words, and although this is how he would usually react to the assassin’s blatant teasing towards me, I cannot help but wonder if there is another reason behind his response.

Jealousy perhaps?

No, I need to stop looking into his actions. I hate that I am starting to question what he does. He is my closest friend, one of the only people who believes in me. If anything like that was going on between them, he would say something to me. Honestly, I don’t think his sense of duty and morality would even allow him to get into any sort of relationship with anyone, never mind an assassin.

“You need to be careful. If anyone sees you, you will start rumours.” Smirking, I nod towards Alyx’s state of undress. I can’t seem to refrain from digging myself further into this conversation.

“The same could be said about you, Your Majesty.” Orion narrows his eyes, and I know that when we are alone, he will have some stern words about this. “It’s dangerous to be out alone at night, wandering the palace grounds, especially coming to see her.”

He sounds more like the disapproving guard I know and love like a brother. Even so, I do not like to be lectured, and for some reason, his comment strikes something within me. “She is my betrothed, and I am king. I can go wherever I please.”

Orion straightens, looking taken aback at my tone. I immediately feel bad. This is not who I am. Exhaustion and stress must be making me delirious. I open my mouth to apologise, but I’m interrupted by a lithe form coming between us.

Alyx.

My gaze goes straight to her, tracking her movements. Her flimsy dressing gown does little to hide her body, and it does not take much for me to imagine what is beneath. In fact, I will spend the rest of the night imagining. I might be a king who is supposed to be virtuous, but Alyx makes that very, very hard.

“Boys, let’s not fight.” She sighs and rubs her temples. “I’ve had a long day, and all I want to do is fall into bed.”

Right. Yes, I came here for a reason, not just to think about her naked. I am perfectly capable of doing that during my own time. Wiping those images from my mind, I clear my throat. “I’m here to get an update from you and see if you have made any progress.”

Nodding, she runs her hands through her fiery hair. “That is what Orion was here for as well. I have already updated him, so he can leave now and get some rest.”

It is a clear dismissal, and I raise a brow as I turn to take in Orion. There is an intense stare happening between them, and the tension rises as neither of them look away. They are both strong-willed, never being the first to back down, and for a moment, I think Orion is going to argue that his place is here with me. However, I am knocked back with surprise when he drops his gaze, scowling.

Out of everything I have seen here, that is what makes me pause the most. What is going on with Orion? Something is happening. I just cannot figure out what it is.

Shaking his head, he finally looks up and meets my gaze, his expression stern. “I will be keeping guard outside. It will look strange if we are both seen leaving at separate times.”

He is right. If anyone were to spot me without a guard, that would raise questions, especially at this time of night. While what I said is true, I am king and can go where I please, if I am spotted alone, assumptions will be made. It will make it harder for Alyx if everyone believes she is not a virgin. While it is fine for a king to be promiscuous—not that I ever have been—if the future queen were to be found having premarital sex, then she would be viewed differently. At least if I am spotted and I have Orion with me, then we can say we had a chaperone and nothing happened.

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