Page 2 of Crownless King

“Thank you.”

I debated asking Brebie about the queen and my planned execution, but the matter was probably best discussed with Voron. Before I could make up my mind, Brebie rushed out of the room. She returned in a few minutes with a steaming bowl of soup and a slice of fragrant sourdough bread. I brought the bread to my nose, inhaling its fresh scent without even a hint of mold.

“It smells so good and looks actually edible.” I tried to smile, but judging by Brebie’s expression, failed at it miserably.

She patted my shoulder sympathetically. “King Tiane’s dungeon is a horrible place I’ve heard. It’s mostly empty, though. The king far prefers executions to imprisonment. I’m glad you’re out, Sparrow. Safe and sound.”

I placed my hand on top of hers. “Me too. I’m really happy to be here instead.”

Good food, soft silky sheets, clean air—I’d never take any of it for granted for as long as I lived.

After I’d eaten most of the soup and drank some of the tea she’d given me, Brebie was satisfied to leave me alone. She tucked the sheets around me, gathered the dishes, and left, wishing me a good night.

I turned to my side and faced the sleeping Voron again. He really didn’t look comfortable, like a broken mannequin dumped into the chair. It bugged me.

I crawled to the edge of the bed and straightened his legs, arranging them in front of him. Then I took a small cushion from the pile of pillows behind me. Climbing out of bed, I carefully stepped between his knees and took his head in my hands with the intention of lifting it and sticking the cushion between his cheek and shoulder.

With a soft snort, he jerked and woke up, blinking at me.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, still holding his head between my hands. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Were you trying to wring my neck in my sleep, little vixen?” Despite his biting words, a smile quivered his lips. “How are you feeling?”

“Better.”

It was safe to assume he was capable of holding his head up on his own, so I let go of it. I tried to step back but tripped over his leg and plopped my butt down on his knee.

“Shit.” I made a move to get up, but he stopped me by placing a hand on the small of my back.

“Not that much ‘better,’ I see.” He clicked his tongue disapprovingly. “You’re not naturally clumsy like that.”

“It’s that tea that Brebie made me drink. It makes me sleepy.”

He moved a strand of my hair back over my shoulder, then went to stroke my bare arm, but before his skin touched mine, he jerked his hand away.

“You should be in bed.”

“You should be, too. It can’t be comfortable sleeping in this chair.”

“Well, you took my bed.” He splayed his hand on my thigh over my nightshirt. Apparently, touching me through the fabric didn’t bother him as much as grazing my bare skin.

I decided to test his touching limits by covering his hand with mine. He didn’t shake it off.

“Don’t tell me this is the only bedroom you have in your house,” I said. “I’m happy to sleep anywhere else.”

He grunted, getting up with me in his arms. “All right, little bird. Too much chirping when you should be resting.”

Walking around the bed, he placed me on the sheets, then drew the covers over me.

“Voron, I have questions.”

“I know. But they’ll have to wait until morning. It’ll suffice to say that you’re safe here. Safe enough to rest for as long as you need.”

“You have to get some rest, too.” I patted the mattress next to me. “If you insist on both of us staying in the same room, this bed is huge. I could easily have three men here with me.”

“There is no way I’ll ever let you roll around my bed with three random men,” he muttered under his breath, kicking off his shoes.

I smiled, watching him take off his leather belt and his black vest. He loosened the collar of his white shirt and climbed onto the bed with me but stayed over the covers.

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