Page 48 of The Faceless Mage

It was not her imagination.

Leisa’s mouth fell open, and in a rush of anger and confusion, she gripped the gem tighter. Even as it seared her hand with its phantom heat, she didn’t let go. She held on as its edges cut into her palm and confronted the presence lurking there just below the surface.

Get out of my head,she demanded.

And this time, she heard his voice as clearly as if he’d spoken aloud. It was somehow dark and deep, full of shadows and mockery and pain, and whatever magic allowed her to hear it was strong enough to make the hair on her arms stand on end.

I’m not in your head, Princess. You’re in mine.

Chapter 14

The gem fell from the princess’s fingers and dropped against her chest with an audible thud.

Her shock was clearly visible, but even if she’d managed to hide it, the Raven could feel it battering his emotional walls. She was probably trying to decide whether she’d only imagined his voice in her head.

And for his part, he wished he could take it back. He never should have spoken. Of course, he hadn’t realized at the beginning that she would be able to hear him.

But then he hadn’t been able to stop.

He’d heard that ridiculous stripling profess his love and longed to pummel him until he never dared look her way again. Which made no sense. The princess was in no danger from her own guard, especially given that she was too wise to accept his profession of adoration.

But some part of her had wanted to, and he’d been unable to resist sneering at that puppy’s pathetic idea of love.

The boy saw power and status and longed to worship it from up close rather than afar. But he had no idea who he worshiped, or he would never have proposed running away. He failed to see or understand how much strength it took for her to stand here and face her enemies each day, bearing the weight of her kingdom on her shoulders. She would never bend, this one.

But she would break, because Melger would break her. He would learn of her magic, and he would order the Raven to destroy it.

He couldnotcontinue to care. Could grant her no more grudging respect. She had to understand that he was her enemy, because if she did… perhaps there was a chance she might survive him in the end.

And at the moment, she was staring at him with so much suspicion, he dared to hope she might already understand.

“I’m not doing this,” she said, shaking her head emphatically. “This is ridiculous, and I’m going to bed.”

If only she’d listened to herself.

But instead, she paused only an instant before reaching up to take hold of the gem again. When she did, the Raven felt her accursed conscience and realized she was caring about him again.

“Look, I realize it’s silly of me to ask,” she said, “and really none of my business, but when do you sleep? You’ve been standing guard without any rest for at least two days, and I can’t imagine that you won’t need to sleep sooner or later.”

Worried, Princess?He made the question a mocking one.

“Yes!” She really was. Now, if only she could be convinced to be afraidofhim, rather than for him.

I do not require much sleep. You need not fear that I will not be vigilant.

He let her hear it as a warning—he didn’t sleep, and he was always watching.

But instead of being afraid, her curiosity surged against his mental walls. She seized his words and hung on like a starving wolf to the last deer of winter.

“But how is that possible?” she asked. “Don’t you ever get tired?”

This had to stop.

Don’t you ever get tired of pretending, Princess?

That drew a jolt of fear. She had to know she was on dangerous ground. And yet still, she refused to retreat.

“A princess is always pretending,” she told him, with a strange calm that suggested the lull before a storm.

---