Page 35 of The Uncrowned Prince

“No need.” His smile was wry and mysterious. “I believe you.”

“But why?” Karreya hated sounding petulant, but his trust in her was absurd. Almost as absurd as hers in him, and… Ah.

Perhaps these frustrations were not with Niell, but with herself. For trusting him without reason or proof, except for the instincts of her own heart—a fickle organ, at the best of times. It had been reacting strangely to her companion all evening and had tried to pound out of her chest when she sat beside him during dinner. A most uncomfortable sensation, and one that grew particularly acute whenever he smiled…

But that smile was nowhere in evidence as he answered her now. “I know liars, Karreya. I have lived a lie for most of my life. And while you are probably one of the most deadly individuals I have ever had the privilege to know, I believe you are also one of the most honest.”

Every word was true, at least in his estimation, and they warmed her as mere words never had before.

“You might hide the truth, but you don’t twist it. I believe that’s why, despite your extraordinary skills, you’ve likely never been sent out on missions before. It’s why the world surprises you. And it’s why you’re here looking for your father. Because honesty is a liability, and it makes you a tempting target. Whatever he left you to do in his stead will destroy you, because it would force you to lie.”

Karreya jerked away from him, an icy shard of suspicion arrowing through her heart.

“How?” she demanded. “Do you have mind magic, Abreian?” She almost spat the words. To read another’s thoughts was a profound violation, and the idea that he might be capable of it terrified her to the core.

Niell sighed and stopped in his tracks. “You’ve seen my magic, Karreya. I’m an enchanter. Yes, I can be dangerous, given enough preparation and motivation, but I cannot read your thoughts, nor would I want to.”

All true. In the past, Karreya had cursed her magic as often as she’d been grateful for it, but in this moment, it was a profound relief to know that she had not been wrong about him.

“Then how did you know?”

“Because I am notjustan enchanter.” There was a bitter tone to Niell’s words that suggested he might wish otherwise. “As I said, I know liars, and I have been learning to see through the masks and pretenses of others since I was very small. It is trained intuition, nothing more, but I have learned to trust it.”

That, at least, Karreya could understand. In a fight, listening to your intuition could be the difference between life and death.

She returned to her previous position at his side, placing his arm over her shoulders once more and taking part of his weight. “You are fortunate that I believe you.”

“I know, I know.” She could hear the grin in his voice. “Or you would have stabbed me.”

“I still might,” she muttered under her breath. The man was too confident for his own good. Also too attractive, which was not something a proper assassin should be noticing. Perhaps if she cut off a few of his fingers or an ear, her heart would resume its normal rhythm and she would feel less compelled to keep staring.

“As long as you help me get home first,” he said agreeably. “Then you can decide if you are still feeling murderous.”

“As long as you are awake and speaking, I suspect that is unlikely to change.”

His quiet laughter echoed into the night, and Karreya resigned herself to the reality that she did not intimidate him in the slightest.

For one of her talents, it ought to have been insulting. So why did she feel as though his lack of fear was more in the nature of a gift?

CHAPTER9

Iwouldn’t mind a shoulder to lean on.

So far as Vaniell was concerned, it was the absolute truth. But only if it was Karreya’s shoulder.

Perhaps it had been an ungentlemanly suggestion, but it had been so long since he’d felt that devilish impulse to tease or flirt with anyone at all. And with Karreya, his intentions were quite different than they had ever been before.

Among the Garimoran courtiers, his goal had been to dazzle and distract. To create as much havoc as possible so no one would ever think to look past the flashy, useless exterior to the man beneath.

All he wanted now was to see Karreya smile. To somehow break through that impenetrable assassin facade and allow her to see that she was more than a mission. More than a weapon to be used. She was brilliant and curious and unfailingly honest, and despite her every attempt to hide, she shone too brightly to be ignored.

Danric would have said he was only interested because Karreya was clearly not. And perhaps in the past he had been guilty of such shallow motivations, but this was not the same. Yes, he found her wildly attractive. Even staggering down the street with potentially broken ribs seemed worth it to have her beside him, his arm over her shoulder and hers around his waist. She made him feel like a boy with his first crush, and it was alarming at the same time that it made him feel slightly giddy.

Or maybe that was the pain.

They reached the warehouse just when he was about to start whimpering in misery, only to discover that the food deliveries he’d requested were waiting inside the door.

Karreya helped him past the curtain and left him groaning on the couch, while she made several trips back through the outer room to fetch the supplies.

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