Page 62 of A Dagger in the Ivy

The next moments are a blur. The man with the blade is yanked back, and the next second, he is on the ground, unmoving. Blood marks his side. I manage to leave a score on another man’s arm before he can touch me. And then the last of my assailants slink away into the darkness, defeated but not broken

As I stand, hunched and trying to catch my breath, my gaze locks with Dante’s.

“What the hell?” I manage to yell out.

“It’s a rough town.” He speaks so casually, as if the encounter had been nothing more than a shouting match.

“I was clearly outnumbered.”

“It looked like a fair fight to me.”

I scoff. “There were five of them, or have you never learned to count?”

He crouches down, pressing his fingers to the side of the neck of the man on the ground. “He’ll live, but he’ll be sore for a while.” He uses the man’s shirt to wipe the blood off his falchion before sheathing it. “As for you being outnumbered, perhaps I knew you could handle things on your own.”

“It was five against one.”

“Four, actually, since I handled one.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “How insensitive of me. I should be more grateful.”

“Yes, you should.”

I let out an aggravated breath. “What would your brother think of your refusal to come to my aid?”

“Are you hurt?”

I blink, caught off guard that he would ask me that. “No. I don’t think so.”

“I should check.”

I raise my dagger in warning.

“Easy, Highness. I’m on orders from the crown prince.”

I lower the dagger, but my heart rate does not slow. “I’m beginning to wonder if Torbin even asked for your help.”

His eyes lower as he approaches me, his gaze traveling languidly up my body.

“Hmm.” His voice is deep. He reaches out, his warm hands making contact with my form. Slowly, he places his palms on my midsection and moves them to my back. “No cuts in your uniform.”

I try to ignore the way the warmth of his hands soothes me. “I told you, I’m fine.”

His hands roam over the curve of my hip. “Bruised, perhaps.”

“I’m half-fae. I heal fast.” My heart rate is out of control, but I refuse to let him notice.

Hishmmsounds like a low growl. I hold back a shudder. He’s so close, I can feel his breath on my skin. The heat radiating from his body causes something inside me to tingle.

“Please back away.” I keep my voice steady, my jaw clenched to show my annoyance, but inside, I’m fighting a battle I don’t understand.

“What’s the matter, Highness? Afraid you’ll lose control?”

“Back. The fuck. Away.”

The corner of his mouth inches upward. “Have it your way, little pirate. At least I can tell the prince I kept my promise.”

He takes a step back, his eyes still locked with mine. I hold my chinhigh, unwilling to let him see how much he unnerves me.

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