Page 2 of House of Mages and Raven

That required spy networks, a resource we didn’t have.

Then we ask the heirs to help,Sy said.Let’s put all of them to work.

We need to handle it delicately,I said.We’ll want to use their resources without risking exposure.

Yet I’d been willing to risk myself and tell Killian about my secret origin, only his betrothed beat me to it. She knew who I was, and she had brought an oracle to out me. I seized my cold panic and shoved it down as I watched Killian get ready to meet Queen Lilith and the oracle. Once he learned the truth about me through the oracle, he wouldn’t be able to shield me, even if he wanted to.

I swallowed drily. My gaze traced his every move. He put on a pair of gray slacks that hugged his powerful legs. His dark designer shirt stretched over his cut chest. He was a fine—the finest—specimen. It was a turn-on to watch my man dress.

No, he wasn’t my man. I shook my head inwardly. I had fucked him, but it didn’t give me the right to claim him. Right now, he was dressing to impress his betrothed while I was still perched in his bed, observing him.

“Don’t cover yourself, little scorpion.” He swept his gaze back to me, full of heat still. “You’re beautiful.”

Only now did I realize that I’d pulled the silky sheet up to my neck, my hands clenching its edge, as if to protect myvulnerability. As if the sheet could shield me from the heartbreak that was already on the way.

It was a futile effort. Yet I wouldn’t let him know about the riot of sadness, anger, and powerlessness running wildly through my head and coursing through my body like a storm.

“Modesty is my middle name, sir,” I said. “You’ll get used to it.”

Sy rolled her eyes, and Killian let out a low chuckle.

“Still calling me sir, my little scorpion?” he asked, leaning toward me to give me a kiss.

I fought the urge to lace my hands behind his neck to lock him in here with me, but I had to let him go—not just anywhere, but to see his betrothed.

For all my years on the run, I never thought that I would get attached to anyone. I’d been an expert at letting go of things, people, and places, as I couldn’t have anything or anyone for myself. But letting go of Killian was like tearing my heart out.

“Wait for me,” he said. “I’ll be back soon, and I’ll bring food.”

For the first time, the promise of food didn’t make my eyes sparkle. Silently, I watched him leave the room, his footfalls fading along the hallway outside.

I surveyed the room where I’d spent the night in his arms, my gaze lingering on a sheathed longsword on an antique console. My life was always on a knife’s edge, wasn’t it?

Coldness sank into my bones at the absence of Killian while his intoxicating male scent still blanketed me. I sat motionless as I felt my future with him slip through my fingers before I let my feet touch the icy marble floor where my clothes were scattered.

I gotta go. I gotta hide.

I would survive this, oracle or not, as I’d survived so far.

3

Barbie

As soon as I slid out of the room, Archer, one of the elite guards, stepped up and blocked me in the middle of the hallway.

This entire floor belonged to Killian, except for the Queen’s Suite, which had been vacated for centuries since the passing of the first queen of the Chaos Kingdom. Well, that was what Cami had told me.

Only Killian’s inner circle was allowed to enter this level. I lived one floor down in Cami’s suite, but now my room was even fancier than Cami’s, since the house magic had expanded the space and carted furniture and other nice stuff that belonged to other house members to my room. If they knew, they’d come for my blood.

I was every monster’s favorite. I was also every house magic’s beloved.

The Queen’s Suite gave me the creeps. I wondered if anyone else could hear the voices inside. They talked to me, whisperedmy name, chanted the stupid prophecy every time I passed by the door.

“Scorpion, you leaving?” Archer asked, his green eyes regarding me. The warrior didn’t have Rock’s bulky muscles. He was more of the pretty-boy type.

I scowled at him, as I was in a terrible mood—part of the reason was Killian had rushed off to meet with his betrothed before I had my second orgasm, and I was worried sick at the prospect of being ratted out by the oracle. Anxiety was like a living thing gnawing my insides.

“Don’t call me scorpion,” I said. “I don’t want you to ruin my reputation, Archer.”

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