Page 86 of What Fury Brings
“And why would I be motivated to do this for you,” he asked, “after everything?”
“Because if you succeed, I will have you returned to your father. It is the only way you will ever see your home again.”
She didn’t know of his deal with Olerra. He was already bound for home, unless the queen potential had lied on her mother’s ashes.
Still, he played along. “So you assume none of the risk but receive all the rewards, just like with your other assassins.”
“I am a strategist. This is what I do. It’s how I will protect and serve this country.”
No, it was why she was the poorer choice, Sanos knew. She didn’t care to suffer for her people. In fact, she hurt them regularly, starting with her own harem.
“Can’t you procure the keys to my cuffs?” Sanos asked, thinking to use her to aid in his plans of escape. “Might speed up this plan of yours.”
“I could,” she said. “But then Olerra might be warier around you if you strike too soon. You’re more likely to succeed if she trusts you first. Besides, she is a skilled warrior. She could fight you off easily. No, it has to be when you’ve gained her trust.”
Sanos took the knife and tucked it into his waistband.
“Excellent,” Glenaerys said.
Sanos knew full well that Glenaerys had no intention of helping him, whether he did this for her or not. She was self-serving, and he couldn’t imagine anything other than a lie dripping from her lips. She thought him too stupid and inconsequential to see through it.
Still, he felt much better knowing he had a weapon. Whether he’d use it was up to him. These days, he didn’t know if he wanted to stab Olerra or fuck her.
“The eunuchs are waiting for you outside. Don’t disappoint me.”
He felt her watch his ass as he walked away.
His entourage kept straight faces, as though they hadn’t just betrayed Olerra by bringing Sanos to her cousin. They carried on as they always did. Silently. He wondered how Glenaerys had bribed them to do her bidding. Just how deep were her pockets?
They returned him to his room, and Sanos immediately spotted the new vase of flowers.
One petal for every time I’ve thought about you today.
He shook his head and looked around, waiting for the eunuchs to chain him to something. They didn’t move. No, they watched him expectantly, and he realized they were waiting for him to hide the knife.
Sanos swept his gaze over the room, and he immediately noticed the new addition. A massive mirror hung from floor to ceiling along the wall where Olerra had had him hung before fucking him senseless.
His blood heated at the memory, but he quickly looked away before the eunuchs noticed the change in him.
Where to hide his new weapon?
The fireplace was his first thought, but none of the bricks were loose. Then he thought of the mattress or the floorboards. He knew his initial thoughts were likely where she would search first.
And then his eyes fell on the door, the one intended for the next member of Olerra’s harem once she chose one. He let himself inside. She would have no reason to search this room while it was unoccupied. No one would come to light fires or turn down the bed. He buried the knife under ashes in the hearth. Then he washed his hands in the adjoining washing chamber to his room.
As soon as it was done, the eunuchs trussed him up and went on their way. Sanos’s gaze immediately went back to the mirror. He could see himself reflected in it from the bed. Not only could she watch him, he could watch her as he fuck—
The door opened, and he quickly looked anywhere else, lest she guess the direction of his thoughts.
“Good evening, Prince. Did you like my gift?” Her voice was warm and sultry.
He took too long to answer, wondering if she meant the mirror or the flowers.
“They’re… unnecessary.”
“You don’t like flowers?” She seemed genuinely disappointed by that.
“I didn’t say that. Only that I don’t need flowers.”
