Page 81 of The King's Sword
Peering over at Evander, he kept gesturing with his hands, as if trying to explain something. He glanced her way every so often. His face had reddened, and he kept running his hands through his equally red hair. He was sort of adorable when irritated. Not that she knew for sure he was upset, but that was the impression she got.
“Tell me, what do a group of assassins need a bodyguard for?” she asked.
Tad stopped dancing. “You’re not from around here.” It wasn’t a question.
She’d been too formal with her speech. “No. I’m just visiting. I’m on my way home.”
His body stiffened. “There’s a bounty on your head…” His eyes widened slightly, and he glanced over at Evander.
“What is it?” she asked, trying to decipher his body language.
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
“Am I in danger here?” she asked, wondering if the bounty had been called off and if so, by whom.
“This is Avoni,” he replied. “There is always danger.”
She nodded, as if she fully understood his warning, which she didn’t. “How long have you known Evander?” she asked, wanting to see if he’d tell her anything.
“Long enough.”
She sighed, realizing she wouldn’t be getting anything good out of him.
Evander approached, and Tad released Sabine and walked away without a word.
“Friendly, that one,” Sabine commented.
Evander smiled. “Are you getting tired yet?”
“No.” She eyed him, noticing his hands in his pockets and the two to three feet of space separating them. “Will you dance with me?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Evander said.
“Why?”
“I don’t know if I can be that close to you and control myself.” His eyes focused on her lips.
She poked him in the side, wanting to dissolve the tension between them. “You’re an assassin. Your entire life is about control.”
He chuckled. “True.”
“Now dance with me.”
“Why?” he asked, taking a step closer to her.
“I want the experience before we part ways,” she said.
“The experience?” He slid his hands onto her hips, pulling her closer.
She rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
He shook his head.
“I want to experience what it’s like to be at a tavern and dance.” She gestured to the room.
“You’ve never been before?”
“No.” Lottie had taken Sabine to the secret tavern below the palace, but she hadn’t danced.
