Page 72 of The Dragon King's Assassin

“You just did. Now, who is your source?”

“Yasima, the owner of the Blue Feather.”

“The hermaphrodite?” He lifted his brows.

“Yes. Yusef was using her establishment as a changing room. He'd meet with a client, then go to the Blue Feather where most patrons arrive cloaked. Once inside, he could remove his mask and then leave looking like everyone else.”

“Smart.”

“Yes, but Yas knows everything that goes on in her place. He made a deal with her, that he would encourage his fellow council members to patronize the Blue Feather in exchange for her discretion.”

“So she has no way of knowing who hired him and therefore is incapable of warning them that we were onto him.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. She didn't even know what his business was.”

Taroc suddenly narrowed his eyes at me. “That was a lie.”

I blanched and whispered, “How the fuck did you know that?”

“I know you too, Lock. Just as well as you know me. Now, why did you lie to me about Yasima?”

I heaved a sigh. “I promised Yas that I would protect her. It was the only way she'd betray Yusef.”

Taroc grunted, stared at me a bit, then nodded. “I suppose you were trying to be honorable, but do not lie to me again. Not even for honor's sake.”

“I won't, Your Majesty.”

After a brief, awkward pause, he asked, “So, if not Yasima, who warned them? Someone must have. I can't believe this is a coincidence and Yusef was murdered for a completely different reason.”

“Neither can I. The timing is too perfect. Someone found out that I discovered Yusef's identity, and they passed that information on to the person who hired me. Either that or the one who hired me already knew who Yusef was and was watching him.”

“No, that can't be it; we didn't approach Yusef until this morning.”

“Perhaps they followed Yusef to the Blue Feather and have been watching it. They could have been there when I showed up, and . . .” I trailed off and shook my head. “No, that doesn't make sense either. I went in cloaked and even if they had seen me and recognized me, all they'd be able to do is follow me back to the palace.”

“Then it's unlikely that they were watching the brothel. How else could they have learned that we discovered Yusef's secret?”

“I don't know.”

“Who told you about Yasima?”

“A friend,” I said fiercely. “The only man I trust. So, no, it's not him, and no, you can't have his name.”

Taroc leaned back, his stare locking on mine. “You only trust one person?”

“Only one implicitly.”

“I see.” The skin around his eyes tightened. “You won't give me obedience or trust.”

I blinked. “I . . . you expected me to trust you already?”

“You expected it of me.”

I went still. “No, I expected you to not treat me like a slave when we've clearly established an intimate relationship.”

“Intimate but not trusting?”

“I trust you to a certain extent.”

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