Page 76 of The Dragon King's Assassin

“There is always someone willing to kill for the right amount of coin.”

“True. He must have hired a thug.” Something gleamed on the bed, catching my attention, and I went over to pick it up. “A button.” I held it out to Taroc. “A gold button. There aren't any on Yusef's nightshirt.”

Taroc took it from me, sniffed it, made an annoyed face, and shouted, “Captain Vettan!”

I winced. “You do know that the maximum volume of your voice is considerably higher than that of a human?”

“And?”

“And it hurts my ears.”

“Aw, my poor, delicate assassin. Did I hurt your sweet, little, human ears?”

I snorted a laugh. “I like this side of you.”

Taroc lifted a brow.

“Playful.”

“Playful, eh? And you like that?”

Then I remembered that I was angry at him.

“Yeah. It's better than your 'I'm the King, obey me' bullshit.”

“Lock, I—”

“Your Majesty?” Captain Vettan and his amazing timing stood in the doorway.

Taroc cleared his throat and held up the button. “Missing something, Captain?”

Vettan blinked, frowned, then stepped forward and peered at the button. “I don't think so, Sire.” His hand swept down the front of his immaculate uniform, gliding over the gold buttons of his coat.

“Is this what you were wearing when you came to fetch Yusef?” The King indicated Vettan's uniform.

“No, Your Majesty. I wore my finest civilian clothes as you ordered.”

“You changed before you reported the death?” I asked.

Vettan shifted his shoulders. “I had to fetch my weapons anyway, and I was uncomfortable in the other clothes.”

“Vettan, this button is drenched in your scent.” Taroc put it in the Captain's hand. “I think you'll find that your civilian coat is missing one.”

“Oh.” His hand closed around the button. “It must have fallen off when I was checking the body. It's an old coat, Sire. I don't have much cause to wear it these days.”

“Great,” I huffed. “Did you leave anything else lying around the house of the murdered man, Captain?”

“I was in a rush to confirm his death and return to the palace!”

“Maybe you should return to the palace now before you drop another button on the body.”

“I am in the middle of interviewing the servants!”

Taroc stopped us before it went further. “Vettan, finish the interviews, then return to the palace, and send Balahar, Mikbal, and Sha to me.”

“Sire?” Vettan looked as if he'd been slapped.

“Locrian is right; you've compromised our investigation. Now, do as I say.”

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