Page 64 of The Dragon King's Assassin

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I realized a little belatedly that all three of us were cloaked and hooded. The palace guards at the gate let us past because they recognized me, but they gave us some strange looks, especially when they noticed the broken wings dragging behind the Argaiv. As for him, he didn't say a word, not even to complain about his wings. He strode after us stoically, looking less fresh by the minute. A necromancer could bring a soul back into a body, but they couldn't keep the body from deteriorating. That would be something completely different.

The guards outside the palace's main doors were less obliging. They took great pleasure in making us wait while they fetched the Captain. One of them stared me down as his friend sauntered away.

“You do realize that you're keeping the King waiting, not me,” I said in a tone as smug as his expression.

The soldier glanced over his shoulder.

“And you know I'm fucking him, right? He's claimed me publicly. How many lovers has he done that with?”

The man went still.

“Do you really want to mess with me?”

Daha lifted a brow at me, but I kept my stare on the guard.

“Fuck,” the Dragon muttered. “Yes, I know who you are to him, human. We all do. Just go in already.”

“Thank you.”

“And your friend stinks.”

“That's because he's dead. What's your excuse?”

“What?”

“Bye now. I recommend using soap when you shower.”

As the Dragon snarled after us, Daha snickered.

“I've missed you, Lock,” Daha said.

“You have? I didn't think you knew I existed.”

He shot me a surprised look. “You were the only human in the Wraiths. All of us knew you existed.”

“Fair enough. I didn't know you cared that I existed.”

“I do,” he said softly.

I swung a look at him. “Thanks.”

“Ain't this fucking sweet,” the Argaiv muttered.

“Hey, what's your name?”

“Me?” The Argaiv blinked.

“Yes, you.”

“Uso.”

“Uso, you stink even more when you speak. Maybe you should shut the fuck up until someone asks you a question.”

Uso made a face at me.

“That's not decomp,” Daha said.

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