Page 98 of The Barbarian King's Assassin (Magic and Kings 1)

My mouth rounded. Before I could reply, Joor kept going. “With you, he doesn’t hide what he feels.”

I might have retorted, only the thunder of hooves pounding rapidly had me turning. A black stallion with shaggy hair flying raced down the road, Konstantin bent low over his mount’s neck. He’d barely pulled back on the reins than he was leaping off the horse and striding for me, every inch bristling.

“You leave me for not even an hour and manage to almost die again? What is wrong with you?” he bellowed.

“Hello to you, too.” I crossed my arms and glared. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you busy flirting with the zariina?” I spat. Yeah, so much for hiding my jealousy.

His brows rose. “Is that why you jumped?”

“I didn’t jump! Why would I? If you want to listen to some fake flattery and let yourself be seduced by a whore, then go ahead. I don’t care.”

“You think I was attracted to her?” His grimace held distaste. “Never. And I don’t want to speak about her. I want to know why you jumped.”

“I was shoved.”

“What?Who?” The low word held such menace I shivered.

Even Joor backed away with his hands up. “Wasn’t me.”

“I know it wasn’t you. Leave. Now!”

Joor didn’t wait to be told twice. He raced away, leaving me alone with a bristling barbarian. He’d come quick and hadn’t brought even a cloak. Shame.

He saw me shiver, and his nostrils flared. His gaze narrowed. “Who. Tried. To. Kill. You.” He seethed out every syllable. I’d never seen him so angry. Or sexy. It made me want to drag him off behind a big rock and show him how much I liked it.

Only he really wanted an answer.

“The grand vizier did it, with magic. Just shoved me right off the castle. Lucky for me there was water to land in, or I’d be a splatter on cobblestone.”

Apparently, that didn’t help his rage. The sword came out and swung. It might not have as much elekium as mine did, but it held enough to damage the rocks.

Once he’d swung a few times, sending shards of stone ricocheting, I managed a dry, “Done having a tantrum?”

“No! I am going to kill the bastard. I’ll rip his head from his shoulders and ram it up his robes so far—”

“Slow down, Barbarian. You can’t just march back to the temple and kill him.”

“What do you mean I can’t?” He whirled and growled. “He laid hands on you.”

“He did, and for that, he’ll die. After the wedding.”

“You can’t expect me to go through with that sham.”

“You seemed fine with it when the zariina was batting her lashes at you.”

“Faking, my little Yanna.”

“Seemed real to me.” I couldn’t help my sour tone.

“As if I’d want an insipid twit when I can have you.” He dragged me close. “And the fact you’d even doubt that is why I won’t marry her. You can trust me.”

“I do,” said on a sigh. “Which is why, much as I don’t like it, we stick to the plan. It’s our best chance for both peace and revenge.”

“There will be no peace with her as my wife.”

I patted his hand. “I’ll be happy to make you a widower.”

“I won’t lose you,” he murmured.

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