Page 48 of The Elven Spymaster's Thief

“No.” I drew in a deep breath. She smelled of oranges and cinnamon.

“Then what is wrong?” She caressed my cheek.

It took everything in me not to lean into her hand and savor the sensation of her touch.

“There.” She smoothed the crease between my brows. “You are in pain.”

“I am.” I groaned. “I am dying at the thought of losing you.”

She went still and silent for a moment.

“I am not going anywhere. Not willingly anyway.”

I grimaced. “I know.” I opened my eyes and turned my head to meet her worried gaze. I had to change the topic, or I would confess something I couldn’t voice yet. “No kissing the villain.”

She rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t.”

“Then what was the kiss for?”

“To make a point.” She sat up.

“What point?” I sat up as well, turning to face her.

“If I can kiss you, I can bite his nose.”

I laughed. “You were thinking about him while you were kissing me?”

“No.” Her smirk disappeared. “I was thinking about you, but the point stands.”

I conceded the point.

No amount of drilling was going to make it so she could fend off an elven attacker. I resisted admitting it, though. We agreed to be done for the day and cleaned up. But I resolved that we would be back at it again on the morrow and every day thereafter. I wanted her as equipped as possible. In the meantime, I intended to never let her leave my sight.

∞∞∞

Avril

Illeron worked like a man obsessed. Reading, hearing, and processing reports filled the hours and nearly crowded out lunch. Only when everything had been cleared did he agree to interview assistant candidates.

We were three interviews in when suddenly Casimir stood in the shadows of the corner. Illeron didn’t indicate he noticed him. Instead, he simply continued the interview.

“What qualifications did you bring?” Illeron asked the light elf standing across from him. I had caught this one’s name, Chislon

“I am skilled in processing copious amounts of information quickly and efficiently. My previous employer commended me on my organizational skills regularly.”

“Who is your character reference?”

The light elf hesitated. I lowered my book and watched with interest. Every candidate so far had eagerly announced their character references.

“Do you have one?” Illeron asked.

“I do. It is Elite Commander Corbin.”

Illeron's eyebrows rose. “The Night Crow?”

Casimir stirred in the shadows.

The candidate nodded, his attention split between Illeron and Casimir. “I served as his military liaison for a year while he was between assistants. I also functioned as his personal secretary before that.”

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