“I’ve only been a royal for a few months. I’ll have to work hard to catch up to my relatives.”

Akhi chuckled around my cock in her mouth.

I pulled back and removed my shirt, letting it fall to the floor—a shirt worth more than I had earned in an entire month before. I leaned forward to adopt the same position, but Akhi pulled back and patted the bed beside her.

“Lay down. I have something special to show you.”

More special than the way she already looked? I wondered. I was in for a hell of a Steyatt week!

I did as she asked and laid on the bed, my arms tucked behind my head.

Akhi threw her leg over me, straddling me, holding me firmly in place. She writhed on me, dancing hypnotically, her tight body gorgeous at every angle. She tossed her hair, every inch a temptress, a siren on the high seas.

“Are you ready for your special surprise?” she asked, peering at me through her disheveled hair.

“I thought your dancing was the surprise.”

“Oh no,” Akhi said, pressing her breasts against my chest and stretching out her arms to either side, slipping under the pillows. “Your special surprise is a lot more unique than that…”

She raised her arms high above her head.

Something metallic glinted in her hand.

I instinctively recognized it for what it was—you didn’t grow up on the streets without recognizing a blade when you saw one.

She brought it down, screeching as she did so.

I didn’t roll to one side as most people would have done but immediately sat up, raising my arms above my head to block the blow, and smacked my horns into her face, knocking her clean off me.

I struck her with the force of ten bulls, but the Ulsen skull was thick and wouldn’t daze her for long. My intention had not been to harm her but get her off me.

She was back up on her feet in an instant.

I hastily scrambled off the bed, my eyes sliding over to the table and chairs where I had placed my jacket. I kept a knife in one pocket for protection.

Akhi saw the movement and immediately moved to block any attempt I might make to reach it.

“Why are you doing this?” I said in a strangely calm voice.

Akhi altered her grip on her knife. “Sorry, love. The royal family pays more.”

So, the royal family did want me dead. I had wondered what actions they would take, or if they would take any actions at all. Now I could see they had claws.

Ges had taken precautions to increase the number of guards around the palace—but that did little to protect me from those I had invited in myself!

An assassin!

I was going to have to keep my eyes peeled for similar dangers in future, that was for sure!

Akhi lurched forward, swiping at me.

This time, I jumped over the bed in a single bound and grabbed an ornamental shield from the wall. I thought about shouting for the guards, but it seemed too much of a coward’s way out.

I could handle one girl. I faced off against her.

She lowered herself to the ground in a half-crouch.

I moved the shield, following her every move. “How about if I double whatever they’re paying you?” I offered.