Page 28 of Princess of Thorns and Ruin

“Etiquette is tomorrow. Today is a refresher course on how to give a nice massage. The princess also required a yoga instructor, but I figured we could hire someone from the village,” Sabina says.

Blood buzzes in my ears. “Why can’t we hire a massage therapist, too?”

“Because you studied physical therapy for two years. You should be able to handle a massage. Besides, the princess will be sensitive to the scent of strangers for a while, and yoga isn’t as intimate.”

Does everyone here have my resume or something?

Sabina taps her pen to the girl’s exposed butt. “Cheryl here volunteered to be your practice run.”

“I couldn’t pass up on that.” The girl winks, a thin gold line applied over her long lashes.

“Will I learn to paint nails, too?” I ask dryly.

Sabina scribbles a few words on her clipboard. “If you want to.”

These people don’t understand the concept of sarcasm. Fuck me.

Chapter 11

What a Girl Wants

ARIELLE

The evening after the attack, I swing open my bedroom door after sundown and almost ram into Alec Beaumont. I just fed on Leo, his delectable blood still warm in my stomach, but the sight of the assassin ruins my cheery mood.

“What are you still doing here?” I shout out, startled.

The assassin stares blankly ahead, hands linked at his front, his typical I’m-well-trained-but-also-overqualified-for-this-job stance. “I’m your new personal bodyguard. The king ordered it.”

A big frown twists my face. “Take me to my brother.”

“You won’t change his mind about this. Believe me, I tried.”

I sink my nails inside my palms and force my voice to remain even and congenial. “Believe me, Mr. Beaumont. I have more important things to discuss with the king than your assignment.”

He snickers under his breath. “After you, Lucky.”

I bite back a growl. I won’t give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he annoys me. It would just goad him to taunt me more. The queen’s younger brother comes to mind at the thought. Sebastian Chastain was every bit as cocky and obnoxious as Alec, using the years he had over me to belittle my opinions.

Still…I keep close tabs on Alec from the corner of my eyes, and listen for a snarky, loose thought.

Mind-reading isn’t exactly a common side-effect of the Nightfall, so I decided not to bring it up until it happens again. According to all my books, powers of this sort are extremely rare. And they usually skip a generation…

Who knows, maybe Beaumont merely used his telepathic abilities to answer me by mistake. Our best soldiers are well-trained in the quiet art of mind-language, and he might have accidentally projected his thoughts.

Once we enter the royal office, Alec sidesteps to stand guard next to the door, clasping both hands in front of himself again.

Victor is sitting at his desk at the back of the room, the fabric of his tuxedo glimmers with a rich swirl of bronze and gold as he stands to greet me.

I curtsy. “Victor. I mean—my king.”

He grabs my hands and squeezes them. “Ari. You’ve grown so much.”

He hugs me, and I close my eyes. The scent of leather and peppermint linger in my nose, as potent as they were when my father held me in his arms, and Victor releases me too quickly.

“I’m so glad you went through your Nightfall in time to attend the coronation tomorrow. I was appalled when I heard about the attack. I’m glad to see it didn’t steal your beautiful smile.” He returns to his chair and motions for me to sit in front of him.

“Am I in danger? Is that why—” I motion discreetly to Alec.

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