Page 63 of Princess of Thorns and Ruin

“If you mean that he’s an intensely jealous creep—and that I’m a hunk—thank you.”

I mask a laugh with my hand, delighted by his answer. “McCaillin…are you Irish?”

“Celt.”

I squint at him and concentrate on his blue gaze, trying to read his thoughts, but the more I try, the more peaceful and calm I feel until I almost forget to breathe. I shake off his thrall and switch gears.

“How does an ancient, powerful angel end up serving a vampire king halfway across the world? Was our court not to your liking?” I ask.

He brings a hand to his chest. “Ancient. Ouch. But you’re right, it’s a wee bit unorthodox.”

“Angels are only males, right?”

“Aye.”

If I wasn’t so on edge, I might daydream about an entire species of Celtic, muscular men who also feed on humans while maintaining their warm blood and hot bodies…but this one is working for the king that bought me from my brother, so I doubt he’d be sensitive to my position as the mail-order bride.

“What’s the catch? Why did the king really hire you?” The man who scolded me about Leo wouldn’t hire someone even more attractive and sexual to shadow my every step. No, something weird is going on.

The angel tilts his head to the side. “You were attacked back in Europe. It’s not a stretch to imagine your enemies would do anything to stop the wedding.”

“But that’s not really why you’re here.”

His gaze bounces to the throne for a moment, and he swipes his thumb across his bottom lip. “You’re not at all how I pictured you to be.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Yes. I’ll see you soon, princess.” The man blinks out of the room, there one second and gone the next.

I cower closer to Alec. “Mr. Beaumont, can you enlighten me? What the hell is going on here?”

My bodyguard stiffens. “Keenan is more into my line of work.”

“An assassin?”

“Yes.”

“You mean he’s here—for me?”

A wolfish smile blooms on his lips. “Oh no, Lucky. If Keenan was here to kill you, he’d already be dead.”

“Who then?”

He searches the room, his piercing gaze sexy as hell. “That’s what I have to find out.”

My gaze flicks over to him, my heart in pieces. “Before you leave, you mean?”

“Yes.” Alec grips my arm, gentle but firm. “This way, princess.”

Tingles spread across my skin at the unexpected touch. “Where are we going?”

“It’s a shortcut to your room. I figured you might want to retire early, given the circumstances.” He glances at me sideways as I follow him.

Something’s off with him, too.

When we reach my door, I expect him to mention our aborted kiss—or at the very least dive in for another try—but adrenaline rushes in my blood at the dark, closed expression on his face. I choke on a snicker of disappointment when he slides away from me in a smooth—but undoubtedly deliberate—way. I search his gaze for a clue.

“What a stupid thing to do…he’ll punish her for it, because of me…” he thinks, the mental speech laced with agony. “I had to get her here in one piece, but now…I’ve made things much worse.”

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