Page 32 of The King's Queen

That awful feeling tugs at my gut again.

“She’ll go off on her own, maybe even leave the country. She’ll have the means to run from her fiancé forever if she needs to. And we will go our own way when the time comes.”

A cruel fingernail traces from the back of my neck, dragging up to the shell of my ear. I shiver at her voice.

“You’re falling behind pretty boy,”Mavis croons in my ear. “You’ll run out of things to kill eventually, and then what? What will you become other than a pretty murderous thing?” I shiver despite myself.

“She could stay, you know. You could ask her to join us.” My mechanic concludes, oblivious to my inner turmoil. I can only open my mouth to fire back a sarcastic retort of some kind when we hear the front door swing open. Two sets of footsteps are followed by a long drag.

“Rowan!”

Derrín is on his feet in an instant when his twin’s voice rings out through our compound, and silently, we both dash to the main entrance. There we find tears streaking down Kya’s pretty face as she and Vera drag a half-conscious and bleeding Amír through the doorway.

Vera stumbles as I take my second in command from them both, laying her flat across our sofa to assess the damage.

“We were set up,” she hisses through clenched teeth as she limps forward, taking the Kya’s knife from her shaking hand. “She took a dagger to the thigh. Judging by the amount of blood, they got her femoral artery. We don’t have much time left.” She slices through Amír’s trousers while Kya sobs silently into her hands, unable to move.

Amír has been in her fair share of fights, both working for me and even before we found each other. I know she can take a hit, but staring at her nearly lifeless eyes, I know Vera is right.

“Tell me what to do.”

Vera looks over, her wide eyes filled with determination as she hands the knife to me. Weighing Kya’s weapon in my hand, I squint in confusion when she holds her palm flat to me.

“Cut me.”

Chapter10

Verosa

The rustic tavern Amír guided us to reminds me too much of Ryson’s, from the swirling silkdansarinasand the cheapleecheto the keen stares of every male in my direction. For a moment, I am back to where I was a few weeks ago, scared, lost, and alone.

Except now I am not alone. Kya, my friend, is on the roof, guarding every entrance and exit. I can almost feel her eyes tracing my movements now. Even Amír’s presence as she patrols the area outside fills me with comfort, for even in her dislike for me, I know she won’t let any harm come my way.

In the corner of the bar, I find my target, a middle-aged man with a scruffy black beard and a long, thin scar over his left eye. A large hound dog sits by his feet, chewing on something that looks suspiciously like a finger bone.

Taking a deep breath to steel myself against my anxiety, I plaster a sultry smile on my face and put effort into sashaying my hips as I wander over to him. His eyes peer over the rim of his glass, lust glossing them as I lay a hand on his forearm.

“I know I’m not supposed to do this, but can I sit here with you for a moment? It’s my first night, and my feet are killing me.” I throw in a little lip quiver that used to make Blaine double over, and the man concedes.

“Please,” he says, motioning to the seat next to him. “Sit.”

I take the moment to survey my surroundings. If this goes south, the closest exit is the window just over his shoulder, otherwise I would have to make my way through the dancers to the back door. I don’t know how fast he is. In a flight situation I have the size advantage, however, in a fight…

“You’re too kind, sir.” I smile and frill my skirts as I sit, ignoring the moistness of the chair. I may need a hundred baths to forget this night. “Makes me wonder what you’re doing here alone.”

“I’m not looking for a bed partner, miss.” I quirk an eyebrow at his gruff response. His body language says differently. His eyes drift towards the door, pausing as if waiting for someone, and I trace his gaze.

“How about a friend then? You look awfully lonely sitting here,” I coax, accepting two cups ofleechefrom a passing waitress. He eyes the extended drink suspiciously but takes it anyway after I take a swig of mine and choke. The large man laughs while I sputter, the cheap drink leaving a residue to coat my tongue.

“Not much of a drinker?” He chuckles, downing his in one go and extending his hand for mine. Pulling a face and shivering, I hand it over to him, grateful to not have to drink the foul liquor again. “You’re an odd one, makes me wonder how you ended up here.”

“If I tell you, will you answer as well?” I stall for time, watching his every motion carefully. His shoulders stiffen at first, but he relaxes with a nod.

“Very well.”

I hail the waitress over for more drinks as he finishes his and hands the large hound by his feet a hunk of meat.

“My little sister is sick, and my family needs the money.” I feign a whimper, and the dog whines at his feet. “This whole place scares me, honestly, but I need to help her. No one else will, and I can’t imagine if she…”

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