Page 31 of The King's Queen

“I’m sending you.”

Vera is on her feet in an instant, all of the color draining from her pretty face. I rise with her as she grinds the palms of her hands into her eyes and spins to face the wall.

“How do you know I’m ready?”

“I’ve seen you. This is a simple mission; you just need to get the information out of some guys and then get out. There will be no fighting necessary, but if it comes down to it, I know you can handle yourself.” I watch as she bites her lip, nearly enough to draw blood, when I can’t stand the distance anymore. Grabbing her arms, I turn her until she’s facing me. “I am putting my faith in you, Ver. I believe in you.”

I bend down so our eyes meet and hold in a gasp when they do. Where she was once golden, she’s now blue where the light dances in her eyes. How many shades is this girl? Wisps of indigo hair fall free from her braided crown, one catching between her lips. Brushing a strand back with my hand, I look up again when she speaks, her voice breathless.

“You called me Ver.” So I did. Stepping back and releasing her arms, I clear my throat and check the time. “I’ll do it.” She has found the strength behind her voice again, and she says it again louder now. “I’ll do it.”

“Great. You leave now.” Amír speaks from the doorway of the study, already suited in her own armor, gun holstered at her hip. Kya steps out from behind her, clad in leather trousers, thick-soled boots, and a scarf covering everything below her eyes. The smaller woman tosses a swirl of teal silks towards her friend, who catches it with a dumbfounded expression.

“Amír and I will guard the only entrances and exits as well as patrol the area around it. I’ll help you with your garments quickly.” I turn my back as the two squabble, Verosa protesting loudly as Kya strips her bare then places the smooth silks in the right places.

“This is demoralizing,” Vera huffs indignantly as I turn around. A blue band of silk warps around her breasts, leaving her midriff and shoulder exposed to the night breeze. A slightly darker skirt flows freely from her waist, daring slits snaking up to show a bit of her smooth legs.

“You look great.”

“I look like a prostitute.”

“Exactly.” Amír grins wickedly. “That’s what you’re posing as, princess.” Curiously enough, Vera stiffens at her words.

“I have to seduce the informant?” she screeches, crossing her arms across her stomach in an attempt to protect her virtue when she notices that does nothing for the modesty of her top. Huffing she jabs her index finger deep enough into my chest to hurt.

“Enjoy the show, asshole,” she hisses. I cough to hide my laughter, but it’s not enough for Amír to not notice how my eyes trail her out of the room. My second raises a well-groomed eyebrow before following her out. Kya lays a soft hand on my arm.

“I won’t let anything happen to her.”

I swallow thickly, patting the top of her hand once. “You’d better not.”

The night drags on after the trio leaves, and I find myself sitting across from Derrín in his room while he fiddles with his invention.

“Are you going to stare or are you going to ask?” the male twin says without lifting his gaze from his project.

“What is it?”

“It’s a communication device. It’s designed to relay nearly instantaneous messages across a long range of distances,” he explains, holding up the nearly complete project. “I figured it could be helpful on hits, especially when we are all in multiple places. I can check in on Kya on the longer missions.”

“I think Amír might fight you for it then.”

“Or you if it were Verosa,” Derrín deadpans, and only then does he raise his gaze. A warm, hazy blush slowly begins to creep up the back of my neck, and a tingling sensation rushes through my limbs. I don’t need to respond, Derrín already knows.

“You sure know how to pick them.”

“What do you mean?”

He only shrugs. “You’ve got a type. Comes with strings attached, insane attitudes, unrelenting curiosity.” Derrín counts off on his fingers. “Not to mention, people who have no interest in you whatsoever.”

A low fire boils in my gut, and I clench my jaw. Derrín said it so bluntly and so casually, but it had been honest. Something sparks in my chest every time I look at Verosa, something that I thought had died long ago. Something that should’ve stayed dead.

“I can’t afford to get involved. There’s too much at stake,” I defend, rising to my feet. “You should feel lucky you don’t have to deal with this.”

“I am,” he mumbles but then sets to fiddling with his thumbs. “But have you ever stopped to think about what comes next? What happens after you kill your father? You’ll have some powerful people coming after you.”

“None more powerful than him.”

“And what about Verosa?”

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