Page 15 of Given

“Superior senses,” I said. “Superior speed. Superior strength. A superior sense of smell.” I put my mouth next to her ear. “I can smell your sweat, Princess. I can gauge your body temperature with startling accuracy. And just now, I heard your heart speed up with fear as you realized I can sniff out a lie.”

With jerky movements, she pulled the gloves off and flung them to the ground. The horse to my right promptly stepped on them.

“The right decision, halfling.”

“I don’t like that name.”

Reluctant admiration tugged at me. She was frightened and completely out of her element. Plenty of males in her position would be cowed into submission. But she refused to bend, let alone break. For now, at least.

“You shouldn’t hide what you are,” I said. “Denial leads to unhappiness.”

“Thanks for the advice.” She turned her head slightly, exposing the long sweep of her lashes. “Or was that another order?”

“A suggestion. When I give an order, you’ll know it.” I tightened my arm around her waist and kicked my horse into a gallop. Around me, my knights did the same. The sooner we returned to Lar Katerin, the sooner I could be done with this mission. I’d only returned to the city last night after being away for more than a month. I was eager to spend a day without armor strapped to my body.

And I was eager to get some fucking answers.

The princess clung to my arm, although it was clear she only did so to avoid falling.

Good. Things would go easier for her if she realized she no longer had choices.

She was beautiful. Undoubtedly, she knew it. Although, perhaps human bigotry had kept her humble. The Sithistran hatred for vampires ran as deep as their religious fanaticism.

Even so, she was the king’s sister. Her beauty and station should have guaranteed a line of lords eager to take her to wife. And yet Rolund had never entertained any offers for her. Enough information flowed between north and south for me to know that.

Another mystery to unravel.

Spires appeared over the horizon. I clenched my jaw. The King of Sithistra’s motivations could wait. Right now, I wanted to know what was going on in the King of Nor Doru’s devious mind.

“We approach Lar Katerin,” I said.

Given was immediately alert. She lifted in the saddle as though she was eager to see the city. The move arched her spine and exposed the round curve of her ass.

“Sit down,” I said, my tone sharper than I’d intended. It achieved its purpose, however, because she obeyed at once—and then stiffened again. This time, she stayed that way.

It was another fifteen minutes until we reached the city’s gates. The guards saluted us, and we entered with the crimson and black banners of Nor Doru snapping in the wind above us. Lar Katerin spread out in a neat grid, the outskirts of the city bustling with merchants in horse-drawn carts making their way into the markets. On a hill in the distance, the Midnight Palace’s obsidian exterior glittered.

Given spoke with wonder in her voice. “It’s not what I imagined.”

I guided the war horse around a pile of fresh manure. “You expected streets running with blood?” Rolund, of course, knew better, but he’d obviously let her believe whatever wild stories his court bandied about. The Brotherhood did its part to spread falsehoods too.

“It’s just…different than I thought it would be.” Her head swiveled as she looked around. “The walls are so clean.”

I grunted. “We don’t mount convicts’ heads on spikes like the humans. When you break the law in Nor Doru, we slit your throat and toss your body in the Rift.”

She didn’t answer, but I read her response well enough in the tight line of her shoulders and the rigid length of her spine.

The wind picked up, pushing more of her scent into my lungs. The spicy note was less powerful than the others. At first, I couldn’t place it, and I found myself drawing a deeper breath.

Cloves. She smelled of winter and nights in the forest. It suited her.

“General?”

I pulled my gaze from the spot where Given’s gown met her neck. One of my knights rode next to me with an expectant look on his face.

“Yes?”

“The men wondered if we’re still training this afternoon.” When I said nothing, he swallowed. “Because of the feast. For the thralls—”

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