Page 68 of Red King

I have one little problem. Just the one. I’m hoping I can get around it. I type out another text. This time to a different person.

I need to see you now.

Steel reads my message and replies.

Can’t it wait?

I smile. I’m glad I have one other person in my life who I can trust to say it like it is. Frost, too. He and I have gotten closer since the whole Ice debacle. I try not to think about Ice. Not tonight.

No, it can’t wait. You know where I am. Get here now.

I hit “send.”

Less than ten minutes later, he knocks on the door to my chamber. I check the camera to be sure and it’s his ugly mug staring back at me. My royal guards are standing at attention on either side of the door. I buzz him in.

“You called?” he says as he walks in. “This had better be good. I had just gotten home after a long-ass day of work when you messaged me.” Then he gives me a sheepish look. “Shit! The execution is in two days. Let me guess, you’re struggling with—”

“Hello to you, too. This has nothing to do with the execution. In fact, I don’t want to talk about it. Can I get you a beer…whiskey, maybe? Why are you so fucking touchy?”

“Is this a social call?” He narrows his eyes.

“Yes.”

“You called me over before I even had a chance to shower for a social? It could have waited half an hour, Arctic. What’s up?”

“It couldn’t wait because I have somewhere to be later.” I go over to the fridge and grab two beers, handing one to him.

I uncap my beer and take a long drink.

“Not outside of this castle, I hope.”

“Yes, outside of this castle.”

He frowns hard. “Do you have a date with one of the Tributes?” He looks skeptical. “I heard something about it being date night tonight or some shit. Is this date unexpected because I haven’t seen a request for guards?”

“It’s not a date. Not exactly.”

He cocks his head; I can almost hear his mind working. “Okay, but you do want to leave the castle. Is that where this is going?”

“Yes. It’s delicate. I need—”

“Delicate, how? What do you mean by delicate?” He’s prickly as fuck. I think he senses where this is going. Steel isn’t stupid. “You’re meeting a Tribute, but it’s not a date. What is—”

“I’m not meeting a Tribute.”

He raises an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue. When I don’t, he says, “This isn’t making sense. You’re going to the human accommodation to meet with someone, but it’s not a date and not with a Tribute.” He frowns. “Do you have a meeting?”

“Nope.”

“And it’s delicate?”

“Yes. It’s—”

“Wait a fucking minute! You’re meetingher, aren’t you? That sexy human you can’t take your eyes off of. It’s her, isn’t it?” He puts the unopened beer down and starts clicking his fingers. “Paisley. It’s the redhead. You’re meeting her. It’s not a meeting, but it is delicate.”

I nod once. “I don’t want you to make a big deal out of this.”

“Why meet her at night? Why is it so delicate? Holy fuck, Arctic. She’s a staff member. She’snota Tribute. What are you doing? I knew it.” He looks up at the ceiling for a moment. “When I caught you two in the closet the other night, you insisted it was nothing. I fucking knew it. I shouldn’t be so surprised. I guess I never expected it from you.”

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