Page 1 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

Chapter

One

The noise in the packed tavern was unbearable.

A relentless hum of chatter and clattering of glasses pounded against her temples, and Lessia cast a longing glance at the door behind her.

It had been a long day already, and the only thing she wanted was to climb into bed—to be anywhere other than this teeming, blistering room.

Even the snow swirling outside the dusty windows behind her looked more welcoming.

But she needed to show her face tonight.

She’d spent the past few nights holed up in her study, and Lessia knew word would get back to her king. If she stayed in tonight as well, his henchman would come looking for her.

She’d tested his patience before—two days seemed to be the longest time she could escape his watch.

Sighing, Lessia flicked her hair and forced her lips to curl into a sly smile as she waved to try to get Bren the barkeep’s attention. A few patrons glanced her way, and she winked attwo of the regulars when they raised their cups in her direction.

Bren was tied up, scrambling to take orders from thirsty soldiers who’d spent too many months at sea, so she rested her chin in one hand and traced the jagged outline of the wooden countertop with the other.

As she picked at the sticky surface, a drunken soldier barreled into her, jarring her arm off the counter and nearly tripping her.

Shaking her head, Lessia leaned back over the bar, but when the rough material of his uniform kept scraping against her arm, his hip painfully jutting into hers, she turned her head over her shoulder and glared at him.

“Could you move, please?” She pointedly glanced at the space beside him. “There’s plenty of room for both of us to order.”

The soldier swept his auburn hair out of his face and flashed her a drunken grin. “No need to frown, beautiful. I’m only trying to get a drink.”

His eyes roamed over her black cloak and the long-sleeved black tunic she wore beneath, and he arched a brow. “I’d buy you one. But you’re clearly not here to socialize.”

With that, he turned back to the bar, leaning over the dark wood to give a wobbly wave to Bren.

Lessia rolled her eyes.

She knew her attire didn’t do her any favors, not like the beautiful dresses other women in the tavern wore, their laced corsets accentuating their waists and the capped sleeves showing off their slender arms.

But it wasn’t like she had a choice.

The soldier kept trying to get Bren’s attention, and she couldn’t help the smirk that pulled at her lips at his feeble attempts. The tavern was too busy tonight; there was littlechance Bren would prioritize him over the many patrons he knew.

Especially when Lessia stood next to him.

A hand squeezed her shoulder, and she spun around, finding her best friend in one of those beautiful dresses she’d admired.

Gray, with white detailing trailing up the long skirts, the dress was simple but beautiful against Amalise’s blonde tresses and huge blue eyes. And it had short sleeves, so she probably didn’t have sweat dripping down her neck like Lessia did.

She dragged a hand through her wavy hair. “Is this one giving you trouble, Lia?”

Lessia shook her head. “I’m good.”

When Amalise narrowed her eyes and a familiar wicked sheen glinted in them, Lessia stepped into her path.

Too often, a situation like this escalated into a brawl, and with tension already heavy in the air from restless soldiers, Lessia wouldn’t be surprised if the whole tavern got involved after one punch.

That she was too tired for.

She let some of her own wickedness fill her eyes and offered Amalise an edged smile. “I told you I’ve got this, Amalise. You go back to whatever poor man you plan on dragging home tonight.”

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