Page 108 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

“They will never bother you again. Nor will any others, unless they want me to pay them a visit.” Loche’s gaze refused to leave hers. “This isn’t what my Ellow stands for, Lessia. We do not mistreat anyone based on where they come from or what legacy they might bear.”

She tilted her head, her face pinching when pain stabbed through it. “I know you like to think so, but there is still a ways to go, Loche. You don’t think the election is the first time someone like me gets called names or is assaulted?”

Loche leaned forward to grasp her hand, the one without a broken finger, and his eyes clouded when a shiver ran through her.

“I know that now. If I win again, I’ll ensure that it never again happens. I promise you, I take this extremely seriously.”

She’d counted on it, but it was still nice to hear him say it,especially since there was no chance Venko or Craven would ever prioritize Fae concerns.

It was quiet for a moment, but as she cleared her throat to tell him they should probably sleep, Loche squeezed her hand. “Do you mind if I stay here for a bit?”

Her brows snapped together. “I thought you wanted me to stay away from you?”

The question came out softer than she’d meant, but she didn’t know what to do with all this buzzing energy or the unsettling intensity of his gaze as his gray eyes burned into hers.

Loche’s jaw clenched, and his eyes darted to the door for a moment before he sighed. “I never said I wanted you to. I said that youshouldstay away from me.”

“Why?” she whispered.

Something dangerously close to hope twisted in her chest, and a shadow of apprehension crept up on her.

She wasn’t sure if she wanted the answer.

Not when it wouldn’t be one she could keep to herself.

Not when anything he said would be relayed to her king.

“Why do I want to stay here? Or why should you stay away from me?”

Lessia swallowed, but she couldn’t stop herself from responding, “Both.”

Loche offered her a half smile. “I told you. I don’t share my secrets.”

Letting out a frustrated breath, she pulled her hand from his, annoyed at herself when a feeling of emptiness washed over her.

His eyes trailed her hand as she tucked it under the blanket. “Zaddock is in the room next to mine. I can’t promise I won’t beat him up if I go back right now. He took today’s trial a lot more seriously than he should have.”

The air between them lightened, and she drew a deep breath when some of the tension rolling off him lessened.

Forcing her lips to curl into a smile, she joked, “You can’t handle that he roughed up your handsome face?”

Loche grinned, leaning back in the chair. “I was right.”

“About what?”

“You think I’m handsome.”

Groaning, she waved toward the couch. “Go sit over there before I kick you out.”

Loche laughed all the way to the couch, and he thankfully didn’t mention all the lit lanterns as Lessia shifted her gaze to the ceiling.

They talked for a while about the things Loche hoped to do for Ellow, and as Lessia’s eyelids grew heavy and she stopped asking questions, Loche continued telling her of the plans he had to ensure everyone would survive until summer.

As she listened to his deep voice, sleep came quickly.

Chapter

Forty-Seven

---