Page 117 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

Merrick dropped to one knee, and when Lessia didn’t immediately follow, his magic wrapped around her neck, forcing her stiff legs to bend in a deep bow.

“I’m surprised you haven’t killed her yet, Merrick. Although I’m pleased to know you still follow me blindly.” The king’s shining boots came into view as he stepped closer.

“You may rise.”

As Lessia lifted her head, her lips curled back in a hiss when Merrick didn’t let go of his grip on her neck.

A low chuckle escaped the king’s hood. “I thought the lesson my dear Merrick taught you last time would be enough, Elessia, but clearly, you still don’t understand the respect you ought to offer your king.”

She huffed breath through her nose, writhing under the oily vibrations playing across her skin. “I do understand, my king.”

“I doubt that.” The king brushed something off his cloak, the chain clinking as it shifted. “What have you learned so far, Elessia? And do not leave out any important details.”

Grinding her teeth against the stinging on her arm from the command, she struggled to keep her voice steady. “The regent seems to have nothing to do with this, Your Majesty. It seems Stellia, a former captain of the navy, is behind it all. Hersoldiers have been attacking us during the election, and her ships have vanished near where I heard others have.”

King Rioner clicked his tongue. “‘Seems to have nothing to do with this’… Say, Elessia. Did I ask you for speculations?”

As she opened her mouth, Merrick’s magic pushed her head down.

“Stop it,” she hissed.

“Are you asking your king to stop?” The king’s voice was lethal as he advanced toward her.

“No, Your Majesty,” she got out, the sting from her arm mingling with pain from Merrick’s magic as it forced her head further down.

King Rioner turned toward Merrick. “Is she following the orders I gave?”

Merrick straightened beside her, but his magic still wouldn’t release her. “She is doing what she believes she must.”

Lessia bit her cheek to keep the shock off her face.

He was protecting her.

“And what is it she believes she must do?”

“Find out what it is you seek to earn her freedom,” Merrick responded, his hold on her easing.

When Lessia continued to keep her head down, it lessened further.

Peeking at them through her lashes, she watched the king step closer to Merrick.

“And is she doing everything she can to do so?”

Lessia stiffened when Merrick’s loud swallow seemed to echo in the moment of silence.

“No.”

Her stomach sank when the cloaked king inclined his head.

“I should have known I needed to be more prescriptive. Ithought the promise of freedom would be enough, but you’re a strange one, aren’t you, halfling?” The king let out a deep sigh. “Elessia Gyldenberg, you must do everything in your power to find out what the regent hides. You will use your magic on him, you will threaten him, you will hurt him if needed. Do you understand?”

A gasp left her when she tried to fight the oath burning through her veins.

Shaking so hard that the snow beneath her cracked, she tried to remain silent—grasp at every ounce of control left inside her.

But when another wave of fiery pain crashed through her veins, she whispered, “Yes.”

Chapter

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