Page 14 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

Shakily rising to her feet, she stared at him.

The hood of his dark cloak covered his face, but she glimpsed the gilded doublet he wore underneath, coupled with a bejeweled belt and several glittering rapiers hanging from it.

If she hadn’t been so afraid, she might have snorted.

He probably wore that overly decorated crown beneath the hood as well.

“Is something amusing you, Elessia?”

Even if she couldn’t see his eyes, she knew they were narrowed, and she could smell the wisps of anger in the wind.

“No, Your Majesty.” She didn’t bow her head—he couldn’t look directly at her, so he’d never know.

But magic tightened around her neck, forcing her eyes down, bending her head forward until it was all she could do to keep a whimper from escaping.

“That’s enough, Merrick.” The king waved his hand lazily. “At least for now.”

When his magic released her, she snapped her head to the side and couldn’t stop herself from snarling at Merrick, her hand reaching out to pull off his stupid hood to teachhima lesson.

A low laugh rumbled from him, so chilling she stopped herself, clasping her hands behind her back.

She wasn’t a fighter, had never learned combat—hadn’t required it when all she needed was to lock eyes with someone to control them.

Even if she was able to get one of them to look at her, King Rioner himself had commanded armies long before she was born—had fought every type of creature in Havlands.

The king laughed darkly. “So there is some fight left in you. Last I saw, you were so broken I wasn’t sure you’d survive the travels here.”

The musty smell of wet stone immediately filled her nostrils, and the fear she’d felt when his guards finally dragged her out of the cell wrapped like an icy hand around her heart.

She’d been blinded by the light they’d robbed her of for years when they threw her down before the king. With splitting pain tearing through her skull, she’d barely been able to hear the king offer her the blood oath.

Lessia bit her cheek, forcing the memories from their last meeting deep down.

She wasn’t that desperate little girl anymore; she was stronger now, and she had people who depended on her.

Even if she’d make sure they didn’t have to much longer.

“I’m glad. What I need you for will require some strength. From what I’ve heard, it can get quite grisly.” The king tilted his head, but still, she couldn’t make out a single one of his features; only the hood shifting betrayed his movements.

When he didn’t continue, she gritted her teeth. “What may I do for you, Your Majesty?”

Intertwining his long fingers, the king chuckled. “I thought you’d never ask.”

He paused for a moment, and her pulse quickened, echoing in the quiet night.

The king snickered again, before he continued. “I need you to run for regent of Ellow.”

Lessia’s heart stopped.

Chapter

Seven

King Rioner elegantly jumped off the cliff, closing the distance between them.

A few feet away he stilled, the gemstones adorning his weapons glinting in the moonlight.

Lessia stared at him, her mouth falling open. “What do you mean, run for regent?”

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