Page 142 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

Loche stood in the same spot, his eyes immediately finding hers. When he offered her her cloak, she let him place it on her shoulders and clasp it shut.

His fingers lingered by her neck, and when she glanced at them and then back up at him, he grinned at her. “All ready?”

“Where are we going?”

Gesturing for her to walk ahead, he said, “You’ll see.”

She still wondered whether this was a good idea as she walked out the door into the brightly lit corridor.

Especially when there wasn’t a single guard in sight.

Loche’s eyes followed hers, and he whispered, “Zaddock is creating a little diversion.”

She frowned. “I thought he wasn’t supportive.”

“He was only looking out for us. But after last night…” Loche’s eyes hardened for a moment. “There’s no point in hiding now. Not when they already know.”

Grabbing her hand, he pulled her with him down a corridor she hadn’t been before and lifted aside a dusty tapestry, revealing a rickety staircase that looked like it had been placed there temporarily and then forgotten about.

When she hesitated, Loche walked ahead, confidently gripping the rusty railing and stepping onto the first creaking stair.

“It leads to the stables. It used to be a stable boy entrance, but since we don’t force the people who work here to live at the castle anymore, it hasn’t been in use in a long time. Come on. They’ll be back any second, and while this might be a secret passage, this staircase is loud.”

Lessia scowled at him, but Loche only raised his brows and started down the stairs. As she reluctantly followed him, she was grateful he’d grabbed a lantern off the wall. And when he made sure to remain close to her, never allowing the darkness to creep in, her shoulders lowered another inch.

Loche was right about it being loud.

For every step Lessia took, the staircase creaked and whined—as if it might fall into a heap of dust at any moment. But soon enough, more light trickled over their boots, and the comforting smell of horses and hay washed over them.

When their feet finally found solid ground, they stepped right into the pen of an already saddled horse. It was a beautiful gray stallion, the coat’s color eerily similar to Loche’s eyes, with a long, almost pearly mane.

“This is Reks. Reks, meet Lessia.”

The horse neighed softly when Loche approached, and when he urged Lessia forward, she lifted her hand to stroke Reks’s head. Reks nudged her hand with his muzzle, and she giggled when his wet lips nipped at her in search of a treat.

“I may have spoiled him, but he’s a good horse. And he’ll easily carry us both, even in winter.” Loche patted the horse before reaching for her as if to lift her up.

She shifted away, placing her foot in the stirrup and pulling herself up.

“He may be tall, but so am I.” She grinned.

Loche’s eyes glinted as he mounted the horse, pulling her body flush against his and reaching around her to grab the reins. “That you are.”

His lips brushed her cheek. “But I’ve come to like throwing you around, so please refrain from denying me the pleasure in the future.”

Goose bumps rose in the wake of his warm breath, and she had to stifle a groan when her cheeks heated. “I’ll be deciding when and if you’re bestowed that pleasure, thank you very much,” she grumbled when she gained control over her features again.

A snort whispered over her skin. “I’m well aware.”

Fabric rustled behind her.

“Pull up your hood. We’ve probably been loud enough to alert every guard in the courtyard, so we’ll need to ride fast. The gates will be open, but they’ll try to stop us.”

As she pulled up her hood, she glanced over her shoulder at Loche’s covered face. “Aren’t you still regent? I assume you have the authority to do as you please.”

His arms tightened around her. “But this is much more fun, don’t you think?”

She raised a brow, and as if he could see her expression even with the hood covering her face, he continued. “We have a lead on the spies in the castle, but I am not sure if they are working alone. I’d prefer no one sees us.”

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