Page 162 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

“We will be all right.” Amalise shifted on the bed, wrapping her arms around them.

“Lessia and I will free Ardow, and then we’ll come for you. Won’t we?” Amalise stared defiantly into Lessia’s eyes.

She nodded. “We will.”

Kalia still seemed uncertain, but after Lessia and Amalise convinced her that they’d be safe and Lessia promised heragain that she’d see her soon, she left the room to make sure the children started packing.

“What a mess.” Amalise crawled to Kalia’s spot, draped an arm around Lessia’s back, and leaned her head on her shoulder.

“I know.” Lessia sighed.

They remained quiet for a while, just staring into the flames in the fireplace before them.

“Amalise?” Lessia whispered after a while.

“Lia?” she responded with a yawn.

“If something happens to me, I need you to go with Kalia. I think Loche will help keep you hidden, and I need to know you’ll be safe.”

“Stop it, Lessia. You will be fine. Ardow will be fine. I will be fine. I won’t hear it.”

Lessia picked at a loose thread in the blanket as she nodded.

There was no point in arguing.

She knew Amalise would do it if it came to that.

After hugging her friend tight, she made herself walk out of the house.

She needed to talk to Loche.

Chapter

Sixty-Six

The number of guards in the courtyard seemed to have doubled during her absence, and she spent fifteen minutes explaining where she’d been before she was let through the gates.

Eyes trailed her the entire time she walked the path to the castle, as she ascended the stairs, and when she finally reached Loche’s room.

Lessia pulled at her tunic before she lifted her hand to knock on his door.

She almost wished he wouldn’t be there, but as soon as her knuckles touched the wood, the door flew open, and Loche’s shoulders seemed to drop an inch when his eyes locked with hers.

“Did you think I would run away again?” she tried to joke.

Neither of them smiled.

With a glance behind her, Loche grabbed her hand and pulled her inside, softly closing the door behind them.

She glanced around the room.

She hadn’t been here before, and she was surprised by how tidy it was.

A few books lay on a table by the window, and his sword, with polishing material beside it, lay on the bed. Clothing was folded atop a dresser by the fireplace, and several lanterns were placed around the room and in the windowsills.

Loche walked up to the bed, picked up the sword to lean it against the bed frame, and swiftly packed up the cleaning supplies. As he gestured for her to join him, he dragged a hand through his hair, and there were purple crescents under his eyes as he tracked her approach.

She sat down next to him, trying to keep some space between them, but the mattress was too soft, and soon his leg rested against hers. Glancing out the window at the clouds building over the sea, Lessia wrung her hands, unsure how to start this conversation.

---