Page 167 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

She looked away when she caught one of the Fae’s eyes, shifting to stand a bit behind Loche.

Craven was nowhere to be found in the crowd, though,and she frowned at Loche. “Where is Craven?”

“He couldn’t go through with the final challenge.” Loche smirked. “He didn’t even have the courage to tell us in person. He just left a note in his room that he’d decided to bow out.”

Lessia offered him a faint smile back.

She didn’t blame Craven for opting out.

Had she had a choice, she would have as well.

As she let her eyes sweep across the room once more, she caught a glimpse of golden-brown hair and quickly spun around, facing Merrick, who leaned against the wall. Picking up a goblet from the table, she offered it to him, trying to pretend that was her intent all along.

But the crease between Merrick’s brows deepened as he accepted it, and his head tilted slightly as he repositioned himself to see behind her.

“They’re coming over,” he mumbled.

Lessia froze.

You can do this.

You can do this.

He doesn’t remember who you are.

She repeated the words to herself as she turned back toward the room.

Loche’s hand found hers, and she pretended to fix something with her dress with the other, keeping her gaze down.

Merrick stepped up behind her, so close that his breaths blew through her hair, and the leather of his tunic scraped against her arm.

You can do this.

He doesn’t know you anymore.

Lessia trembled as she drew air into her lungs.

Unlike Merrick, Loche seemed entirely at ease when a group of four Fae reached them, keeping hold of Lessia’s hand while reaching out the other in greeting.

The first male accepted it, then turned to Lessia.

She knew he could hear her racing heart when she lifted her eyes to meet his silver ones, but she kept her face blank as she gave him a nod. “Nice to meet you.”

The Fae quirked a dark brow, letting his lips curl into a lethal smile. “And you, Elessia. I’ve heard such very interesting things about you.”

She held back a grimace at the icy implications in his tone, but Loche released the hand he’d just shaken and turned their way.

“You are in my lands right now. If I am informed that one of you so much as glances at her the wrong way, this will end very ugly.” Loche’s glacial tone mirrored the frosty smile of the Fae male, and Lessia stiffened when they continued to stare daggers at each other.

But then a golden hand landed on the Fae’s shoulder.

“Riven, the regent is right. You will not disrespect the people of Ellow, or I have orders from Rioner to make sure you do.”

The Fae stepped around Riven, and she hadn’t thought her heart could beat any faster, but when kind amber eyes fixed on hers, each beat thrummed in her ears, drowning out all other noise.

“I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure of meeting before.” He bowed to her and Loche. “I am Alarin Rantzier, King Rioner’s brother.”

Loche nodded back, but Lessia stood paralyzed, unable to utter a word as he straightened.

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