Page 173 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

But when the king placed a hand on Loche’s shoulder, Lessia’s lips curled back in a silent snarl.

She couldn’t stand this male touching him.

Loche was too good to be anywhere near him.

King Rioner let out a humorless laugh. “Behave, Lessia. I know even halflings can actcivilized when you want to.”

Her ears buzzed, and she went to take a step closer when an invisible rope stopped her, freezing her body with one foot in the air.

“That’s better.” The king smirked. “Now, where were we? Ah, yes! So, Loche, as I was saying, you have my sincerest apologies for nestling a spy into your midst. I am sure you can understand I needed to protect my people. But as soon as I realized it was one of my own who was the cause for the troubles in Vastala—like one of your own was the cause here in Ellow—I came straight here.”

The pull on the oath softened, and when Lessia could set down her foot, her eyes snapped to her father.

His jaw twitched as he briefly met her eyes before shifting them back to his brother.

Loche’s gaze moved her way as well, but as she desperately tried to get him to look at her, he locked down any emotion on his face and turned to the king again. “Bringing her into this was an act of war, Your Majesty. I am sure you can understand I need to protect my people as well. As for Merrick, it might have been unbeknownst to you that he conspired with the people attacking us, but he is still one of your men, and you need to be held accountable.”

Lessia let out a sharp breath. “M… Merrick?”

Loche pursued his mouth, but the king didn’t move a muscle, his tone bored as he responded. “My dear Death Whisperer seemed to have whispered in more ears than mine. He was found trying to break out the two traitors last night.”

She shook her head as King Rioner continued. “Loche, I am sure we can come to an agreement that won’t lead to bloodshed. I did ask my spy to see what you knew of the situation, but I didn’t ask her to compel you to fall for her. That was all her doing. I merely needed to understand if war was brewing again.”

“No! Loche, I didn’t—” she started, but King Rioner closed his hand into a fist, and her voice drifted away.

Pushing against the blood oath, she tried to will Loche to look at her.

When he finally did, she held on to the small flash of pain in his eyes at seeing her gasp for air. Her eyes begged him to understand, pleaded with him to see that she had done everything she could to circumvent the king’s orders.

Loche closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, determination blazed in them. “I knew there was something you weren’t telling me.”

Her mouth opened and closed, but the oath was too strong, and moisture lined her eyes at the little air making its way down her lungs.

“I need her to be able to speak,” Loche snarled at her king.

The fingers around her throat softened, and Lessia sucked in a breath. “I’m… I’m so sorry. I—I couldn’t,” she stammered.

His eyes bounced between hers, the dark swirls in them blazing, before he turned to the king once more. “I will forgive this misstep if you free her and leave her in Ellow. I’ll figure out a suitable punishment. Based on what my men are telling me, I don’t think these attacks are over, and we need to stand united against what’s to come.”

“You’re not living up to your ruthless reputation, regent.” King Rioner laughed. “Will you allow a female—a halfling at that—to compel your love? Will she stay and rule with you? Whatever will your people say?”

“She hasn’t used her magic on me,king,” Loche snarled. “I think you should worry more about what your people will say about your right-hand man betraying you.”

Ice filled her veins, and her hands started shaking by her sides as the king let out another dark chuckle. “Oh, Loche. She has. See, that’s why I brought my dear brother. His special giftallows him to undo any magic performed on someone. Alarin?”

No.

Loche’s eyes slammed into hers when her father stepped forward, and the air filled with the soft humming of magic.

She wanted to look away.

Didn’t want to see when he remembered what she’d done to him.

But she couldn’t.

She saw the exact moment her magic released its grip.

Loche’s knuckles whitened as he gripped the edge of the table, and he let out a loud huff when the memories she’d compelled away replaced the fake ones she’d given him.

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