Page 20 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

“Not everyone, Lessia. He raised the taxes significantly for the nobles and has been distributing some of the families’ lands to allow farmers opportunities to grow their businesses. They are angry, and they are still powerful. They’re going to try to overthrow him, and might very well do it with the help of other candidates who nominate themselves for regent.”

Ardow walked up to her chair, forcing her to bend her sore neck to look up at him. “It’s going to be dangerous, Lessia. These men… they won’t hesitate to get rid of someone who gets in their way.”

She reached out to grip his hand. “I don’t plan on getting in anyone’s way, Ard. I am going to participate, but that’s it. I’ll keep my head down, stay out of trouble. Regardless, they don’t have anything against me except me being half-Fae. Most will probably not even look at me twice.”

Despite her words, cold sweat kissed her forehead.

The people of Ellow tolerated her presence in the taverns, mostly because they usually were intoxicated enough not to care about anything other than their next cup, or whoever they flirted with for the night. But someone with Fae heritage taking part in the elections?

It was unheard of.

Ardow’s jaw clenched, and he brushed his fingers over her arm, right over her tattoo. “If you don’t think whatever you’re expected to do will get you into trouble, you’re not as clever as I thought you were. And I know you don’t believe it, but I have a feeling you’re going to do better than you think, Lessia. You’re a natural leader, and I’m worried it won’t just be the nobles coming after you. Loche and his men won’t take nicely to someone challenging him. He expects it from the nobles, but you… He’s dangerous, Lia. Shit, I amthisclose to stopping you. I have a bad feeling about this.”

Lessia shifted his hand away, covering the tattoo with her own. “You can’t stop me, Ard. I have to do this. And you cannot get in my way.”

He dragged a hand through his hair, his eyes half-crazed. “What if I try? You’ll use that mind control of yours on me?”

She couldn’t stop a snarl from escaping. “I can’t believe you said that! You know I never have, and I never would.”

Rising to her feet so quickly the chair fell over, she made to sprint out of the room, but Ardow wrapped his hand around hers, spinning her.

“I’m sorry.” He dragged his other hand down his face. “Fuck. I’m so sorry, Lia. I shouldn’t have said that. I know you never would. After what happened with your—”

She snarled at him again. “Don’t.”

Thickness clogged her throat when bloodied golden-brown hair flashed before her eyes. Squeezingthem shut, she forced the memory away, drawing deep breaths to clear her mind.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m just worried for you.”

She looked up at him, her heart aching, and lifted a shaky hand to cup his cheek. “I know. I’m sorry too. For everything I cannot say, and for whatever I’ll keep from you in the future. But I promise, I will be careful, and after—” She couldn’t say it, but she let hope shine through in her eyes.

His eyes softened. “There could be an after?”

She only stared at him, but the corners of his mouth curled and he pulled her into a hug, lifting her off her feet. A huffed breath rushed through her teeth when his embrace pressed on the bruises, and he quickly set her down, his grip loosening.

“You go kick some ass in that election, andafter,we’re going to celebrate for a month.” Ardow pulled back and winked at her. “Maybe more.”

Heading toward the door, he motioned for her. “Come on, I’ll help you get packed.”

Chapter

Ten

Lessia’s chest felt as if it were splitting wide open as she walked through the icy roads of Asker, her feet dragging, not because her body ached but because she had to force herself to put one foot in front of the other to leave her home behind and head toward the square where the nomination would take place.

She hadn’t been able to say goodbye to the children, hadn’t been able to look into their eyes and pretend everything would be fine. And Amalise had refused to meet her gaze as they said a quick goodbye at home.

She’d almost broken down then.

Couldn’t bear forcing her friend through another goodbye, even if she prayed this one wouldn’t be permanent.

It had taken Amalise a long time to open up, and now…

She rubbed her burning eyes, swallowing against the dryness in her throat.

She didn’t have a choice.

Even if the king had offered her one, she might have chosen to do this for the chance at freedom, might haveagreed to anything to escape the danger she put them all in daily.

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