Page 32 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

When steps crunched behind her, she threw a glance over her shoulder and found two men making their way toward her with their eyes narrowed.

Her stomach lurched when she realized she’d forgotten to pull up her hood. Quickening her steps, she fixed her gaze on the castle but slipped on the slick stone path, wincing when small rocks pierced her hands as she fell.

“Did you get thrown out so quickly, halfling? Guess the others weren’t too happy having a Fae in their midst.”

Springing to her feet, she spun around.

Her heart began racing when she found the men were only a few steps away.

Lessia backed up—slowly, so she would not fall again—and took a deep breath to draw on her magic.

It proved quite easy with the adrenaline thrumming through her veins.

“No, my guard is just around the corner. He probably wouldn’t be pleased finding you here, though, so I’d run along now if I were you.”

She didn’t think they’d believe her, but when the men peered over her shoulder, she quickly closed her eyes. When she opened them again, they hesitated at the golden glow she knew met them.

Lessia fixed her gaze on the closest man. “You didn’t see me here tonight. Now go on home, and don’t cause any trouble.”

As he spun on his heel, heading back the way he’d come, the other man’s mouth fell open.

“You’re not allowed to use magic on us, halfling. It’s against the law,” he snarled.

The man took a step toward her, unwisely holding her gaze, and she flashed her teeth. “I know. But so is attacking someone, so I’d say it’s only fair. Now you go home as well and forget all about me and what happened here tonight.”

Eyes glazed, the man whirled around, his steps heavy as he followed his friend.

Lessia rolled her neck, blinking a few times to get her amber eyes back, then turned toward the castle only to slam right into a hard chest.

Nearly tripping again, stumbling a little too close for herliking to the tall drop into the dark waves, she stared right into stormy gray eyes.

Her hand flew to her pounding chest. “What are you doing? You nearly had me fall off the cliff!”

Loche ignored her, his eyes lifting to follow the men’s backs, which were quickly disappearing as they turned onto the path leading into town.

“How did you get them to leave you alone?” he asked quietly.

Tilting her head, she tried to calm her frantic heart and keep her features passive. “I can be persuasive when I need to.”

It technically wasn’t a lie.

Brows pulling close, Loche observed her, his eyes roving over her as if he could see through her cloak—into her very soul.

Narrowing her own eyes, she trailed them over him.

Despite the winter evening, he wasn’t dressed in a cloak, only a black uniform jacket that fit snugly over his thick arms. It was coupled with breeches and soft leather boots in the same inky black, not a spot on them, and he looked every bit the powerful regent he was.

Lethally handsome and deadly.

When their gazes locked again, he raised a dark brow, and she had to force herself not to scowl.

She still needed information from him, and ideally without using her magic, so she wouldn’t learn more than her king required.

Even if it could potentially get her out of this situation faster, she didn’t trust her king one bit, and she wasn’t about to share more than absolutely necessary about the leader of the lands she now called home.

Lessia cleared her throat. “What are you doing out here?”

When he didn’t respond and only continued to quietly assess her with those piercing eyes, she frowned. “Did you follow me?”

---