Page 35 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

But she forced her mouth shut before she said it.

He’d surely kill her if she did.

To her surprise, Merrick’s hand fell to his side, and he only snarled back, “Then get in there and act like you are a willing participant. I won’t ask you nicely again.”

Nicely…

Lessia grimaced at his broad back as he slammed open the door, and everyone in the room turned their way. Human and Fae males were more alike than they’d like to think.

Grumpy bastards, all of them.

Forcing a smile to her lips, she slipped into the Lessia the people of Ellow expected. The one they’d gotten used to over the years—the persona she’d perfected with the help of Amalise and Ardow.

Hips swaying softly, she strode in through the room, meeting the eyes of all the men and forcing herself not to let her shoulders hunch at the disgust brimming there.

The blond nominee, whose name she had yet to learn, was the only one who didn’t look away, and Lessia wiggled her fingers at him as she approached the table with food.

It was easier to keep smiling when the aromas of boiled vegetables and stew filled her nose. She ignored everyone in the room, including Merrick, who stood brooding in a corner, as she took a plate and filled it, remaining standing, not bothering to seat herself at the long table by the back wall. If she was to be starved, she’d better fill up as much as she could.

She didn’t care when she burned her fingers ripping pieces off a loaf of bread, only stuffed it into her mouth and barely held back a groan at the sweetness. It wasn’t as good as Ardow’s, but it was hot. The stew was amazing, though, and she refilled her bowl twice before finally setting it down.

“You eat like a savage. You’re makingme sick.”

Lessia lifted her eyes to Craven, who filled his goblet with wine beside her.

Licking her fingers, she made herself trail her eyes over his stupidly embroidered jacket, shiny black boots, and silver-peppered hair before setting down the bowl on the table still filled with food.

Meeting his muddled brown eyes, she smiled sweetly. “You make me sick, so perhaps we’re even?”

Craven’s eyes flared, and he took a step toward her when a snort sounded to her left.

She snapped her gaze to Loche and Zaddock, who leaned against the wall a few feet away, their usual black uniforms contrasting with the white walls.

Loche’s sharp eyes locked on hers as he took a sip from his gilded goblet, and it took all her willpower to keep his gaze when Craven stormed after her as she started to walk away.

Drops of spit landed on her face when he hissed, “None of us want you here. No one in Ellow wants you here, you dirty halfling. If I were you, I’d watch what I say. Accidents are not uncommon during the elections.”

Loche raised his brows, his eyes darting between her and Craven as the latter moved even closer. Heat crept up her neck, and she tore her eyes from Loche. But before she could smack the old man over his head, Stellia swept in and linked her arm with hers, dragging her away to another table.

Lessia glared at the beautiful captain, but she only grinned back and flicked her raven hair over a shoulder. “He’s an old bastard. Everyone knows it. Come on, I’ve heard so much about you. I want to know what’s true and not.”

Stellia pushed a goblet into her hand, and Lessia cautiously sniffed it.

“I won’t poison you. Not yet, at least.” Laughing, Stellia steered them into a dim corner on the side opposite fromwhere Merrick and Stellia’s guard stood stiffly beside each other.

Stellia’s guard swept his gaze across the room, eyes narrowing as he assessed the nominees surrounding them while Merrick’s eyes remained locked on the floor beneath him.

“He isn’t the most trusting person,” Stellia whispered. “So he’s perfect for this. He’d probably kill everyone in here if there was a threat to my life. Seems like your guard is the same. He’s quite frightening, I must say. I may retract my previous statement about taking him to bed.”

Shaking her head, Lessia whispered back, “I think that’s wise. He scaresme, and he’s my guard.”

Stellia threw her head back and laughed again, the sound so sincere that Lessia couldn’t stop her own lips from curling.

The naval captain was nothing like Lessia had assumed.

Stellia’s eyes twinkled with mischief, and there was nothing of the ruthless leader she’d heard about in her soft features.

She eyed Lessia knowingly. “I may look nonthreatening, but don’t underestimate me, Lessia. I have killed more than you can imagine. I’m tasked with protecting our western border, and the pirates there are ruthless. They can be quite persistent in their quest for revenge after we and the Fae cut off all trade with them.”

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