Page 81 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

Lessia followed his gaze, and her eyes widened when they settled on one of the most beautiful humans she’d ever seen.

Ebony hair cascaded down the woman’s back, held away from her delicate face with two gilded combs that shimmered like the golden dress she wore. Thick, dark lashes framed her huge blue eyes, and her mouth was painted in a deep red, contrasting with her fair skin.

The woman clung to an unfairly gorgeous man. His dark hair was peppered with silver, but few lines graced his face, and his dark gaze was clear when he swept it over Lessia, then, with a bored expression, shifted it back to the man he’d been conversing with.

The beautiful woman raised a perfect brow. “Are we forbidden to laugh now, dear regent? You’ve set out to makelife ever so boring for us already, so I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.”

Loche offered Malain one of those lethal smirks Lessia hated when directed her way. “From what I’ve heard, your life is boring because that husband of yours can’t seem to stop gambling away your fortune.”

The man beside Malain shifted his gaze their way, anger flitting across his features.

“Or am I mistaken, Berhn? My guards reported saving your life when you stumbled out of that tavern, not even wearing the cloak you’d walked in with. And you still owe half the town money. I’m surprised you dared show your face here today—you’re braver than I thought.” Loche winked at him.

Malain opened her mouth, but her husband’s face reddened, and he dragged her across the room into a corner, where they proceeded to cast furious glances Loche’s way.

When Loche turned around again, Lessia offered him a small smile. “I don’t know if I should be offended or glad you treated me the same way you treated them.”

Surprise sparked in his eyes when he snapped them to hers, and when Lessia nervously licked her lips, his gaze flew to her mouth.

She hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

But apparently, she’d lost all sense when she stepped into this room.

To her surprise, Loche’s lips lifted in a real, blinding smile, and a chuckle escaped him. “I’ve worked hard on my charm.”

She pulled at a lock of her hair to hide the heat creeping up her cheeks. “If that is you working hard, I truly don’t want to know what you are like when you are not trying.”

When his grin widened, she couldn’t help but smile back.

His face turned almost boyish, those gray eyes twinkling in the light and small dimples forming above his strong jaw.

Lessia had the urge to reach out and poke one of them but clenched her hands.

He’d probably bite her finger off.

A whistle behind them quieted the room, and when Frayson scaled the dais, her smile fell.

She had no idea what to expect from this, but she wasn’t eager to find out.

Frayson asked all nominees to join him, and as Lessia made her way through the parting crowd, Loche pulled her to him.

With his lips against her ear, he whispered, “They’re going to be ruthless, so make sure that mask you’ve perfected stays on.”

A shudder went down her spine.

She wasn’t entirely sure if it was unease or from the tingling sensation his lips had left.

Shaking her head at herself, she took the stairs to the stage, two steps at a time.

There was no turning back now.

She just needed to remember why she was doing this—for her family, for Ellow, and for her freedom.

Chapter

Thirty-Seven

As they sat down in the chairs, Frayson walked up to the edge of the dais and threw out his arms.

---