Page 89 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

But by the end, she’d been able to avoid him for a whole ten seconds, and when she grinned from where she lay on the ground, she swore he turned away to hide his own smile.

A soft laugh bubbled out of her.

She’d made the Death Whisperer smile.

“What’s so funny?” Merrick placed a hand on her back, pushing her upward from where she’d taken a break.

“Nothing,” she mumbled, too tired to deal with the grumpiness that would follow if she told him.

When she slowed once more, Merrick snapped at her, asking if she needed to be carried again. That gave her the final energy to ascend the stairs, and when she reached the ground floor, a familiar laugh floated toward her.

Rushing her steps, Lessia walked toward it, a smile breaking out across her face when she caught Amalise’s blue gaze. She leaned against the wall beside the entrance, twining her blonde hair and flirting with one of the guards. When Ardow’s sullen face popped up behind Amalise, Lessia started running, the tiredness long forgotten.

“What are you doing here?”

Lessia dragged them to her, ignoring the tremors running through her arms as she wrapped them around her friends.

Amalise pulled back, grinning at her. “I told you; I have a very good friend here.”

She winked at the guard, wiggling her fingers as he walked out to his post outside, his face reddening.

“And here I thought it was me you were coming to see.” Lessia mock-frowned at her.

“A welcome addition.” Amalise laughed.

“Well, I, for one, am here to see you, Lia.” Ardow dragged her into his arms again, and she drew a deep breath of his familiar smell. “You look thin, but I was worried you’d look worse.”

She playfully punched his arm. “What a compliment. Thanks, Ard.”

Rolling his eyes, he glanced behind her.

Lessia stiffened but then turned to introduce them to Merrick. Ardow had already met him, of course, and notunder the best circumstances, but hopefully, he’d play nice if she explained they’d come to a strange truce.

But when she turned around, Merrick was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, Loche and Zaddock walked down the stairs, and her heart began beating faster when her eyes collided with his gray ones.

She spun back to her friends, cursing when Amalise’s brows shot up.

“Why are you so flushed, Lia?” Her friend threw a look over her shoulder. “Is it because of the delicious regent that is heading straight for us? Or perhaps his handsome friend?”

Lessia flashed her teeth at her. “I am not flushed. I just came from training—I am hot.”

Elbowing Ardow, Amalise giggled. “She’s hot for something, that’s for sure.”

“Amalise, Ardow, I believe we haven’t had the chance to meet.”

Clenching her teeth, Lessia turned around, plastering a smile on her face as Loche and Zaddock joined them, praying he hadn’t picked up on Amalise’s insinuations.

Ardow offered Loche and Zaddock a nod. “Regent. Zaddock, good to see you again.”

Waving to the two men, Amalise gave them a blinding smile, flicking her blonde hair over her shoulder and suggestively licking her lips.

Lessia felt like stomping on her foot, but while Loche looked bored, Zaddock couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her friend.

It was quiet for a beat, then Lessia cleared her throat. “So, these are my friends. I believe we’re allowed to socialize during our free time?”

She had no idea why Loche lingered, especially after his warning to stay away from him yesterday.

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