Page 96 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

Banging had her pry her eyes open, and she flexed her frozen fingers, realizing she’d fallen asleep in the chair.

Lessia groaned as the pain in her head pounded with each knock on the door, and she quickly shouted “Come in” to make it stop.

Merrick stalked across the threshold, still wearing the leathers he’d had on yesterday.

His posture was tenser than she’d ever seen before, and he seemed to glare at the now-clear sky when he slammed the balcony doors shut.

Shuffling to her feet, she took stiff steps toward the chair where she’d left her cloak and wrapped it around herself.

With chattering teeth, she glared at the Fae. “I don’t think I can train today. I must have gotten a concussion last night. There was another attack while you were gone.”

Merrick’s canines reflected the pale winter sunlight when he hissed, “I told you not to leave your room. You agreed to follow my rules, Lessia.”

“I only went to the library.” The words came out clipped as she continued shivering.

He dragged his hands through his silvery hair, causing it to fall in tangled waves across his shoulders. “Did they hurt you?”

She shook her head even though he couldn’t see it. “I might have slammed my own head against the floor when I jumped one of them. But you’d be proud of me. I used my whole body, as you taught me, and he went down immediately.”

Merrick huffed something that could have been a laugh if she hadn’t known him by now and turned toward the door again.

She eyed his back, debating with herself whether she should tell him what had happened before she tackled the man.

It didn’t seem like anything that could harm Ellow if Merrick told the king, and regardless, if the king asked her, she’d have no choice but to share it.

“Merrick,” she mumbled. “Something strange happened. The man I fought saw I was part-Fae when he was about to attack me, and it was as if he changed his mind. He… he backed away from me.”

He spun around again; his gaze focused on her black boots. “Perhaps he was afraid you had magic?”

She chewed on her lip.

It hadn’t been fear in the man’s eyes when they widened as they recognized her pointed ears for what they were.

It was something else.

“I don’t think so. It was almost as if he knew me.”

“Of course he knows you. You’re one of the nominees.” Merrick adjusted the curved sword hanging by his hip. “Everyone in Ellow knows who you are by now.”

She followed his fingers as they trailed over the rubies decorating the hilt. His sword was the sister to the dagger he’d given her, she realized.

“But why would he hesitate, then? It seems they’ve been going after nominees?”

“Maybe that’s not what they’re after. But we need to hurry up, Lessia. We’re going to be late.” Merrick whirled on his heel again and opened the door leading out into the hallway.

“I told you. I can’t train today.” Lessia rubbed her hands over her arms, casting a longing look at the bed.

She could do with another day in it, getting warm and rested.

Tapping the doorframe, Merrick spoke quietly. “If it were up to me, I’d let you stay here, but they’re making you go through the next part of the qualification today.”

Her stomach sank, and she clutched the folds of her cloak to her body as if it might protect her from whatever they’d put her through.

Swallowing, she took a step toward him. “What are they going to do?”

A muscle ticked in his jaw as he stepped aside to let her out. “They’re going to make sure you’re here for the right reasons and that you don’t have anything to hide.”

Fear rushed through her veins, the adrenaline from it driving away the lingering tiredness.

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