Page 61 of The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating

The bird flitted back to my arm, perching with unsettling precision. Stopping it was as simple as letting the borrowed magic slip away. The moment I severed the connection, the robin slumped back into death.

A wave of exhaustion slammed into me. My vision flickered for a moment, and cold sweat dampened my neck.

Kazimir calmly rewrapped the tiny corpse, but I sensed the wheels turning behind his storm-gray eyes.

“How long have you done this?” he asked.

I shrugged, refusing to sound too impressed with myself. “Stumbled upon it when I was younger. My estate was half-rotten, so it wasn’t rare to find dead mice or birds in corners.”

“And you hid it from everyone,” he said, gentleness creeping into his voice. “Death magic, or anything like it, could have gotten you branded a heretic.”

I nodded, trying not to sway from fatigue. “My father didn’t need more excuses to punish me.”

Kazimir set down the bundle and took a step closer. “You did well. Possibly better than I expected.”

I met his gaze, acutely aware of how close he was. The silver flecks in his eyes still shimmered, sending a twist of heat through my stomach. “I told you, I’m not just some helpless noble.”

His gaze flicked to my lips, then back up again. “And I’m starting to believe it.”

The thickening tension in the air made me wonder what his next step would be—kiss me? Mock me? Demand I raise an army of undead nightingales? The more we pressed each other, the less certain I was of anything.

To save face—and possibly my sanity—I stepped back. “That’s enough for one day. I’m tired.”

Kazimir studied me for a moment, disappointment overshadowed by acceptance. “Tomorrow, then. We’ll see how far you can push that power.”

I rolled my eyes. “What is it with you and testing people to their limits?”

He didn’t answer, just offered an arm in that mocking show of courtesy he loved. “I’ll walk you back to our tower.”

“I can manage fine,” I started to say, but then a wave of dizziness rolled through me. I staggered, and Kazimir caught my elbow.

“Clearly,” he said wryly, “you’re brimming with stamina.”

My scowl was half-hearted; I genuinely needed the support to stay upright. “Fine,” I relented, “but I’m not collapsing just to amuse you.”

He smiled—a real smile, not his usual smirk. “Heavens forbid I find any amusement in my wife.”

We made it to the corridor just as frantic footsteps echoed from around the corner. A disheveled messenger skidded intoview, panting. The second he spotted Kazimir, he dropped into a half-bow.

“My lord,” he wheezed. “Urgent correspondence from Solandris.”

Kazimir’s eyes narrowed. “From the king?”

“No, my lord. From Lord Evenfall.”

My father. Of all the names that could rip me out of my haze, that one did the job. My spine prickled with dread. Was he demanding my return? Threatening petty vengeance? Or informing Kazimir that I was disowned, no longer his concern?

That last idea had merit.

I stepped forward, hoping the letter was somehow meant for me. But the messenger held the silver tray toward Kazimir alone. My father had written directlyto him,not even acknowledging my role in this twisted marriage. The sight made me want to shred the parchment.

Kazimir broke the seal and read. His expression darkened to something harder.

26

NAVIGATE COMPLICATED FAMILY POLITICS (WHILE PLANNING A SEDUCTION)

KAZIMIR

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