Page 16 of Courting the Tiger King

“Well, we can’t help our friends,” he said, and even he could recognise the snide quality to the words. Still, Lady Zennon just kept smiling like she was in on the world’s funniest joke but had neglected to share it with the rest of them.

“I take personal offence to that,” Gabriel muttered and Skye nodded in agreement.

“So many fragile male egos,” Sonnet remarked, sighing, and Neah chuckled.

“You took the words right out of my mouth. I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve been introduced.”

Sonnet smiled. “A deliberate oversight, I’m sure. Wouldn’t want us ladies getting together and putting all sorts of thoughts in each other’s heads, would we?” Neah laughed and Lady Zennon giggled alongside her. “I’m Sonnet.”

“Pleased to meet you.”

How was it that the witch had made a better first impression than he had? At least Skye’s feelings towards Sonnet hadn’t shifted, judging by the glare he had levelled on the witch at any given moment.

“And you, Lady Zennon? Did you enjoy your breakfast?” Why did he suddenly feel so awkward? Like he was grasping at straws to maintain the barest hints of dry conversation.

“Very much, thank you. It was a strange day and a half, so the normalcy was refreshing.”

“Did you really take on four assassins?” Gabriel took over the conversation and Wren felt relieved and then profoundly guilty.

All first meetings are awkward,he reasoned. Just because he didn't immediately click with Lady Zennon didn’t mean he wouldn’t ever do so.

The two women on the end of the table glanced at each other and Neah waved her friend forward, as if encouraging her to tell the tale.

“Truly, it was nothing exciting,” Lady Zennon said, glancing down at her silverware and jumping when Gabriel let out a laugh that echoed even in the relatively small dining room. It was only for Wren’s personal use, for more informal settings than that of the banquet hall, and he liked to think it was cosy—for a palace, anyway.

“Nothing exciting? Do you frequently conquer your enemies so easily, then?”

“Oh, no. I just mean that I was very lucky. They weren’t very good assassins.”

Wren’s brows scrunched together as he tried to puzzle the Lady out. Was she merely being modest? Or was she hiding something? But what? And why?

“And, well, my guards did some of the work,” she continued and Wren relaxed. Her guards. Of course.

“Speaking of assassins,” Lady Neah said and Wren nearly groaned. “Do you have plans in place to keep Zennon safe in the palace?”

Skye raised a brow at Neah. “In the palace? There are guards everywhere, nobody would dare attack her here.”

Neah looked unimpressed. “Complacency is death. You may as well swan around the place with a target painted on your chest.”

Wren tried to hide a laugh behind a cough and was sure he didn’t succeed when Neah gave him a look of surprise and Skyescowled. “We can, of course, provide a personal guard for you, Lady Zennon.”

“I’d also like her to be moved to my room,” Neah continued, as if he hadn’t spoken. “Safety in numbers,” she added when she noticed their quizzical looks.

“You have a room in the palace?” Sonnet asked and Neah’s face shuttered.Interesting. So she didn’t like to talk about her father.

No. It wasn’tinteresting. Nothing about her should intrigue him. Not when hismatesat on her left.

“Yes,” Neah said, the word not inviting further questions. Her eyes caught his and held, a challenge flaring there that had his instincts sitting up and paying attention. This woman may be dressed as a noble, but everything inside of him told him what really lurked below the surface:predator.

CHAPTER NINE

NEAH

Breakfast had been an odd affair that morning. She’d expected it to be a private audience between the king—orWrenas he’d insisted Zennon call him—and Zen, so she’d been taken aback when Zennon had insisted that Neah join them.

She wasn’t sure what to make of the king yet. He was petulant one moment, magnanimous the next, and the way he’d watched her…

Neah shivered. It wasn’t right. There was too much in his gaze for a man who believed he was mated to another and, despite Zennon’s protests, likely truly was.

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