Page 30 of Courting the Tiger King

“You’re a reader.”

“Surprised I know how?” he teased and her lips twitched. The small look vanished almost instantly but he’d seen it andfelt suitably smug for breaking through her defences even for a second. “Drink?”

“Definitely.”

He gestured to the low oak table in front of the balcony and reached for the crystal decanter while she chose a seat, pouring a healthy measure of amber liquid into a glass for each of them. “Here.”

“Thanks.”

For a second it was quiet while they sipped, the sweet burn helping clear his thoughts of any last lingering heat their charade had evoked. Though, he consideredcharadeto be a convenient excuse. Nobody kissed like that if they didn’t enjoy it.

“Why were you following me?” Neah said at last and he lifted his eyes from where he’d been gazing into his drink and instead met her golden eyes, a few shades lighter than the liquor.

“Because I wanted to know what you were doing.”

The gold all-but vanished as she narrowed her eyes. “Obviously.Why?”

“Because I had an interesting conversation with your sister and I wanted to find out the truth for myself.”

He knew the exact moment his words registered, the way she froze and slowly lowered her glass to thunk against the wood of the table. There was indecision on her face, her fingers twitching like she fought an internal battle—who would she protect? Her family? Or her king? If she was anything like her father, then her duty to the crown wasn’t one she took lightly but Zennon…

As if she’d reached the same conclusion that he had, a blade appeared in her hand faster than he could track. He’d known it was a risk to mention Zennon’s heritage, but Neah hadn’t moved yet. Just waited with the dagger in her palm.

“How do you know?” Her voice was hoarse and her fingers were curling and uncurling around the dagger’s hilt. “Let me guess. You were following me again?”

He nodded. “Are you going to do something with that?” He gestured to the dagger and his movement made her flinch.

“Nobody knows,” she whispered and he watched her steadily, letting her see the intentions in his eyes. “You won’t tell?”

“It’s not my secret,” he said simply and she exhaled raggedly. “I just thought it might help to have us on even footing.”

She leaned back in the chair, her posture relaxed, but he didn’t doubt that she was still lethal even in repose. “What do you want to know?”

Were you there that night? Why did you hide it from me?He didn’t ask those questions though, sensing if he did that she’d run. She wasn’t ready yet.

“Why hide who Zennon is to you?”

“For her safety. Next?”

“What were you doing tonight at the tavern?”

This time she hesitated before she answered. “Looking for information.”

He frowned. Why would she?—

She saw the dawning realisation on his face and smirked knowingly. “Yes. I’m a spy. I received a tip that important information would be exchanged at the tavern tonight.”

“Information about what?” He thought back to the men he’d seen in the alley before they’d been caught—before he’dgot themcaught, he realised.

“Before I came to the palace, I was at the Pembroke’s in the north east. I overheard a plot to hire the hunter’s guild for an attempt on the king.” Her words were even, but her eyes burned with a fervour he couldn’t place. Pride? Protectiveness? “The guild takes care of their own rogues, as I’m sure you know. But whoever bankrolled the hit was liable to try again, with more underhanded measures. Hence, the tavern.”

Wren sat quietly, absorbing the information and letting his mind connect dots he hadn’t had before. He’d been working with only half the information. “Why didn’t Jamison?—”

“Nothing was confirmed yet,” she said smoothly and he bit down on the smile he could feel attempting to break free. She was so like her father and yetnot. It made her a puzzle he would have liked to pull apart and rebuild. “All I gathered tonight was that the prospective assassins met in a hidden room and emerged with the same scrolls that the other two men had in the alley where you found me.”

“Someone has been trying to cause unrest within the court,” he confessed. “I’ve been away, necessary travelling,” he said, easily dodging the whole truth. “In my absence, certain… rumours were spread.”

“Oh, so you’re not a drunken manwhore?” This time a full smile graced her mouth. “I never would have guessed.” He wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing. “So, now you know the truth.”

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