Page 68 of Poisoned Kingdom
‘You don’t know who he is,’ the courtesan whispered, but my Viper was determined to remove her friend from my presence.‘Fine, but Sana, please remember where you are during your discussion,’ she said, turning to me. ‘Wolf.’ She inclined her head and slipped away.
I stood, silently observing their interaction, paying particular attention to Roksana. Traces of tonight’s escapade clung to her, the dark sister’s dress unable to hide them. There was a smudge of dirt on her cheek, and her honey-gold hair was dusted with the remains of cobwebs.
My curiosity was piqued.
‘You kept me waiting,’ I said, reaching out to pluck the silvery thread draped over her temple. Before I could touch it, Sana caught my wrist while her free hand struck so fast, I could barely see it. I did, however, feel the unmistakable tip of a blade pressed to my throat.
‘I asked you a question...Wolf.’
‘Oh, we were simply discussing my choice of drink while waiting for you, Viper,’ I teased, taking hold of the blade between my fingers, careful not to cut myself. ‘Now, will you tell me where you’ve been, or are you determined to remove something other than my eye?’
A tremor ran through Roksana’s body, making the blade tremble in my grasp, and I released it quickly, unwilling to risk another encounter with the Nightshade’s poison.
‘Why are you here?’ she asked. ‘I agreed to work for you and took your oath. There’s no need to pester my friends.’
‘And have you been?’
‘Been what?’
‘Working for me? Was that why you disappeared and have returned covered in dust and cobwebs?’ I questioned, reaching for her once again. This time, she didn’t stop me as I ran my fingers through her hair, then showed her the silvery threads.
‘You wanted me to find your enemy. Well, I’m working on it. So stop trying to control my every step. I’ll contact you themoment I have any information,’ she said, frowning when I moved closer, intrigued by the ink on her arm.
I reached for her wrist, but she swatted my hand away and pulled her sleeve down exposing the writing. The ink was so smudged I could barely decipher the names, but they all looked familiar.
‘I found those names?’ she asked. ‘Are they important?’
‘Courtiers, a few nobles . . . What is this?’
‘Those are the people Jagon pays or receives money from,’ she said. ‘They were in his ledger.’ She paused, seeing my frown. ‘I transcribed it hoping it might help you.’
I took her arm, my finger trailing over the soft skin that prickled with goosebumps under my touch.
‘You are surprisingly efficient.’
I didn’t hide the appreciation in my voice. She’d discovered more in one day than my spies had in months. I leant over, memorising each name I could decipher before turning her hand and brushing my lips over her knuckles.
‘What now?’ she asked, frowning at my gesture, though she didn’t pull her hand from mine. All I could think about was holding her again.
But how?
A sudden change in the music gave me an idea. The lights dimmed and a darker, sultrier rhythm took hold of the room—velvet and danger stitched into every note.
‘Dance with me, Roksana.’
I hadn’t danced the obraka1 in years. It was too intimate for court and too intimidating for many men. The dance demanded more than the strength necessary to lift one’s partner—it required closeness. Control. The chance to feel what her dress was meant to keep hidden.
‘Why? We can continue here if you have more questions. I’m tired and not in the mood to play games,’ she said, glancingtowards the exit, but I didn’t let go, her defiance goading the predator in me.
‘I insist,’ I said, smiling even though the wolf mask concealed most of my features. ‘One dance, and you can rest for the night, I promise.’
‘Fine,’ she said, rolling her eyes. ‘Lead us to the floor,Wolf.’
The nickname on her lips sent a quiet thrill through me as we walked through the crowd. When she gave a begrudging curtsy, I laughed, surprised by how much I enjoyed her reluctant acceptance.
The dance floor had quieted, the crowd’s attention drifting elsewhere and leaving us in a rare pocket of stillness. In our dark attire, we stood out against the riot of colour that surrounded us, but I didn’t care. My focus was entirely on Roksana.
I turned with a flourish and bowed, offering my hand to her. Her eyes blazed as she accepted it with a sigh edged in annoyance. Her fingers barely touched mine, but the power behind them was unmistakable. The moment our hands met, the connection between us grounded my soul.
