Page 79 of Poisoned Kingdom
‘Are you unwell?’ a soft baritone asked while a pair of powerful hands wrapped the covers around my body, preventing the inevitable yelp when I jerked awake.
I recognised the voice, but what the fuck was Reynard doing in my room?
‘Why are you here?’ It was hard to rein in my anger, but I didn’t want to raise my voice and risk Tova charging in for another confrontation with the king.
‘If I recall correctly, you began this adorable custom of evening visits,’ Reynard answered, sitting on my bed. ‘Don’t blame me for continuing our new tradition.’
‘What do you want? I got your letter; can’t you wait until tomorrow?’
‘Maybe,’ he said, ‘but seeing my spy vomiting on the pavement, I became a little concerned.’
He finally freed me, so I scrambled back and sat up. ‘I’m just drunk. The Brotherhood knows how to party.’
Reynard eyed me suspiciously before grabbing the pitcher on the bedside table and pouring me a cup of water. ‘Drink, little Viper,’ he said, putting the cup to my lips, but I turned away.
‘You know Lily has maids for this? You can go back to your palace.’
I didn’t know how to react. He shouldn’t be here, and he certainly shouldn’t be here to take care of me. I bit my lip, fighting the weakness that came with his gentle touch. Reynard should be the last person I wanted to hold me, but it felt so good, and I was tired of fighting men today.
‘Drink, and I’ll leave,’ he said, still holding the cup. With an exaggerated sigh, I placed my lips on the rim, letting him pull me against his chest. Reynard was massive, warm . . . and perfect. My hand shook a little when I placed it on his, tilting the cup and enjoying the heat of his skin, its rough texture so essentially masculine. The king’s smile widened when I snuggled againsthim, and the corners of those bow-shaped lips pursed a bit when he wiped away the droplets that landed on my chin. The thumping of my heart drowned out every sound as I watched him lick the moisture off his thumb.
‘Sanika . . . do you still want me to leave?’ His voice was so guttural that I groaned.
No, I don’t. But you can’t stay . . .I thought, chastising myself for my reluctance to let him go.
Closing my eyes, I pointed to the window. ‘Out. Now.’ Reynard made me feel things I couldn’t afford to feel, and I needed him gone before I changed my mind.
His fleeting disappointment was soon replaced by a mischief that strangely suited him.
‘As you wish, little Viper. I’ll see you tomorrow when you feel less waspish,’ he said, putting his mask back on. With a quick, exaggerated bow, the infuriating man was gone, slipping through the window.
I waited until I heard the dull thud of his feet hitting the ground, then walked to the window and bolted it shut, acutely aware I wasn’t cold anymore.
Heat crawled up my cheeks when I realised that I—a commoner, a criminal, a woman struggling to survive—wanted to kiss the king.
But this wasn’t a fairytale where the poor orphan could capture the king’s heart . . . even if the king did want to kiss her back.
Chapter 29
Roksana
‘Rise and shine, sweetheart! I let you sleep as long as I could, but we need to see this house.’
Tova pulled the curtains open, flooding the room with light. I moaned in response and pushed my face into the pillow.
‘It’s too early,’ I grumbled, then squeaked when he pulled the blanket off me, the chill air raising goosebumps on my skin.
‘It’s not that early, and you’ve had a good night’s sleep. Now, up you get! The maids are waiting,’ he said, and I sat up, looking around with swollen eyes.
Something important teased the back of my mind, but I stopped caring the moment my eyes focused on the watersitting by my bedside. My parched throat finally relaxed when I swallowed the cold, sweet liquid, removing last night’s bitter aftertaste. Then the memories flooded in.
Drink, little Viper.
Reynard’s voice haunted me, and I fell back on the pillows, refusing to even think about it as I tried to rest for a few more minutes. But Tova apparently had a different opinion about what I should be doing. He dipped his fingers in the cup and sprinkled droplets on my face.
‘Are you auditioning for the job of torturer in Lily’s dungeon?’ I snapped, getting out of bed and letting the maids lead me to the steaming water. ‘A bath . . . in the morning?’
Tova chuckled behind the privacy screen while the maid barked out her orders and I was suddenly pushed down and scrubbed to within an inch of my life.
