Page 76 of What Fury Brings
“One that you never saw coming. She would have killed you.”
“Maybe. I suppose we’ll never know.”
Olerra searched each fallen assassin. At first Sanos thought she was looting the bodies, but then he realized she must be looking for orders. Some hint of who hired them. Olerra had told him it was Glen, so she must be searching for proof. When she came up empty-handed, she surveyed her fallen soldiers. Sanos wondered how many of them she knew personally. Placing a hand on her heart, Olerra looked as though she might be saying a silent prayer.
“Come,” she said, her voice hard, though not for his sake. “It isn’t safe. More could come. We will hurry to the palace and send riders for the fallen and the injured horses.”
Olerra sat in the driver’s perch and held a hand down to Sanos.
He took it, and together they rode for the palace side by side.
Olerra would have kept one of the assassins alive if she didn’t also have Andrastus to worry about. It hardly mattered, though. None of the ones she’d caught before had given Glen up.
Olerra was certain her cousin was behind the attack but once again had no means of proving it. She must retaliate in some way. Glenaerys had cost her a dozen good soldiers. A dozen friends. And she’d put herbetrothedin danger twice now. Olerra would not allow a third, but she didn’t see a path forward. She couldn’t punish her cousin. She couldn’t outmaneuver her. Olerra had played the only card she’d had: taking Andrastus. She’d bet everything she’d had on him.
And today, he’d saved her.
For some strange reason, the man hadn’t tried to escape again.
She’d thought for sure when she’d handed him the key that she would find the carriage empty and tracks leading into the trees nearby. Instead,she’d found him watching her, as though he cared whether she survived. She’d told him to run, and he’d ignored her. He’d killed for her.
And that deserved to be rewarded. She wanted to show him how grateful she was.
With the reins in one hand, Olerra reached over with the other to pat his knee where it was exposed to the air because of the outfit she’d made him wear. He didn’t flinch from the contact, so she left her hand there, squeezing gently.
“I won’t forget this,” she told him. “You showed me kindness today, and I will repay it. As soon as you’re ready.”
His gaze cut to her. “You’ll free me?”
A sad smile stole over her lips. “I’m afraid I can’t do that, Andrastus. I need you to help me secure my throne. Remember, you will be freed as soon as I have it. You have my word on that.” She paused. “But I can give you pleasure. Let me show you what your kindness meant to me. Tonight or any night you choose.”
He tensed up.
“I won’t take you,” she hurried to add. “I promised I wouldn’t until you asked for it. But perhaps you’d settle for something else? Let me please you.” She brazenly slid her hand up his leg a little higher.
He looked away from her and scooted his leg to his side of the carriage, letting her hand fall.
The rejection stung, and she clenched her teeth against the irritation that rose from it. Really, now, did he find her so displeasing that just her touching him was unwanted? She tried to remind herself of their first night. He’d been eager. He’d loved watching her please herself, so why—
“No transactions,” he said finally. The words were almost too soft for her to hear.
“What?” she asked.
“I don’t want a transaction. I don’t want you to pleasure me because you think I’ve earned it. I want you to do it because you want it.”
“Why can’t it be both?”
“I’ve already told you I am not a dog that you give treats to.”
That was harsh but fair, she supposed. Still, she fired back with “And the whores you paid for at the brothel I stole you from? You only want to make transactions with them? You seemed pleased enough by me when you thought I worked at Blanchette’s.”
His breathing picked up, but he didn’t respond. Because he recognized his hypocrisy? Or was it more complicated than that?
“I don’t want any more transactions where sex is concerned,” he explained. “Never again.”
“Something changed you?”
“You, you baffling woman. You’ve ruined me entirely.”
