Page 73 of House of Pawns
I offer her a small smile. “So you see, you’ll have to excuse our small numbers. Rebuilding takes time.”
“Of course.” X suddenly turns away from me toward the ballroom. “I would very much like to see more of your home. I trust your man will be happy to give me a tour.”
Rath steps forward without prompt from me. His footsteps soundless, he crosses the space to her. He offers his arm, and she takes it with a charmed little smile. Together, they step into the ballroom and Rath begins giving her the history of the House.
I cast a look over my shoulder at X’s escorts. They watch with dark expressions from either side of the door.
I don’t know what to do. Impressing a helper of the King’s wasn’t what I expected. I figured he would just come. He would kill me. I’d get to sleep the sleep of death for four days, and then I’d rise to life as an immortal Born Royal. Cue the King’s games. See if I start remembering anything from a past life.
I’ve got such a long life ahead of me. So much to come and I know to anticipate so much of it.
But what do I do ‘til morning?
My phone dings from a side table in the foyer. Grateful for the distraction, I grab it.
Status update?Luke.
First batch has arrived, King will be here before sunrise. How many people left?
It only takes him sixty seconds to respond.
Thanks for the warning. Wards and about twenty people left in town. Do your best to keep us all safe.
And another text follows it right after.
Nice knowing you as a human. Good luck.
I look up at those around me. My House. Raheem. X, who I can hear talking to Rath down the hall.
Someone is going to kill me. Soon.
Who is it going to be?
Can I take my life into my own hands?
Will Cyrus give me a chance?
“Remember, the dying part is easy.” Samuel.
I turn back to see him, staring at me with something like sympathy in his eyes.
“It’s okay to be scared,” Lillian says. And I see how worriedshe is. She cares about me. She knows because she can hear my racing heart. “No one can judge you for being scared about death.”
“It’s kind of nice knowing you’re a little worried about this,” Cameron jokes. “I was beginning to think you were some inhuman machine.”
I crack a small smile, for his benefit.
“Can you please give us a moment?” Markov asks of the guards.
They look at each other, an unspoken conversation happening between them. After a short pause, they step outside the doors. They close in a flurry of snow.
My House circles around me, and something bites at the back of my eyes.
Nial steps in front of me and places his hands on my shoulders. “Deep breath in and out. Try closing your eyes.”
So I do. My eyelids slide closed. I focus on my breathing. One deep breath in. One out. Repeat.
“We will make sure it is quick and painless,” Anna says. I feel her take my right hand. Someone else takes my left.
